New York City is well known for different types of food, specifically lunch places, throughout the city. The category of food that one eats for lunch is almost designated by the region that your office is located in, and in midtown, it is defined by delis. My old office was located on Union Square and our choice in lunch places ranged from Café Medina, Pita Joe, Toasties, Pret a Manger, and unfortunately Whole Foods. Going to and finding a midtown-esque deli was completely out of the norm, if not non-existent. My current office is located on 27th and Broadway and aside from all the array of food places to venture out on 23rd and on 7th Avenue, I decided to make the best of a “midtown deli,” Café 28. Before I began my new job, I was excited to spend less than $10 on lunch because of these delis since everywhere on Union Square (with the exception of VERY few places), minimum $10 was somewhat of a norm so you can imagine how much money was thrown to lunch every day. Well, I am definitely a failure because I have not been able to spend less than $10 on lunch at Café 28 … when I walk in, I feel as if every part of the deli is calling my name: the salad bar, the hot food bar, the wrap station, the udon station and I just can’t say no to trying few things here and there … and I end up with a receipt for $13. How do you possibly manage to a. control how much food you put on your stupid weighted tray; b. make a decision when it’s beyond overwhelming to make a choice on what you want; c. not add a drink to your meal when every single flavor and brand of any drink seems to be so readily available?
So much for cheap lunches. Now I get stressed when it’s nearing lunchtime. And it doesn’t help that I’m totally the new kid in school.
