Essen Fast Slow Food
Deli$$$$
Midtown East, New York
"Free bread samples are a great snack too :)"(2 Tips)
"Veggie bipimbap is amazing, and the healthy green juice is too!"(2 Tips)
"The best stir fry in the neighborhood."(4 Tips)
"Chipotle chicken sandwich from the brick oven is sooo good!"(8 Tips)
63 Tips and reviewsFilter:
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- healthy food
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Michael Fox-RabinovitzJune 13, 2015Unexpectedly complete eatery in midtown, lots of salad bar options, as well as a wide selection of burgers etc. Good lunch place if you can't quite decide what you want
Marisole from the smoothie bar is the sweetest, and her smoothies are bomb (get the funky monkey with soy milk and no chocolate) Also the salad is great but get there before 12 to avoid long lines
For $8.65 (tax included) you can get a small salad with one protein and cheese and UNLIMITED vege toppings!! Get it chopped as well!! And don't forget to grab a free focaccia to go with that salad! :p
the "chicken club" is AMAZING. roasted red peppers, bacon, lettuce tomato and mayo. ask for grilled chicken instead of the breaded chicken, but either kind is good!
DevontaFebruary 3, 2016The food bar during lunch time is amazing. Probably the best in the city. Pay by weight is expensive. Give it a try. Can't go wrong.
Go to the back right between the Burger station and udon station and there is a bowl of free hot bread up there right out of the oven.- Mehdi AliOctober 30, 2013I tried the California chicken wrap and enjoyed every bite. This won't be my last time coming here. Definitely added to the lunch place rotation!
Quick meals can be tricky, on one hand if you buy by the pound you enter and exit in less than 10 min, but if you order from the stations at noon...you are doomed.
Place is a madhouse during the lunch rush but lines move quickly. Best salad in the area (one protein, two premium toppings and unlimited veggie toppings)
Justin EntrupJuly 22, 2015Big portions for low price! Great for lunch but the lines can be long. Stir fry is great.
Meir SadanJuly 12, 2013There's a cool bar table upstairs with oulets if you need to get some work done and the library reading room is too quiet for you.- Matt ZoufalyAugust 9, 2014Oven baked chicken sandwiches are great for lunch. Free bread samples are a great snack too :)
Good place to pick up breakfast on the run- good selection of yogurts, health bars and a fruit bar station- Veggie bipimbap is amazing, and the healthy green juice is too! Great bang for your buck at the juice bar.
- Best bang for your buck in midtown Manhattan. Decent food, big portions, small prices
Andrea Ortiz LorenzoJuly 18, 2012Try the mediterranean salad...delish!! I mixed mine up with honey dijon & no blue cheese (allergy)..mixed greens are fresh & crispy! Yummies
This place is everything!!!!! Great quality buffet foods stir fry bimbimbob deli meats and so much more.
Umair ZiaAugust 9, 2014Always a safe bet for office time lunch. Burgers=nothing special. The salad/hot bar is excellent.
Flat bread sandwiches in the back are delicious. Snack on free bread while waiting
Luis DiazSeptember 9, 2013Great quality food;however, during lunchtime 12-130p it is crazy crowded. Plenty of seating upstairs :-)
Isabel ZapataMay 15, 2013Good option for large groups (many available options). Fairly good Asian food for noodles and sushi lovers.
Clean and Good tasting salad with most reasonable Priceline the city, 7.95 with meat and protein
The Portobello Mushroom at the Brick Oven Sandwich section is delicious!
Grand opening today! Everything on the menu is half off! The bacon cheeseburger deluxe is delish.
Kinda meh. Other great options for the se food in the area. Digg'in and chop't are great choices.
Has to be one of the best chopped salad bars in the city- Seriously. The best stir fry in the neighborhood. Hands down. Holy crap.
Cynthia SchamesDecember 17, 2012I don't get why people love this place. Mediterranean grilled veggies (basically ratatoiulle) do not belong in rice bowls. The ramen is oddly spiced, tastes like Spanish food.
Pax WhitfieldJuly 15, 2015Meh. Was hoping for more, but this place isn't impr'Essen me. Just a decent deli, in chain form.
If you are eating at the communal table, it is considered rude to move the chair to a completely new spot to deliberately avoid sitting next to another patron.
Food is good. Go before 11:30. Way too crowded after and food will be almost gone.
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Essen Fast Slow Food
290 Madison Ave (btwn E 40th & E 41st St)
New York, NY 10017
United States
New York, NY 10017
United States
Closed until 5:00 AM (Show more)
- Mon–Fri
- 5:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Sat
- 5:00 AM–6:00 PM
(212) 689-0800
Features
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. American Express)
Wi-Fi
Yes
Outdoor Seating
No
Music
Yes
Parking
Street
Restroom
Yes
Food & Drink
Menus
Breakfast, Lunch
See More
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- 6.6
"The chicken greek salad it's delicious!"
Alejandra Martínez - 7.2
"They have Korean food here. Great salad and sandwich stations. Salad bar by the pound."
Karen 
"An above average midtown deli. Some great sandwich options: turkey --> the Union Square; roast beef --> the Chipotle; or splurge --> chicken parm on a roll, grilled in the panini press."
Anuj Mathur
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- 9.5
"One of my fav parks in manhattan. Always a great time just grabbing a quick meal to eat there and watch the world go by"
Victoria Wong - 9.2
"I work from here everyday. It's the most beautiful home for books I've ever been in. Lots of little places to study and get work done. Free wifi all day!!!"
Michael Fernandez - 7.5
"You don't often hear of this coffee shop chain, but they're actually quite good. The deserts are excellent. Great selection."
Oz Lubling
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