Today's Lunch Break: Sandwiches, Sushi And Sweets
See Also: Today's Best NYC Sample Sales
Panera
Locations all over - check the map
panerabread.com
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See Also: NYC's Best Veggie Sandwiches | NYC's Best Salads
Panera's commitment to freshness and quality of ingredients sets it apart from other similar chains, as does its "pick two" menu: Pick any two choices from the menu, cup of soup, half sandwich or half salad. Upon receiving a half salad, you'd swear it was a full one, as the salad is in a huge bowl, and though the soup choices change daily, you really can't go wrong with any of them. Surprisingly delicious is the garden vegetable soup topped with a dollop of pesto (pictured), which, at only 160 calories, satisfies alongside a half salad - like the half chopped chicken Cobb salad (pictured) or a half sandwich. Choices like the Napa Almond Chicken Salad sandwich, the Asiago Roast Beef sandwich or the Mediterranean Veggie sandwich all showcase just how much care goes into menu planning at Panera. Even better? Each "pick two" comes with your choice of a bag of baby carrots, chips or a small hunk of their housemade baguette... the perfect accompaniments to an inexpensive and delicious lunch meal.
Nu Sushi
76 Pearl Street
New York, NY 10004
(212) 363-1668
Nu Sushi's extensive lunch menu, filled with items both familiar and not-so-familiar, make it the obvious choice for your go-to Japanese takeout place - you'll never be bored. The standard teriyaki, tempura, even katsu are all there, alongside roast pork, coconut shrimp, curry udon or rice, and house udon soup. The house udon soup boasts crispy gyoza and roast pork (Chinese style) atop properly cooked udon noodles, packaged separately from the broth so your noodles don't get soggy in transit. If you like salmon, but are tired of teriyaki, try the smoky salmon all day box to go (pictured, $9) - a scoop of rice, salad, 4 California rolls, and salt&pepper salmon over crisp-tender vegetables. The regular menu also has a few items to raise eyebrows - roti canai (Malaysian pancakes with curry) ($3), miso Chilean seabass ($16), the Viagra roll (sea urchin, eel and avocado) ($12) - but there's something to be said for sticking to the tried and true lunch menu.
Max Brenner - Chocolate by the Bald Man
841 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
(212) 388-0030
maxbrenner.com/
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Also See: New York City's Best Hot Drinks | Best Desserts In The Big Apple
Chocolate by the Bald Man probably doesn't sound like a lunch place to you, but Max Brenner actually has a menu with many savory items on it in addition to its chocolate choices. The sandwich section clocks in at 12 different dishes, including the "unforgettable spicy tuna salad sandwich" (tomato, lettuce, pickled jalapenos, crushed BBQ chips, brushed with cilantro and avocado mayo), or the "sandwich of the seas" (pan seared salmon, caramelized onion, spicy roasted pepper aioli, tomato and lettuce) - and all of the sandwiches are accompanied by waffle fries dusted with chili and cocoa powder. Don't get so caught up in the savory side of the menu that you forget to indulge your sweet tooth, though - there are plenty of chocolate and non-chocolate (and some alcoholic!) drinks to satisfy everyone. Of course, for some true indulgence, be sure to read through the entire ten page dessert menu before choosing your poison.
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Yvo Sin is the founder and head writer of The Feisty Foodie.
