Midtown Lunch

I love Ranch 1.  I wrote about it a few weeks ago, and while I know not everyone is on board- I stand behind what I originally said.  If you are looking for a grilled chicken sandwich, that tastes like real chicken, and french fries that taste like they are made from real potatoes (plus you don’t mind a chicken breast that has been pounded thin before being grilled) then Ranch 1 is your place.  It’s one of the few fast food places my wife actually likes (loves is a more appropriate word)- and any place she’s into, where I can “get fries with that”, is alright with me!  (Click here to read the original Ranch 1 post)

So, you can imagine my confusion when I started seeing these new Chicken Bar’s popping up.  The first one, I saw on 8th Ave. and 45th St…. and then another on 52nd and Lexington.  Same colors… similar logo… it’s chicken.  Very strange.  I couldn’t believe that this new chain was clearly ripping off Ranch 1.  Did they really think that their chicken sandwich was going to be that much better to support 2 chicken chains like this in the city???  I decided a visit was in order, and last week I headed to this “Chicken Bar” with every intention of pitting it against Ranch1 in a “one on one” fast food chicken battle of death.  (I would have liked to have made it a 3 man battle royale, but sadly there is no Chick Fil-A in Midtown…)

Arriving at the Chicken Bar on Lexington & 52nd, I was reminded again of how similar the logos are to each other.  Both have got the yellow, red and white thing going… but the Chicken Bar sign is clearly newer- and a bit nicer.  I like the abstract, “hidden” chicken head in the Ranch1 logo, over the obvious big chicken in the Chicken Bar logo, but a vinyl awning can’t touch the class of a 3-D neon style sign.  Chicken Bar 1, Ranch1 Zero.

Both places have “employees” giving out $1 off coupons around the corner from their respective restaurants.  I think it’s pretty obvious who wins this one.  No offense to the lady on the right… I’m sure she cleans up real nice- but she is clearly not a gigantic yellow chicken.  Ranch 1 ties it up… One to One.

The truth is, who cares about the coupons, and the signs and the big yellow chicken (well, actually- I care about the chicken so that’s a bad example).  The food is the most important.  What I ordered, and conclusion of the fierce battle that will literally cause your brain to explode in disbelief…. after the jump.

Read more »

For most people who work in Midtown, lunch is dictated by laziness.  More then two blocks away?  Forget it!  Plus, if you go with co-workers you all have to agree on a place.  So, you probably eat at the same place multiple times a week, occasionally branching out so you don’t get too sick of eating the same sandwich or salad every day.  For me, it’s a little different.  I write this blog… so I try to go to new places every single week.  Well, Wednesday I visited an old favorite.  When I first wrote about Cafe Duke I spotlighted the Bulgogi.  Today… meet the Bi Bim Bap.

It’s a cold version, but still pretty good- and reasonably healthy, especially compared to the Bulgogi.  Plus it comes with rice, and kimchee- and if you get the beefbi bim bap, you’re essentially getting a little of the bulgogi as the “beef” part.  Not bad, and once you smear the sweet red chili paste everywhere- it’s all delicious.  PLUS, I saw a new sign for some daily specials they just started serving. 

The new Cafe Duke Specials, Midtown Links about stuff you definitely need to know about, plus the end of the week wrap up- after the jump…

Read more »

A little while after discovering Tuck Shop hidden inside the CyberCafe, I noticed another sign go up in the window.  “Madeleine ‘The Crepe Lady’.  Making Crepes Wednesday -Sunday 10am to 4pm”.  I’m intrigued.  Tell me more, oh window of the CyberCafe…  An article posted next to the sign went in depth about this “Crepe Lady” who served up delicious crepes in a kiosk in Central Park.  Well apparently she’s at the CyberCafe now… and Central Park’s loss, is Midtown’s gain!

Tuck Shop in the CyberCafe was weird enough.  But now this place has got a “Crepe Lady”.  Total craziness…  what kind of internet cafe is this???  But who am I to argue with this kind of deliciousness.  Thankfully I didn’t let the surroundings fool me into not trying a crepe, because Madeleine is the real deal.  And by real deal I mean this sweet, charming, amazing “Crepe Lady” is actually from Brittany…  the birthplace of crepes.  And she’s been making these French treats since she was 13 years old!  I think it’s safe to say she knows what she’s doing.

Food porn, the complete list of what she serves, and the +/- (with not so much of the minus), after the jump…

Read more »

Nothing is more fulfilling then finding a hidden food jem in Midtown.  It can come in all forms too.  There’s the place that is well known, but literally hidden- like the Burger Joint, hidden behind a curtain at the Parker Meridien Hotel.  Then there’s the place that looks like a boring deli, but has a hidden specialty- like the Korean food at Cafe Duke.  And of course there is discovering that good food cart, which in Midtown is literally like finding a needle size hot dog, in a haystack size pile of gigantic sausages.

But the most rewarding find, is the truly hidden jem.  The one that nobody tells you about.  The one you find on your own, without reading anything about it, or getting an email from a reader.  It’s pretty tough too.  There are very few places that I haven’t been emailed about, and somehow this double jem has managed to slip through the cracks.  Lucky for me, I walk by it every day on my way home from work…

I’m talking about the CyberCafe, a euro-style internet cafe that caters to backpackers and tourists looking to jump on-line while they sip on coffee or eat boring sandwiches and pastries.  But this is not your ordinary internet cafe.  Actually it is… in every way but one.  The food.  The CyberCafe is home to two of the best (and most unique) Midtown Lunch options:  Tuck Shop & Madeliene “The Crepe Lady”.  I have no idea how it happened, or what the business arrangement is, or who thought it would be a good idea to put these two delicious lunch options inside an internet cafe for tourists… but who cares.  It’s there, so we might as well take advantage of our stroke of good luck!

What’s a tuck shop, pictures, and more- after the jump…

Read more »

Every Tuesday we step aside and let a real life Midtown eater give their pics for the best places to grab lunch in Midtown.  In honor of this past weekend’s Oyster Festivals, we present Sara- the oyster fanatic.

Name: Sara

Age: 25

Occupation: Agent

Where in Midtown do you Work?: The Harry Fox Agency, 44th St. & 3rd Ave.

Favorite Kind of Food: New England-style seafood. Chowdah, lobster rolls, steamers, and anything else you can picture a grizzled old fisherman pulling from the sea. I love those guys.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: That phrase means nothing to me. I will try almost anything. I thought I didn’t like meatloaf, but then I had some at a friend’s house recently and it turns out that I just don’t like bad meatloaf.

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown:The Grand Central Oyster Bar. Once every 4 months or so, I will take myself there as a special treat, and eat 1/2 dozen Wellfleet oysters and 1/2 dozen kumamotos or whatever else looks good, and as many free biscuits as they will give me. Can’t afford it more often than that, but I wish I could eat oysters there every day.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: The Amish Market on 45th and 2nd. The salad bar has a good variety of foods (often including expensive ingredients that would cost more separately) and the hot bar is pretty decent as well. Good soups, excellent sandwiches, but avoid the sushi.

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com: Cafe Zaiya. A friend of mine had been searching for Mont Blanc pastries like the ones she had in Italy for a long time but had never found them in New York. I saw them at Cafe Zaiya and told her about it. Apparently she had been eating lunch there every day for months but had never bothered to look in the pastry case. She loved them!

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why?  Tomales Bay, CA. That’s where the Hog Island Oyster Company is, and that is where I would like to spend the rest of my life: oyster heaven. In New York, I’d love to work within walking distance of Chinatown and all the great food that comes out of that neighborhood. I can’t imagine getting away health-wise with spending $1 for lunch at Tasty Dumpling every day, but it sure is nice to dream about.

Thanks for the profile Sara.  I like my oysters big… and for those- there’s only one place to go.  A picture of one of my favorite Oyster places, plus how to be next week’s Midtown Lunch Profile, after the jump…

Read more »

A friend of mine suggested that in honor of Yom Kippur, Midtown Lunch should go dark today.  I thought that was a great idea…  mainly because I’m lazy, and I figured it would get me out of posting something.  But then I thought, that’s kind of hypocritical.  Even though I’m Jewish, I don’t go to temple, and I’m certainly not fasting.

For those who don’t know, Yom Kippur is considered the most holy day of the year, in which Jews fast and go to temple to atone for the sins of the previous year.  There are two reasons I’m not fasting on Yom Kippur.  The first is pretty obvious.  Fat man’s gotta eat.  I don’t know if I could make it the whole day without eating.  I’m usually starving by 11am… counting down the minutes to the “acceptable” lunch time of 12pm.  (Those who go to lunch before Noon- I applaud you!  You are true trendsetters.)

But the real reason I don’t celebrate is because my family is in Miami… and religion for me is really just about family.  (Family, and the meals before and after Yom Kippur when you stuff your face- before and after you fast).  It’s sort of funny that Yom Kippur is bookended by the very thing that I need to atone for the most.  Gluttony.  Well, gluttony and my love of pork and shellfish.

So in honor of that, I’d like to apologize for my favorite Midtown Lunches that clearly go against the laws of Judaism.  I couldn’t live without them, and I need to atone…

The list of Midtown Lunch pork and shrimp worth going to hell for… after the jump.

Read more »

MidtownLunch is all about free stuff.  Free burrito day at Chipotle, Free Coffee Day at Starbucks, and now- it’s FREE CHOCOLATE DAY.  That’s right… because all day today, to celebrate the release of their new “Gold Collection”, Godiva will be giving away free samples at ALL their New York City locations.  This was confirmed by a salesperson (and Midtown Lunch reader!) at the location on 7th Ave. and 50th.  So we can only guarantee that location will have free samples- but supposedly they are doing it at every location.  PLUS, I think you will be able to enter a drawing for a free year of Godiva chocolate.  Here are the Godiva locations in Midtown so you can score your free sample of delicious Godiva Chocolate:

• 745 7th Ave. (SE corner of 50th & 7th Ave.)
• 725 5th Ave. (Trump Tower 56th St.)
• 52 W. 50th St. (inside 30 Rockefeller Plaza)
• Rockefeller Center Concourse
• 200 Park Ave. (MetLife Bldg on 45th)
• 560 Lexington Ave. (Lex & 50th)
• 86 Grand Central Terminal
• 1460 Broadway (Times Sq. on 41st)
• Shops at Columbus Circle (Broadway & 59th)

In other news… have you seen the gigantic “sky mirror” in front of Rockefeller Center on 5th ave. btw. 49th & 50th?  At first I thought it was sort of stupid… but now I’m really into it.  The photo possibilities are endless, and it seems like everyone is getting in on the act.   I sort of felt left out… so here’s the Midtown Lunch version of the Sky Mirror photo:

Looks like the same pics you’ve seen on flickr, right?  What you don’t realize is, I’m in the upper right hand corner with the red shirt eating one of my favorite Midtown Lunches.  I’ll give you a hint… I can hold it in one hand (my camera is in the other), and I got it at 54th & 5th ave.

A picture of what I was stuffing my face with in front of the sky mirror, plus “Midtown Links” to all the stuff you definitely want to know about… and it’s all after the jump. Read more »

It’s been a few months since I last ate at Chipotle, and the craving for a burrito is back in full force.  “I could really use a burrito.  I’m sure Chipotle is not as bad as I remember it!  Look at the gigantic lines!  Everybody loves Chipotle… i’m sure it will be delicious!”  Luckily my original post serves as a reminder of how I feel (“Free Chipotle is the only good Chipotle“), and I decided instead to hit up Burritoville with a friend from work.

I tried Burritoville once before (the one on 9th ave.), when I first moved here from L.A.  Seeking a substitute for the burritos I could get on the west coast, I knew I wasn’t going to replace the real deal authentic burritos- but I was at least hoping to find a replacement for Baja Fresh (My go-to work lunch in L.A.  There was one across the street from my office, and I probably ate there 2-3 times a week). 

At the one on 9th ave. I got the “Holy Mole” burrito, and was pretty underwhelmed.  It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great.  I probably should have known that I wasn’t going to get a great mole from a place that felt the need to add funny names to their burritos.  I remember thinking “This place isn’t that bad.  I probably am disappointed because I just moved here, and I’m used to the good stuff.”

With that in mind, I returned to Burritoville- hoping to find a Chipotle substitute for when my Burrito addiction rears it’s ugly head.  Pictures, and the +/- after the jump…

Read more »

I remember when my wife was deciding where to go to Law School.  She had been accepted into a few different schools, and it was between Tulane and some other places.  I can’t remember the other ones, because the choice seemed pretty clear to me-  go to New Orleans.  I remember saying “When are you going to have another opportunity to go, and live somewhere as cool as New Orleans for three years of your life”.  The truth is, I had no idea what I was talking about.  I had never been there, and didn’t really know anything about the place… but as luck would have it, I ended up being right. 

We both ended up falling in love with the city, and got married there when she graduated in May of last year.  I’d like to say it was the rich culture and history of the city, the awesome music, the great people, or the beautiful scenery that made us want to get married there.  But everyone who knows us, knows the truth… it was the food.  I visited as often as I could, and when I did, we ate our way across the amazing city like there was no tomorrow. 

Raw oysters and boiled crawfish at Harbor Seafood (in Kenner) , The Roast Duck Po’Boy at Crabby Jack’s, Fried Chicken at Dunbar’s (the greatest fried chicken I’ve ever eaten), Raw Oysters at Casamento’s, the unbelievable Bread Pudding Souffle at Commander’s Palace (that you have to order at the beginning of the meal), Beignets at Cafe Du Monde, Coffee at Rue de la Course, a muffallatta at the Central Grocery, Chocolate Pecan Pie at Camellia Grill, great meals at Dick & Jenny’s, Clancy’s, Upperline, Lilette, Emeril’s, Bayona, and the awesome Valentine’s Day Dinner 2003 at Jacques-Imo’s.

I mention that one last because when we moved to NYC, we were incredibly excited to hear that there was a Jacques-Imo’s on the Upper West Side.  And while the restaurant isn’t owned by Jacques (according to the website they “licensed the concept”), they serve his famous fried chicken.   The food is not terrible, but it’s more like a frat boy sports bar then anything that resembles the culinary destination that is the real Jacques-Imo’s.  Despite being disappointed by the dinner at the UWS restaurant, we still decided to try Jacques-Imo’s To Geaux (get it?) in the Grand Central Terminal Food Court.  We figured, how hard can it be to make fried chicken and a decent po’boy? (Especially when you don’t have to worry about losing points because of the decor…)

What we got, pictures, and the +/- after the jump…

Read more »

If you think eating lunch in Midtown is bad, imagine moving here from the greatest food city in the U.S.A. Whether it’s a Mufuletta from the Central Grocery, Fried Chicken from Dunbars (sadly they haven’t re-opened yet), or a dozen raw oysters and a pound of boiled crawfish (from anywhere!)- imagine how much sadder you’d be if you used to eat lunch every day in New Orleans. In honor of the Saints’ triumphant return to the Superdome last night, we present to you this week’s profile… Midtown Lunch’er: Nick

Name: Nick

Age: The same age as my twin sister

Occupation: Radio Imaging Producer

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Sirius Satellite Radio on 49th & 6th

Favorite Kind of Food: I was born and raised in New Orleans, so- boiled crawfish, red beans & rice, PoBoys (fried oyster, roast beef, fried shrimp, etc…). You know… New Orleans food!
Least Favorite Kind of Food: Not a fan of Indian food. Some of the dishes smell like stinky armpits so I’m immediately reminded of uncomfortable situations while riding the subway into work.

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: I usually end up at Lenny’s a couple of times a week. Fresh ingredients, made to order pretty fast, and a wide selection. Plus I have a crush on one of the cashiers.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: See above. I often run into my boss and others at Lenny’s without notice. We all have to run back to work to produce the “Best Radio on Radio” so it seems to be the place to get to easily and get a fresh sandwich that I can eat at my desk or in the studio.

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com: The Daisy May’s BBQ Cart (yummy!), the Burger Joint @ Le Parker Meridien (delicious!), and I’m sure as soon as it opens- The Hawaiian Tropic Zone on 49th & 7th. I’m sure it will be a ridiculously over-priced tourist trap, but hey- you’re paying for the scenery.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Um… I think it’s pretty obvious. The radio station I used to work at in New Orleans was blocks away from anything I could ever want- including real Red Beans & Rice. Notice the placement of the red beans, before the rice… the beans are the star people! Don’t understand why restaurants outside of N.O. can’t get that right.

Anything else you’d like to add? Make levees not war! And I’d love to know where to get authentic New Orleans lunch in Midtown, or New Orleans food anytime, anywhere in NYC- that isn’t an overpriced novelty restaurant.

Our half-hearted recommendation to Nick, a New Orleans Food P.S.A., and how to become the next Profiled Midtown Lunch’er- after the jump…

Read more »