The Lunch Quadrant: Grand Central

In this week's Lunch Quadrant we check out Two Boots Grand Central, the Grand Central Oyster Bar, Chirping Chicken and Michael Jordan's The Steak House.

In this week's Lunch Quadrant we check out Two Boots Grand Central, the Grand Central Oyster Bar, Chirping Chicken and Michael Jordan's The Steak House.

201105_lq1_grandcentral.jpg

In this week's Lunch Quadrant we check out Two Boots Grand Central, the Grand Central Oyster Bar, Chirping Chicken and Michael Jordan's The Steak House.

Gothamist

(siansparkles' flickr)Two Boots: Not everyone loves the cornmeal slices they serve at this New York chain but we do—it helps that we grew up on the stuff. For a quick slice on the go, we still turn to the Boots first and the local chain's Grand Central location offers the easy comfort of having the same fare as its siblings. As for what to order? If you haven't had a slice from them before, try the plain first before expanding into the restaurant's amusingly named varieties. But if you want to explore, we're always partial to the Night Tripper and the Earth Mother (and we still mourn the loss of the Red).Lower Dining Concourse, 212-557-7992

(<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/siansparkles/4704145579/in/photostream/">siansparkles</a>' flickr) <a href="http://www.twoboots.com/TW2008/Gc08/Gc08.html">Two Boots</a>: Not everyone loves the cornmeal slices they serve at this New York chain but we do—it helps that we grew up on the stuff. For a quick slice on the go, we still turn to the Boots first and the local chain's Grand Central location offers the easy comfort of having the same fare as its siblings. As for what to order? If you haven't had a slice from them before, try the plain first before expanding into the restaurant's amusingly named varieties. But if you want to explore, we're always partial to the Night Tripper and the Earth Mother (and we still mourn the loss of the Red). Lower Dining Concourse, 212-557-7992

201105_lq2_twoboots.jpg

(siansparkles' flickr)Two Boots: Not everyone loves the cornmeal slices they serve at this New York chain but we do—it helps that we grew up on the stuff. For a quick slice on the go, we still turn to the Boots first and the local chain's Grand Central location offers the easy comfort of having the same fare as its siblings. As for what to order? If you haven't had a slice from them before, try the plain first before expanding into the restaurant's amusingly named varieties. But if you want to explore, we're always partial to the Night Tripper and the Earth Mother (and we still mourn the loss of the Red).Lower Dining Concourse, 212-557-7992

Gothamist

(j_bary's flickr)Grand Central Oyster Bar: The rightfully famous Oyster Bar in Grand Central offers many a delicious option to the hungry traveller looking to rest their feet. But it also has a number of affordable options available at the bar and to-go. We hear good things about the crab cake sandwich ($9.75) but to be honest we've never made it past the fried oyster po' boy ($8.25).Lower Level, 212-490-6650

(<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70118259@N00/3254334402/in/photostream/">j_bary</a>'s flickr) <a href="http://www.oysterbarny.com/">Grand Central Oyster Bar</a>: The rightfully famous <a href="http://gothamist.com/tags/grandcentraloysterbar">Oyster Bar</a> in Grand Central offers many a delicious option to the hungry traveller looking to rest their feet. But it also has a number of <a href="http://www.oysterbarny.com/pdf/sandwich.pdf">affordable options</a> available at the bar and to-go. We hear good things about the crab cake sandwich ($9.75) but to be honest we've never made it past the fried oyster po' boy ($8.25). Lower Level, 212-490-6650

201105_lq3_oysters.jpg

(j_bary's flickr)Grand Central Oyster Bar: The rightfully famous Oyster Bar in Grand Central offers many a delicious option to the hungry traveller looking to rest their feet. But it also has a number of affordable options available at the bar and to-go. We hear good things about the crab cake sandwich ($9.75) but to be honest we've never made it past the fried oyster po' boy ($8.25).Lower Level, 212-490-6650

Gothamist

(Jeffrey C. on Yelp)Chirping Chicken: We've said it before and we'll say it again: Those looking for a hot and hearty lunch option shouldn't have a problem with the succulent poultry prepared at this no-frills joint. There are lots of other options nearby, and yet the Chirping Chicken is one we're known to fall back on. Grab a quarter chicken with pita bread, tomato sauce and a choice of potato salad, rice or coleslaw (for a measly $6.89 plus $1.39 for a soda), take a seat in the concourse and happily watch the world pass you by. Lower Dining Concourse, 212-661-4059

(<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nz3WYcJZgiAuVudvL7-Ewg?select=ytQQdfGBqpGl09csfJ0qKQ">Jeffrey C.</a> on Yelp) Chirping Chicken: We've said it <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/03/22/the_lunch_quadrant_86th_street_and.php#photo-3">before</a> and we'll say it again: Those looking for a hot and hearty lunch option shouldn't have a problem with the succulent poultry prepared at this no-frills joint. There are <a href="http://www.grandcentralterminal.com/go/dirListing.cfm?currCat=2138210777">lots of other</a> options nearby, and yet the Chirping Chicken is one we're known to fall back on. Grab a quarter chicken with pita bread, tomato sauce and a choice of potato salad, rice or coleslaw (for a measly $6.89 plus $1.39 for a soda), take a seat in the concourse and happily watch the world pass you by. Lower Dining Concourse, 212-661-4059

201105_lq4_chicken.jpg

(Jeffrey C. on Yelp)Chirping Chicken: We've said it before and we'll say it again: Those looking for a hot and hearty lunch option shouldn't have a problem with the succulent poultry prepared at this no-frills joint. There are lots of other options nearby, and yet the Chirping Chicken is one we're known to fall back on. Grab a quarter chicken with pita bread, tomato sauce and a choice of potato salad, rice or coleslaw (for a measly $6.89 plus $1.39 for a soda), take a seat in the concourse and happily watch the world pass you by. Lower Dining Concourse, 212-661-4059

Gothamist

(David Hulme's flickr)Michael Jordan's The Steak House NYC: Penn Station may have a classic NYC steakhouse a few blocks away, but in Grand Central all you have to do to find a quality chop is look up. Michael Jordan's The Steak House is by no means cheap (though it does often participate in Restaurant Week) but the prices isn't that absurd when take into account the quality of the meat (totally acceptable), the space (unless you are going to the late Rainbow Room it is nigh impossible to top the main concourse Grand Central), and the people watching (fabulous). Just don't make a habit of it. The Balcony, 212-655-2300

(<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidhulme/5054641963/in/photostream/">David Hulme</a>'s flickr) <a href="http://www.michaeljordansnyc.com/">Michael Jordan's The Steak House NYC</a>: Penn Station may have a <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/05/10/the_lunch_quadrant_penn_station.php#photo-5">classic NYC steakhouse</a> a few blocks away, but in Grand Central all you have to do to find a quality chop is look up. Michael Jordan's The Steak House is by <a href="http://www.grandcentralterminal.com/info/mjordan.pdf">no means cheap</a> (though it does often participate in Restaurant Week) but the prices isn't that absurd when take into account the quality of the meat (totally acceptable), the space (unless you are going to the late Rainbow Room it is nigh impossible to top the main concourse Grand Central), and the people watching (fabulous). Just don't make a habit of it. The Balcony, 212-655-2300

201105_lq5_steak.jpg

(David Hulme's flickr)Michael Jordan's The Steak House NYC: Penn Station may have a classic NYC steakhouse a few blocks away, but in Grand Central all you have to do to find a quality chop is look up. Michael Jordan's The Steak House is by no means cheap (though it does often participate in Restaurant Week) but the prices isn't that absurd when take into account the quality of the meat (totally acceptable), the space (unless you are going to the late Rainbow Room it is nigh impossible to top the main concourse Grand Central), and the people watching (fabulous). Just don't make a habit of it. The Balcony, 212-655-2300

Gothamist