Midtown Lunch

I mentioned last week that we would be hearing from some new voices on ML Philly as we are going to be getting reports from a new correspondent each week. Today, we are getting a report from this week’s profiled luncher Morgan, who is checking out the street meat, not as common east of Broad, on 12th and Chestnut.

A few years ago I worked at 36th and Spruce streets. I could step outside and choose from a wide array of food trucks all offering delicious and cheap food. Trucks as far as the eye could see. Sweet potato burritos and chicken cheesesteaks called to me early every afternoon and I wandered the streets knowing that I could hardly make a poor decision.

Fast forward a couple of years. I work in center city in the Midtown Village/Washington West area. Over here I have the hardest time finding a decent lunch (until I started reading Midtown Lunch, that is). I’m surrounded by chain restaurants. I can only eat so much Qdoba or Subway in a lifetime. I tried the trucks nearby and found perfectly passable cheesesteaks. Then I found a dead leaf in one and lost all faith.

So you can imagine the sense of attachment I feel towards Gyro King, a Halal food cart stationed at 12th and Chestnut streets. And, judging by the line you face if you come out at peak lunch hours, I’m definitely not alone. It appeared to me as an oasis in a lunchtime desert and has held a special place in my heart ever since.

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Last summer Manayunk saw the opening of Agiato Bread Company, and last month the paninoteca- wine bar opened a few doors down. Besides an extensive wine list, the menu features things that go well with wine; meat and cheese selections, soup, salads, and paninis. Sitting inside the small space, with its tiled accents and imported South American wooden tables, you might forget the debauchery that goes down on that very street any given weekend night. There has been some recent chef quitting drama, but it not appear to effect the food on my visit.

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As is customary at Philly Lunch, every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Philadelphia. This week, it’s Morgan, a biologist who is seeking out raw meat. If a biologist says its ok to eat, it must be, right?

Name: Morgan

Age: 26

Occupation: Biologist

Where in Philly do you Work?: 11th and Walnut (TJU)

Favorite Kind of Food: I love shwarma, cheeseburgers, sashimi or chirashizushi, tacos in flour tortillas, tortas, comfort food Americana, and anything chargrilled or fried.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I’m on the anti-cilantro side of the gene pool (it actually is genetic). I’m also not a fan of green bell peppers. Oh, and I HATE the idea of fruit with meat. Mango salsa is the bane of my existence.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: When I worked at Penn I would hike all the way to Saad’s Middle Eastern (4500 Walnut)  for a lamb shwarma sandwich with extra garlic sauce. It’s dreamy! These days I am a big fan of the Philly Wasabi at Jake’s Sandwich Board. I keep wanting to explore their menu a little more, but that sandwich is irresistible to me. I also really like Mumbai Bistro for quick and reliable Indian take-out. I used to really like the Tampopo on 8th street for the Fresh Bibimbap before they shut down. Rice and veggies covered in cubes of raw tuna and drizzled with sweet and spicy sauce, it is a dish I still crave on a regular basis. I walk over to Five Guys for my burger fix. Luckily a new location is opening less than a block from my job! Also, the burger at El Vez is amazing! It is only on the lunch menu and saves me from the sub-par (in my opinion) Mexican fusion when my coworkers insist on eating here.

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Only a week after the projected date, Marabella Meatball Co opened last Thursday on Walnut St, giving another option for anyone heading into nearby Cosi or Potbelly’s. Inside is a semi-open kitchen, big windows for people watching, and a simple minimalist design.  Here you pick your meatball type, the size of your sandwich, and a combo of sauce, cheese, and toppings (extra $). You can go for one of Marabella’s preapproved combos too. There really is something to the concept of sticking with one dish and having swappable toppings to go with it, you can do it right and you can get the product to the customer fast. It is actually kind of inhuman how fast they get your sandwiches to you. I easily spent more time deciding on what combo I wanted to go with. I think the fact that every cheese and sauce appealed to me that made the decision so hard.

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Photo Courtesy of Drew Lazor

• It’s that time of year again, you know, the time where every website post suggestions on what you should buy your loved ones for the holidays. Want mine? Check out slide 24 [IVillage]
• A video on how making tacos goes down in the Honest Tom’s Truck [NBC]
• As usual, Meal Ticket has the first look on Marabella Meatball Co which opened yesterday [Meal Ticket]
• Some people can handle ordering innard soup (not me), here at New Phnom Pehn [Phila Weekly]

Get ready to hear some new voices on ML Philly as we are going to be getting reports from a new correspondent each week. Today, we are getting a report from this week’s profiled luncher Stephanie. Looks like its battle of the bentos on 15th and Locust with Miga and Shiroi Hana across the street from each other. Let us know your preference in the comments!

Having grown up in LA by way of NY, I tend to be picky about my Korean food. In the four years that I’ve spend in Philly, I’ve nearly exhausted all of my Korean options in the city, my palate jaded. But finally, after nearly months of stellar recommendations from fellow foodies and rush-hour-shuffling past Miga’s signage on 15^th and Locust, I finally stopped by the restaurant to see what was in store for lunch!

Miga’s lunch menu is respectable, offering an assortment of Japanese fare alongside traditionally Korean dishes. Most of the choices were under $15, which can be considered a little pricey at lunchtime. The restaurant was also running bimbimbop specials starting at $7.95, but my taste buds salivated at the thought of beef bulgogi, or marinated sliced rib eye – a tempting offer at $11 as it came in a lunch box with a variety of accompanying sides.

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I just found out that Garces Trading Co makes fresh mozzerrella for their restaurant AND as to go orders at the cheese counter! To everyone who knew this and didn’t tell me, consider yourself slapped.  All this time I thought I had to head down to the Italian Market for super fresh mozzarella.

Garces has a little hot water bath machine that they put curds into as soon as you request your order. Salt and heavy cream are added and the ball is stretched and placed in an environmental friendly cup. Say yes when they offer to dress it for you in Garces House Olive Oil. It is still warm when the cup is placed in your hands.

What it looks like after the jump…

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