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Plan Jason's lunch

Today is one of those days when I don't feel like eating. All my favorite foods from my favorite lunch spots seem boring and unappealing to me. If I had access to an IV, I'd skip lunch, hook myself up, and get my midday sustenance that way. But as that's not an option, what should I have to eat today for lunch? Options around Grand Central appreciated.

Update: I'm back from lunch. Thanks for all the recommendations.

Reader Comments
47 comments
ken says:

Is there an Indian or sushi joint nearby? Those are the two options that usually appeal to me when I don't feel like eating the same-old.

» by ken on Mar 04, 2004 at 12:48 PM
Craig says:

pastrami reuben at a jewish deli

» by Craig on Mar 04, 2004 at 12:50 PM
KJC says:

I hate that feeling, and I get it all the time. Not that I would recommend doing it, how about just eating half a (big) bag of your favorite chips or salted snack, then hope you feel like eating next time your appetite comes around?

» by KJC on Mar 04, 2004 at 12:50 PM
del says:

how about a spiritual discipline for lunch: a one meal fast.
if you're like me you eat at your desk often anyway, so set aside time to stop working and meditate on how fortunate you are instead...
helps me to stay grounded anyway.

» by del on Mar 04, 2004 at 12:52 PM
Chipotle says:

Chipotle.

» by Chipotle on Mar 04, 2004 at 12:56 PM
yi says:

i was just thinking what del was thinking: a one meal fast, plus drinking lots of water. but maybe take a midday stroll, buy a meal, to go, and offer it to someone less fortunate.

» by yi on Mar 04, 2004 at 12:57 PM
Cory Doctorow says:

Go to a Fourbucks and get three different decadent chocolate things and eat three bites from each.

» by Cory Doctorow on Mar 04, 2004 at 12:57 PM
unmute says:

cheese sandwich. barring that, go for a snickers or a soy smoothie, depending on your taste.

» by unmute on Mar 04, 2004 at 01:00 PM
Alicia says:

What, they don't have smoothies in NYC?

» by Alicia on Mar 04, 2004 at 01:04 PM
Peter says:

i think you should go to mcdonalds and supersize everything while you still can ;)

» by Peter on Mar 04, 2004 at 01:23 PM
Jon says:

I'm doing the one-meal fast in Wilmington, Delaware and took in an afternoon string quartet concert. I know NYC isn't quite the cultural spot Wilmington is but I expect you could find something satisfying.

Barring that, pick up a can of Spam.

» by Jon on Mar 04, 2004 at 01:23 PM
Bryan says:

I recommend a coke, a cold sandwich and a walk. I've had that feeling before and I don't think any food is really going to cut it.

» by Bryan on Mar 04, 2004 at 01:27 PM
Jacob says:

You could try fasting.

» by Jacob on Mar 04, 2004 at 01:30 PM
Morgan says:

On my way home I find it hard not to buy a slice of Bayou Beast pizza from Two Boots in GCT. (of course you could break the picket line and go to the Oyster Bar.)

Otherwise... count your blessings, there's more there then out here in the middle of Queens.

» by Morgan on Mar 04, 2004 at 01:31 PM
steve minutillo says:

Two words: "Dining Concourse". Get a panini. Watch the travelers come and go.

» by steve minutillo on Mar 04, 2004 at 01:32 PM
sixtoe says:

Take the rest of the afternoon off and go to Leo Burdock's chip shop in Dublin, Ireland.

Start here:
http://www.orbitz.com

» by sixtoe on Mar 04, 2004 at 01:36 PM
rob says:

When I feel that way I used to get something simple from the vending machine, like peanut butter and crackers. Lately, I've started stocking my desk with Slim Fast meal bars. The peanut butter ones are edible and are both filling and somewhat nutricious.

» by rob on Mar 04, 2004 at 01:41 PM
miah says:

Diamond Dairy Restaurant is right by there and a favorite spot of mine. It's a small little kosher restaurant that overlooks the Diamond exchange. Good food and an interesting scene going on down below.

» by miah on Mar 04, 2004 at 01:46 PM
travis says:

mmmmm.......peanut butter toast.

» by travis on Mar 04, 2004 at 01:50 PM
amit says:

wow, someone from wilmington, delaware. me too. well, i used to be. just had a great sandwich at wichcraft on 19th st between park and broadway. highly recommended, though not really anywhere near grand central.

» by amit on Mar 04, 2004 at 01:52 PM
dj says:

I second the "walk" idea. Along the way, have an espresso and some samosas. You could take the 6 town to 28th and then walk back up while you eat.

» by dj on Mar 04, 2004 at 01:53 PM
Anil says:

I second the Chipotle! Chipotle!

» by Anil on Mar 04, 2004 at 02:01 PM
dj says:

/me is tempted to include a google textad javascript in the comments

» by dj on Mar 04, 2004 at 02:09 PM
Stefan Jones says:

I heard the bacala at Fugazzi's is pretty good.

» by Stefan Jones on Mar 04, 2004 at 02:09 PM
megnut says:

So, do we get some closure on this thread? What did you end up doing for lunch?

» by megnut on Mar 04, 2004 at 02:12 PM
jkottke says:

Ok, i'm off to lunch...still don't quite know for sure what I'm going to do. I'll give a full report when I return.

» by jkottke on Mar 04, 2004 at 02:17 PM
Benjy says:

I'm in the same boat. I've been sitting here and thinking what sounds good for lunch for the past hour--it's not about 1:30. Getting hungry, but not sure what for...

» by Benjy on Mar 04, 2004 at 02:25 PM
Greg Knauss says:

A bug! Eat a bug!

» by Greg Knauss on Mar 04, 2004 at 02:26 PM
Brian says:

Ollie's Noodle Shop!

It's in Times Square (yick), but their pork with garlic sauce is amazing.

» by Brian on Mar 04, 2004 at 02:30 PM
monkeyinabox says:

Well, it's Survivor Thursday, so pretend you're on the show, jump in the river naked and try and catch a fish.

» by monkeyinabox on Mar 04, 2004 at 02:33 PM
toby says:

fasting? what.. are you people crazy? salmon over a bed of brown rice with a dash or two of soy sauce.

» by toby on Mar 04, 2004 at 02:44 PM
Alaina says:

Looks like I'm too late for today's lunch, but if you are up for an inexpensive adventure, you could try Oms/b on 45th between Third and Lexington Ave. They serve creative versions of omusubi (Japanese rice balls). Here's a review.

» by Alaina on Mar 04, 2004 at 02:50 PM
Wyclif says:

You can always fast tomorrow: it's an Ember Day.

» by Wyclif on Mar 04, 2004 at 02:51 PM
Charles says:

I second the Chipotle comment. Except that I am having to have less these days due to this.

» by Charles on Mar 04, 2004 at 02:55 PM
Robin says:

it's evening here, so I'm not sure how much help I can be, but a good plate of bangers & mash always sorts me out, but you'll need company...

» by Robin on Mar 04, 2004 at 02:57 PM
cam says:

take lunch to some homeless people?

» by cam on Mar 04, 2004 at 03:13 PM
hosenpants says:

whatever you do, I suggest NOT spending $20 on lunch every other day. damn! Mayhaps its easier to snack in NYC, but out here in Burbank...forget it.

» by hosenpants on Mar 04, 2004 at 03:25 PM
jkottke says:

I'm back from lunch. I set out with the intention of taking a short walk and then hit the nearest Chipotle, but I went by Hale and Hearty and the promise of Cauliflower and Cheddar soup lured me in the door. I grabbed a Caesar salad (somewhat healthy and I'm a sucker for croutons) but then found out they were out of the C&C soup so I had to go with Wild Mushroom with Potato. A pretty good lunch. Hale and Hearty is one of my favorite lunch places in Manhattan. I love soup and they make some of the best...good variety, they give you a nice bag of soup crackers, and they use quality ingredients.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I'm definitely going to try out Diamond Dairy (w/ a lunch pal), Ollie's Noodle Shop, and Oms/b.

Two words: "Dining Concourse". Get a panini. Watch the travelers come and go.

I eat in the Dining Consourse in Grand Central about 3 times a week. I usually spend about half the time reading and the rest of the time watching people.

A bug! Eat a bug!

When I said "thanks to everyone" above, I meant "thanks to everyone but Greg".

» by jkottke on Mar 04, 2004 at 03:37 PM
Scott Johnson says:

I didn't see this post until after you had already finished lunch, but I wanted to recommend that you go with your IV idea. That seems to be the easiest solution yet!

» by Scott Johnson on Mar 04, 2004 at 04:00 PM
John Dowdell says:

Fasting one meal may not be as useful as making sure that an entire day has http://www.google.com/search?q=intermittent+caloric+restriction

While we're on the subject, has anybody seen my car keys...? ;-)

» by John Dowdell on Mar 04, 2004 at 04:33 PM
John Dowdell says:

fix: "day has less than 70% of maintainence calories:"

» by John Dowdell on Mar 04, 2004 at 04:34 PM
Joseph Wain says:

If you go to Ollie's, get the cold sesame noodles. Best dish there on the menu, bar none.

» by Joseph Wain on Mar 04, 2004 at 06:00 PM
james says:

Jason is my hero! He asks for lunch suggestions, the sheep line up to hopefully be the one he chooses, and then he goes someplace no one picked!

Classic.

» by james on Mar 04, 2004 at 08:06 PM
philoye says:

Hale and Hearty? You mean, of course, "Hale and Hearty Prices" right? Soup and salad will set you back somewhere in the neighborhood of $9 right?

» by philoye on Mar 04, 2004 at 09:02 PM
Paul Hewson says:

Leo Burdocks Fish'n Chips in Dublin has some really greasy Fish and/or Chips. But with a little bit of vinegar it's damn tasty. Is it the best Fish 'N Chips shop in the world?

» by Paul Hewson on Mar 04, 2004 at 09:29 PM
JB says:

You guys eat such odd things...

» by JB on Mar 05, 2004 at 05:20 AM
tomcosgrave says:

Paul Hewson??? AKA Bono?

Or someone taking the piss, Dublin style? Heh.

» by tomcosgrave on Mar 05, 2004 at 07:32 AM

 
This thread is closed to new comments. Thanks to everyone who responded.

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