The Lunch Quadrant: 23rd Street and Park Avenue South
5 photos
<p>This week we're Quadrant-ing Frank's Express Pizza, Baoguette, Ciano and Tiffin Wallah</p>
<em>(<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicksolares/4690355927/in/photostream/">Nick Solares</a>' flickr)</em><br/><strong>Frank's Express Pizza:</strong> Sometimes you want a slice of pizza that is quick and filling without any pomp and circumstance. And for those times there is Frank's Express. Literally a hole-in-the-wall, this pizza joint has been spinning pies to hungry folk for more than half a centuryâand with good reason. As Slice put it in their <a href="http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2010/06/franks-pizza-express-cheap-pizza-gramercy-flatiron-district-manhattan-nyc.html">review of the spot</a> last summer, Frank's "is an authentic neighborhood pizzeria, something of an endangered species." That slices will run you an easy $2 makes Frank's an even more appealing option.<br/><br/><em>127 E 23rd Street, between Lexington and Park Avenue South, 212-979-5469</em>
<em>(<a href="http://baoguette.com/">Baoguette</a>)</em><br/><strong>Baoguette:</strong> Michael Huynh may be a bit off the wall when it comes to opening and closing restaurants in the blink of an eye, but the sandwiches at his trio of banh mi shops are nothing to scoff at (just look at <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/02/12/plated_baoguettes_sloppy_bao.php">this Sloppy Bao</a>). The space here is small but the sandwiches come quick and priced between $6-$8 they won't empty your pockets. <br/><br/><em>61 Lexington Avenue, between 25th and 26th Streets, 212-532-1133</em>
<em>(<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/superamit/477046946/in/photostream/">@superamit</a>'s flickr)</em><br/><strong>Tiffin Wallah:</strong> This kosher vegetarian Indian restaurant lives up to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabbawala">tasty lunch boxes</a> it was named after. The whole <a href="http://www.tiffindelivery.us/TiffinWallahMenu.pdf">menu</a> is really good (even if you are a full-time carnivore) but the $6.95 lunch buffet is where it is at. From 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday-Friday, the restaurant puts out various curries, breads, salads, and desserts and invites you to dig in while sitting in the stylish-for-Curry-Hill digs (a version of the buffet is also available to go and for delivery). You won't be sorry you walked a few extra blocks North from the train station, we promise. <br/><br/><em>127 East 28th Street, between Lexington and Park Avenue South, 212-685-7301</em>
<em>(<a href="http://www.cianonyc.com/gallery.php">Ciano</a>)</em><br/><strong>Ciano:</strong> Chef Shea Gallante's <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/11/11/new_restaurants_16.php#photo-5">rustic Italian follow-up</a> to his stint at Cru (which Steve Cuozzo <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/03/02/midweek_special_nyc_restaurant_revi_139.php#photo-1">dug</a>) launched a solid three-course, $30 prix fixe menu to go along with its à la carte options. It doesn't have the absurdity of the Eleven Madison Park lunch menu (don't get us started on that) but it does have a lot of carefully prepared Italian fare featuring lots of fresh ingredients—think courses like gnocchi with oven dried tomato, broccoli rabe and garlic bread crumbs; tre formaggi raviolo; and lasagna with braised veal, English peas, garlic and bechamel.<br/><br/><em>45 E 22nd Street, between Park Avenue South and Broadway, 212-982-8422</em>