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“Lunching at Inakaya, by guest reviewer Kathleen Squires”


  Occasion: Cuisine: Area: Cost: Rating:
  Lunch/Takeout Asian Midtown Moderate Great

I’ve always loved a good lunchbox. As a kid, the school year started with the excitement of choosing one. Some of my greatest hits included: HR Puffinstuff, Planet of the Apes, Charlie’s Angels, and CHiPs. I carried my tin tote with pride; because of it I anticipated lunchtime, delighting in opening its hinges to uncover the gifts that my mother packed inside. It was like a daily birthday party—who knew what bonuses came along with the usual baloney or PB& J? Maybe a fun size Snicker? Or a TastyKake? Which colorful flavor of Hi-C awaited in the matching thermos? All that was missing were some candles and a song.     

Junior High was a letdown, however, as I reluctantly moved on to the brown bag, lest I be labeled a “baby” for the rest of my school existence. But as a teen, I was able to embrace lunchboxes again: my girlfriends and I decided that they made kitschy accessories to our New Wave style as purses. It was the 80s, after all. But as time went by, and my big hair settled more smoothly on my head, I thought I had seen my last lunchbox for good.    

Not so. Upon moving to Tokyo a couple of years ago, I immediately took to the concept of the “bento box;” a Japanese lunchbox of sorts for people of all ages. It is, basically, a partitioned square container, whether plastic, cardboard, lacquer or wood; perhaps multi-tiered; always filled with varied treats. Some come complete with chopsticks and adorable little carrying cases. Some are fashioned into cutesy shapes like panda bears or Hello Kitty. Metal bentos, preferred by salarymen, resemble high-tech laptops. (Check out this link for just a small sampling of the different styles: http://www.jbox.com/TOPPROD/BN ).

And like so many things Japanese, there’s a community of fanatics who specialize in bento-worship. The culture is so banoodles about bento, that chefs compete in contests for the arrangement of the food within. Bento boxes are also prevalent in restaurants, a handy lunchtime tradition, which has carried over to some NY restaurants as well.  No matter where you experience bento, the elements inside usually include vegetables (pickled or cooked); salad; protein (fish, meat or tofu); and some sashimi or sushi.    

So, it was no surprise to find that Inakaya, an authentic, Tokyo-based restaurant at ... [more, click below]

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Other restaurants in Midtown :
+ Lever House   + Aquavit   + RM   + Joseph's (formerly Citarella The Restaurant)   + Town   + Artisanal   + The Oyster Bar   + Geisha   + David Burke and Donatella Restaurant   + Riingo   + Amma   + Cafe Sabarsky   + The Stone Rose Lounge   + BLT Steak   + V, The Steakhouse-- Closed   + Bar Masa   + Cafe Gray   + The Bar Room at The Modern   + The Cafe at Aquavit   + The Cafe at Aquavit   + Bistro du Vent-- Closed   + Shaburi   + Xing   + The Modern   + Bar Americain   + Alto   + Park Blue   + Mainland-- Closed   + Nobu 57   + Quality Meats   + Dona-- CLOSED   + Daisy May's   + 7Square-- CLOSED   + Amalia   + Fireside   + Anthos   + Patroon   + BLT Market   + Toloache   + Mia Dona   + Park Avenue Summer   + Convivio   + The Oak Room by guest reviewer Julie Besonen   + At Vermilion by guest reviewer Elaine Weiner   + Lunching at Inakaya, by guest reviewer Kathleen Squires   + Marea, by Guest Reviewer Susan Kane Walkush   + Le Bernardin   + New York Central -- A Reason To Eat at the Grand Hyatt Again   + Pampano Botaneria by Dara Pollak   


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