Pondicheri, with George and Nancy

15 W. 27th St, NY, NY 10001

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: First time
Anti Jaisinghani is getting all sorts of great press for bringing her Indian sensibility to her first New York City location of Pondicheri. We showed up on Meatless Monday to a pleasantly half filled dining room and a dazzling menu from which it was near impossible to decide. M. and I split a dosa from the breakfast menu and the saag paneer curry from the lunch menu and were so incredibly delighted with lunch, we practically licked the plate clean. We're definitely going back to see what the regular lunch menu entails, but I'm sure we will not be disappointed.

Kunjip

9 West 32nd St, NY, NY 10001

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Often
What we love about Korean dining is the anticipation of banchan at the start of the meal. We're like kids in a candy shop waiting to see what kind of little dishes make the table top array. M. tries something and points emphatically with her chopsticks if it merits trying. I pick another and shake my head don't bother. Today we split a duk mandoo soup and a soondubu jjigae stew and stumbled out into the mid October summer day stuffed to the brim and mindlessly happy.

Homes Kitchen

22 E. 21st St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Often
No matter how many times we eat at Homes Kitchen, we are never greeted with a warm smile or cozy hello's. And we are so ok with that. I love the brusqueness of the Chinese waitstaff at Homes, yes bordering on rude if you view it that way. We like to see it as completely straightforward and utterly practical. They take your order, the food comes out, you eat, they whisk away empty plates and bring back a check. No chit chat. Perfect.

Eataly

200 Fifth Ave, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Often
Man I love the crudo focaccia sandwich at the bakery counter at Eataly. So much that we dove into lunch and didn't stop until M. realized she hadn't taken a photo.

Luke's Lobster

5 W. 25th St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Once in awhile
In these last days of summer weather we stopped by Luke's for a lobster roll, that perennially summer sandwich. What makes Luke's so great is the buttered split bun, much like the hot dog from Old Town. It highlights the lobster salad by adding just that amount of fattiness from the butter. Maybe there are one or two summer days remaining to us but I suspect fall is ready to arrive in full glory.

Old Town

45 E. 18th St, NY, NY 10003

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Often
Who doesn't love a lunch of spicy chili and grilled hot dogs on toasted split buttered buns. Ok, maybe vegetarians, pescatarians and vegans, but if you're not one of those then you must get yourself to Old Town for a hot dog. The added benefit is that during the day it's super quiet and calm. The sunlight filters in through the front windows barely illuminating old creaky wood and a patina of cigarette smoke and beer.

Ootoya

8 W. 18th St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Often
Ootoya has a summer lunch special going on right now that is simply delicious. Chicken Katsu over rice and cabbage salad with a small bowl of cold udon. Lovely and perfect for the array of hot steamy days we've been having. A little slow down of posts as we head into the last stretch of summer, but by autumn you will find us here, eating and writing about it.

Zero Otto Nove

15 W. 21st St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Often
Friday lunches, which this was, should be easy and relaxed. For us that is unequivocally our usual order at Zero Otto Nove of the insalta di tonno (tuna salad) and carmanuccio pizza (cheeseless with sausage pizza)

Rafiqi's Food Cart

North-West corner of Union Square Park

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Regular Rotation
There are several things we can never say no to - all Asian food, fresh donuts, Pio Pio and street gyros. There is something so tantalizing about paying $4 for a warmed, soft pita stuffed with spicy, salty grilled lamb and garnished with a mess of lettuce, tomatoes and onions. I love asking for a little bite of hot sauce, because everyone's interpretation of "medium spicy" varies so greatly.

Schnippers

23 E. 23rd St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Often
We had our usual split lunch of the Schnippers fried chicken sandwich, sloppy joe, onion rings and a side of fries. I have also been quite addicted to Orange Fanta lately (is it making a comeback or have I only just started paying attention?) Schnippers is so goddamn democratic. You can find every type of person there.

Koa

12 W. 21st St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Often
Koa has quickly grown into one of our regular lunch spots. They recently revised the lunch menu to include a page of $10 ramen bowls and cold noodle dishes that can be turned into lunch sets for an additional $4. The best part of this is not just the quality of the meal, I love the yuzu dressing on the salad and the ramen is quite fine, but that there is always a table waiting for you. Don't be turned off by the nightclub-esque decor. Put Koa into your lunch rotation, you won't regret it.

Eisenberg's

174 Fifth Ave, NY, NY 10010 (btwn 22nd and 23rd Sts)

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Occasionally
Diners like Eisenberg's are becoming increasingly rare. You just can't build up a patina of history and grease like that over night. But Eisenberg's at least, shows no signs of slowing down. We grabbed two counter stools, right in front of the short order cook, and ordered fried bologna sandwiches and a side of french fries, which we ate while watching burgers sizzle on the grill. And chased everything down with a can of Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray soda.

Lenwich

16 W. 23rd St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Often
If you asked me to choose between the Lenwich (hot pastrami, corned beef, cole slaw, swiss and russian dressing) of the Italian, it would be impossible. The Lenwich is for when you're craving substantial heft and a saltiness cut through with a tangy russian dressing and cole slaw. The Italian is when you need the perfect Italian combo, and I mean perfect. The balance of salami and cappicola could not be improved on, and the shredded lettuce elevates the entire sandwich.

Gammeeok

9 W. 32nd St, NY, NY

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Often
I don't know why it makes me happy that the old Gahm Mi Oak moved and became Gammeeok except that they added more things to their menu so that M. can go and have her favorite summer soup, mul naengmyun, and I can have my usual soellongtang. Today we were the only non-Korean speaking lunchers in their new second floor space.

The Cannibal @ Madison Sq Eats

24th and 5th Ave, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: 1st time
I can think of no worse hell than braving the crowded lunch hour at Madison Square Eats on a stifling hot in the sun day. But we did anyway, stopping at the least crowded food stand, The Cannibal. Sometimes, when we can't decide what to eat, we ask what they recommend or what's popular. Without hesitation the guy said the Pigs Head Cuban. And wow was he right. We copped a squat underneath the shade of the trees in the park and enjoyed a thoroughly good pressed sandwich. Love when a recommendation hits the spot. Makes it almost worth the hell we endured to get there.

Luke's Lobster

5 W. 25th St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: 1st time, new location
We're back! And what better way to celebrate than with lobster rolls from the new Nomad location of Luke's Lobster. We thought it would be packed, what with the strange summer weather we're having today, a full three days away from Memorial Day weekend, but it wasn't. The best part of the lobster rolls at Luke's is the proper buttering and grilling of their buns. Yum and yummier. Very little seating but I imagine it's best for take out to be eaten in the park on a hot summer day.

Chandni

11 W. 29th St, NY, NY 10001

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Regularly
Everything about Chandni makes us happy, including the fact that we sat at a table for 10 minutes waiting for a friend to show up with nary a comment from anyone working there. I wonder how long we could have sat there without ordering from the buffet counter?

Ed's Lobster Bar

222 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10012

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Once in a while (when our office was in the neighborhood)
This technically is not a lunch post, it's a midday snack post. We took a wonderful tour of Donald Judd's home/studio in Soho today, and we realized at the last minute that they allot 90 minutes for it. We had planned to eat something tasty in the neighborhood, but realizing that we might not get to eat until past 3pm, we grabbed a quick sandwich to eat en route. After the tour finished after 60 minutes, our sandwiches only half eaten, and a craving for something thirst quenching, we decided to go for a snack/ or lunch part 2 at Ed's Lobster Bar. We split the plentiful caesar salad and their always wonderful lemonade. Oh and some oysters. A bit of a decadent snack wouldn't you say?

Lenwich by Lenny's

16 W. 23rd St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Often
It looks like the name is not the only thing transitioning at Lenny's. As they move to Lenwich by Lenny's, they have transformed the space at 23rd St as well. I don't know if the other locations will or have followed suit, but it was a pleasure to walk into Lenny's last week to pick-up our sandwich. The system is still a little chaotic, but at least the waiting area is brightened, a little larger and definitely a cheerier place to wait.

JG Melon

1291 Third Ave, NY, NY 10021

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Not in our regular lunching neighborhood but sure wish it were
M. was shocked that I had never had the burger at JG Melon, and when I took that first bite, I too was shocked. It's a New York burger experience like going to Corner Bistro and having a messy one on paper plates. In every bite of the burger at JG Melon I could taste the decades of char that had accumulated on the grill. The crunchy exterior, juicy interior and super soft bun make for a superior burger. Definitely worth going, especially if you're in the 'hood already.