Coffee Shop vs. Shake Shack: Lunch Outside the Box

Even though it’s freezing outside (at least it was when I wrote this post), I want to honor two of my favorite lunchspots with an entry on how great they are year-round. Today, a virtual journey to Madison Square Park and Union Square via some fantastic sandwiches.

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Say what you want about hamburgers and fries and who’s got the best of the best, but in my opinion there is nothing better than a big fat Shack burger and Concrete from Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. On a busy Summer day the line at the shack can wrap around the edge of the park, so be sure to check ahead on their webcam: http://www.shakeshacknyc.com/

Recently Shake Shack has opened locations at the new Mets Stadium, Citi Field, and on the Upper West Side, but the original still reigns supreme. The park is packed with metal tables and chairs, and there’s a new set of benches in the street where Broadway runs into Madison and 23rd St. for you to perch on if it’s crowded. Work up your appetite, because you can’t miss a bite at Shake Shack: ice cream, burger and fries are all equal parts to a whole amazing meal. The fries aren’t your regular McFries: they’re squiggly and perfectly salted. The burger isn’t a boring one: it’s smothered in sauces and toppings and at $4.75 pretty affordable.

My opinion: grab a friend for a leisurely park lunch when it starts getting nice out and get your Shake Shack on. Until then, see you at the Uptown indoor location, which is just as yummy for the Winter.

Shake Shack
Madison Square Park
Or
366 Columbus Ave. (at 77th)
$

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Union Square is such a popular meeting spot for lunch, conveniently home to a whole mess of subway lines and equally parts East and West sides. The problem is that around the square, most of the real estate belongs to big retail or supermarkets. While sometimes grabbing a bite in the Whole Foods cafeteria might suffice, other times you really need a sit-down meal, and Coffee Shop on the Northwest corner of the Square is your best bet.

Inside, it looks innocently enough like a casual diner with a well-stocked bar, but don’t be fooled by the vinyl seats and metal stools. When it’s nice out, Coffee Shop becomes sort of a see-and-be-seen-scene, with tables lining the sidewalk that are hard to snag at lunchtime. The kicker is the waitstaff – it’s a well-known fact that Coffee Shop is staffed entirely by models, actors and actresses, guaranteeing you something great to look at even if you don’t secure a seat on the sidewalk. But forget about the servers: the food, with its Brazilian inspired menu, is good enough to stand on its own. My favorite item on the menu used to be the tuna melt, served on a croissant with amazing herbed skinny French fries, but recently it’s disappeared from the menu. Not to worry, as the rest of the fare is equally satisfying, like the big smoked turkey on croissant sandwich, or for brunch, their spin on eggs benedict.

At any rate, if you’re looking for a good sandwich at a hot and convenient spot, Coffee Shop is always great.

Coffee Shop
Union Square West
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