Sala One Nine

35 W. 19th St, NY, NY 10011

Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: Not often enough
Sala One Nine gets high appreciation marks from us as it's rare to find a $12 lunch specials that is substantial and varied. The food is not wow, but it's a great spot to meet my sister for lunch. We all had the half sandwich, half soup or salad. The portions were satisfyingly significant and we're always fans of lentil soup, which they have on the menu every day. Even the salad that came with my sister's lunch was of a decent size.

ORamen

575 6th Ave, NY, NY 10011

Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: First time
I'm not sure why there is nothing more written up about Oramen, newly opened on 6th Avenue between 16th and 17th. It's that kind of easy place to go with a selection of ramen paired into lunch sets. We were perfectly satisfied with the shoyu ramen, great and comforting on abruptly chilly days like today. We got one set with the kara age (fried chicken) and are already making plans for next lunch - the hamburg lunch set and maybe more kara age. As always, we're happy to have more non-Western lunching options in the hood.

Mira Sushi

46 E. 22nd St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visits: When it rains
Mira Sushi is just fine, as it always is. It's most endearing trait for us is it's proximity to the office. Which means on bitterly cold days or torrentially rainy ones, that's where you will find us. Having a just fine lunch. Nothing to write home about.

Koa

12 W. 21st St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: Often
Koa keeps adjusting its lunch menu, but since it gets nicer with more options, we're definitely not complaining. The ramen lunch set we normally get with salad and vegetarian spring rolls now comes a la carte so if you're not especially hungry, or you're especially careful about money, you can have a bowl of ramen on its own. There were a couple different hot soup versions and two dry ramen noodle versions.

Bombay Sandwich Co.

48 W. 27th St, NY, NY 10001

Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: Often
Those of you who follow our lunching adventures will know we don't shy away from any type of food, though I have to admit a personal preference for meaty dishes. Until, that is, we discovered the lentil bowl at Bombay Sandwich Co. Even for a habitual meat eater like myself, the lentil bowl is utterly satisfying. The saltiness of the lentils cooked slow and soft over brown rice and complemented with a tart cucumber tomato salad with an apple garlic pickle is just lovely. One of our favorite lunches.

Hill Country BBQ

30 W. 24th St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: Often
Sadly the moist brisket, our usual lunch order at Hill Country was too marbled today, making every bite unpredictable and not that good. It was so not that good that we had to order a couple pieces of lean brisket just to cut the pure fat. But then, on the way out, the guy behind the counter offered us a free chocolate chip cookie for kicks. I think he was being nice, but what he didn't know was that (1) we had a bad lunch and (2) Hill Country's chocolate chip cookie is the ABSOLUTE BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE. In the end we leave quite satisfied.

Murray's Bagels

242 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visits: Rarely
We're deep in the middle of an installation for TEDxNewYork so I stopped by Murray's Bagels for a quick bite. M. wasn't with me and I honestly could not for the life of me guess what her favorite bagel sandwich could be so I got her mine, which is salami and tuna fish salad. I personally find it quite a great taste combination but M. said it was like peanut butter and pickles. She ate it but she eats almost everything. The tuna fish salad really has to be good though. With celery.

Taqueria Diana

601 6th Ave, NY, NY 10011

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visits: First Time
A new Taqueria Diana opened up in our 'hood. We had the Baja style fish tacos and the al pastor tacos. They weren't bad, nothing incredible, but also a perfectly nice lunch option if you're craving tacos, which sometimes we definitely do. I forgot we had gone with Gordon to the East Village location for burritos a couple years ago. Now I want to go back to try the burritos and maybe the roast chicken. I can never say no to roast chicken.

Lucky's Famous Burgers

264 W. 23rd St, NY, NY 10023

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visits: First Time
Surprisingly we'd never tried Lucky's Famous Burgers though its kitschy red and yellow interior is precisely the type of place you could find us at. We had the Lucky Cheddar Burger, which was pretty fine if it not a bit on the dry side. No reason to go out of your way, but if you need a reasonably quick bite that isn't overly processed, Lucky's is your place.

Ridgeway Diner

664 Ave of the Americas, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: Regularly
Something about the bright cleanliness of the Ridgeway Diner appeals to us and so we keep going back for their gyros. You might find tastier, more flavorful ones out there on the street, but it's nice sometimes to have something on the verge of bland.

By Chloe

60 W. 22nd St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visits: First time
A by Chloe, the highly touted vegan fast casual, opened down the block from us maybe a month ago and we have avoided trying it because every time we walk by, long lines snake out to the sidewalk. Finally today we had a late breakfast and thought, oh great, a late lunch a by Chloe when it won't be as crowded. Alas that was not true at all. The ordering experience is hectic and cramped. You're surrounded by lots of semi-stylish women who are all equally annoyed at the process but yet somehow still standing there waiting for their order, like we were. We were prepared to be underwhelmed by the hype but Chloe is doing something amazing because the classic burger and kale caesar salad were rather tasty. Tasty enough that we might be tempted to brave the lines from time to time in the future.

Chop Shop

41 W. 24th St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visits: First Time
We're never going to say no to new Asian options in the 'hood but sure do wish Chop Shop could be better. They were swamped today, so swamped back of house brought out dishes to front, which was kind of cute. The dishes we had were just shy of good. The cucumber salad too sweet. The pork buns a little skimpy and the salt and pepper baby chicken not enough salt and pepper. Still this neighborhood is so lacking in Asian food that I'm quite sure we'll be back to try something else. Maybe they'll have improved by then!

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.

KoFoo

67 W. 23rd St, NY, NY 10010 (at the back of the deli)

Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: Often
It was surprisingly calm and not at all hectic at KoFoo today. If you've not been, you should. A brisk team of Korean ladies dishes out an array of Korean food from the back of a generic deli right there on the north side of 23rd St. The seating is scant but the turnover fast and we always end up staying for the bibimbap. Not for those looking for ambiance. Yes for those looking for reasonably tasty Korean food in the Flatiron District.

New York Burger Co.

678 Sixth Avenue, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 4 - Just fine
Visits: Regular rotation
New York Burger is nothing spectacular, but yet totally reliable. Like you can depend on it to provide a solid hot dog, so-so chicken tenders, a not bad burger and fresh onion rings.

Petite Abeille

44 W. 17th St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visits: Once in awhile
There is an entire category of places we go because they have been around forever and despite sometimes lackluster menus, we go to support the spaces that add depth and character to the city. Petite Abeille is one such place. There is nothing particularly exciting about the menu, but it's charming in the back dining room with a patina of age worth sinking into.

New York Bakery

51 W. 29th St, NY, NY 10001

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visits: First visit
Don't let the incongruous name confuse you, New York Bakery is an amalgamation of Korean and Mexican dishes where you can order fish tacos and Korean bulgogi with kimchi tacos from the same smiling guy. It's an itty bitty space, run down and easily cramped, but the attitude is so overwhelmingly friendly that it's a pleasant place to perch on a stool and get a little messy with bulgogi tacos that ooze flavor.

Wisefish Poke

263 E. 19th St, NY, NY 10011

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visits: 1st time
One minute poké is a casual Hawaiian classic, found all over the islands, the next minute it's the new it thing, the dish on everyone's tongue. If you don't know it, you will soon. At it's mostly basic, it's chunks of tuna marinated in soy and sesame. But everyone has their own interpretation so we stopped by the newly opened Wisefish Poke in Chelsea to try theirs. M. had the classic tuna while I went with salmon. The space itself is charming, bare and extremely loud. Even when the group of 10 next to us left, sounds rebounded against the hard surfaces in close to deafening levels. The bowls themselves are alright. Not worth the long walk, but decent enough if you're in the neighborhood. Despite the fresh ingredients, they're missing some kind of something something.

Ridgeway Diner

664 Avenue of the Americas

Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: Once in a while
We both had the lamb gyros today, and they were soo good!  The meat was piping hot dripping with juicy grease, the pita fresh and the tzatziki just tangy enough. We've always liked this place although it's generally off our radar. At least after today, we think we should be coming here more often. 

Bombay Sandwich Co.

48 W. 27th St, NY, NY 10001

Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: Often
The lentil bowl is still good at the Bombay Sandwich Co., though the board says "French lentils" and online says "Yellow lentils". You can clearly see which it was. Me personally I have a slight preference for the brown ones but don't mind the yellow either.