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.

pastrami reuben at a jewish deli

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?

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.

Chipotle.

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.

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

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

What, they don't have smoothies in NYC?

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

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.

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.

You could try fasting.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

I second the Chipotle! Chipotle!

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

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

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

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.

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...

A bug! Eat a bug!

Ollie's Noodle Shop!

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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...

take lunch to some homeless people?

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.

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".

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!

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...? ;-)

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

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

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.

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?

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?

You guys eat such odd things...

Paul Hewson??? AKA Bono?

Or someone taking the piss, Dublin style? Heh.