Cheap Lunch Investigation, Volume I

2008 August 7
by Pete McDonald

I’ve been stuck in the office all week and not fishing. To make the best of it, I’m following a plan in the works since buying a normal lunch here in Manhattan started costing me $10-15 a day. (Damn you, ethanol.) My goal is to find as many places as possible where I can buy lunch for under five bucks. Here are the results to date:

Monday: Fresco Tortillas, a cheap Mexican place owned and operated by Asians. Black beans and rice and a can of coke. Price: $4.87 (or something, I dropped some of the change.)

Tuesday: Famous Rays or Rays or Rays Original or Crazy Rays or Whatever. Pizza. Single Slice of cheese pizza and a 16 oz soda. Price: $4.27

Wed: Fresco Tortillas, redux. Chicken and cheese quesadilla and a can of soda. Price: $4.75

Thursday: McDonald’s. Two grilled chipotle snack wraps and a sweet tea (which actually is pretty close to traditional sweet tea). Price: $4.09

So far, not too creative. Tomorrow I’m going to range a little further to see what’s what. Healthwise, though, I’ve actually lost a pound.

8 Responses leave one →
  1. 2008 August 7
    Marco Esquandolas permalink

    Three words: Dirty Water Dog

  2. 2008 August 7
    James Q. Wadsworth permalink

    Is Fresco that place that opened up on 3rd Ave WAAAY back in the day of the REDACTED Years?

    A joke from a Chinese man: How do you know when you’re getting *really* cheap Mexican food? When there are Chinese in the kitchen… Thank you REDACTED..

  3. 2008 August 7

    Yes. Still the same quality and quantity.

    And use your own name, dammit. The real J-Wad is going to hunt you down and kill you soon.

  4. 2008 August 8
    Nate Stansberry permalink

    40th and 6th… Place called Gourmet Deli… ruben + Coke=5bucks! Check out BP afterward… it is summer after all… !!

  5. 2008 August 8

    I’m all over that. Although today I’m looking for a $2 lunch as I’m about to go blow a bunch of money at Urban Angler.

  6. 2008 August 8
    REDACTED permalink

    a reuben and drink for $5 sounds good… And I don’t think the original Wad’s middle initial was Q…

  7. 2008 August 8

    Best (or possibly worst) cheap lunch is the free hot dog at Rudy’s, provided you buy a beer or two…

  8. 2008 August 9

    The cheap lunch investigation is over. I freaking broke out with a couple of zits for the first time in 18 years.

    I may have to go get the reuben, though, on principle.

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