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Search Welcome About Me Write a Review Find Reviews Find Friends Messaging Talk Member Search Essen Slow Fast Food 19 reviews Rating Details
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
515 Madison Ave
(between 53rd St & 54th St)
New York, NY 10022
Neighborhood: Midtown East
(212) 207-4566 http://essenslowfastfood.com/ Add Photos Nearest Transit Station:
5 Av/53 St (E, M)
51 St (4, 6, 6X)
Lexington Av/53 St (E, M)
Good for Groups: No
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Attire: Casual
Price Range: $
Good for Kids: No
Takes Reservations: No
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Waiter Service: No
Outdoor Seating: No
Wi-Fi: No
Good For: Lunch
Alcohol: No
Noise Level: Very Loud
Has TV: No
Caters: Yes
First to Review Joolie T.
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Send to Friend Bookmark Send to Phone Write a Review 19 reviews for Essen Slow Fast Food Reviews Matching: Search Reviews Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites' | Facebook Friends' Facebook Friends From Reviewers You're Following Reviews from Your Friends 19 reviews in English Review from Kitty B. Elite '12 88 friends 141 reviews Kitty B.
New York, NY
5/18/2012
Finally, some new blood in the hood. This place is becoming one of my favorite go tos for lunch. The place is spotless since its new and it gets hectic for lunch, but that's midtown for you.
I can only comment on the sandwiches because that's all I've eaten here. The grilled chicken is delicious and yummy. yes, yummy. You see them making it fresh all day, so its piping hot when they load up your sandwich. I sometime get the California or make my own. The guys behind the counter are super cool and always hook me louis vuitton taschen outlet (http://www.delouisvuittononlineshop.com/)
up to get me fat or something, like I sometimes get fries when I didn't ask for it...oh well. sac louis vuitton pas cher (http://www.saclouisvuittonpascher-fr.net/)
We often order food delivered as well and it's always fast. There may have been one error, but they were quick to fix it with relatively no hassle (maybe, just maybe I ordered to wrong bread and it was my own fault).
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Useful Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Wendy G. Elite '12 87 friends 296 reviews Wendy G.
New York, NY
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
They serve a proper, nice and clean lunch buffet, with lots of Italian options. Food get cold pretty fast though. so try to go earlier than 1pm.
Udon, sushi, salad bar, sandwich station. This place basically serve everything basic and healthy as lunch food.
Its nice to have so many choices. Taste ? Pretty mediocre la.
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Useful Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Chanjoo M. 8 friends 11 reviews Chanjoo M.
Ridgewood, NY
6/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love the salad bar in this place. ?They are creative in the way they cook vegetables and greens so it changes from day to day. ?They also have an assortment of Korean style food such as jap-chae and shrimp with Korean hot sauce. ?Usually a fish, and on certain days, tiny, quarter size burger patties with little cheeses on them. ?Not sure what their food rotation schedule is but I ate here every day for a month and never got tired of it.
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Useful Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from K E. 32 friends 136 reviews K E.
Queens, NY
1/21/2012 7 Check-ins Here
Won't be returning. The cooks have 'tudes. This morning I ordered the breakfast platter $3.95 with two fried eggs bacon home fries and toast. The guy didn't give me toast and when I asked for it he said you said toast. (??). And the other cook co-signed by saying I didn't ask for toast. Um ok. Then he chargers me $4.25 when it clsadly states the platter is $3.95. I told the cashier, who was very nice, and she charged me the right amount.
The cooks act holier thank though for no reason. It looks very nice in there but I don't waste money do I would NOT return. I prefer Cafe Isadora!!
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Useful (1) Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Tina C. Elite '12 899 friends Antheia Louis Vuitton (http://www.frsaclouisvuittonpascher.com/antheia-louis-vuitton-c-120.html)
2750 reviews Tina C.
Queens, NY
10/15/2011 2 photos
Slow to check out
Fast to grab at the salad bar
At an utter shocking extreme high price of $7.99 per pound for either hot or cold food at the salad bar, I dare not to touch!! The minimum starts at $5.95 for any sushi Spicy Tuna Roll and goes up to infinity. Seating is very limited if any, which one must be fast to grab before it goes to the nothingness. I was near starvation even after this measly $5.95 where it has gone to the misery of high price, little quantity.
I agree with previous Yelpers as the setup is not economical efficient where patrons will stand on one line to pickup or order food and a second line for payment of checking out. Yet Essen has become the food version spin-off of DMV where the staff is more user friendly, but in Midtown fashion of sky high prices.
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Useful (1) Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Kelly S. Elite '12 26 friends 65 reviews Kelly S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/17/2011
I'd have to agree with other reviewers the food is good but it is chaotic in there! Surprisingly though for what seems like forever they do get you in and out pretty fast if you actually time it.
I like that they use good ingredients, they actually take eggs and scramble them for every order, use "Thomas" english muffins, etc.
Reasons why I come here over other spots:
LOVE their coffee, nice and strong and fresh. Plus I like making my own coffee with my own amount of milk/cream and sugar (they have Raw Sugar!)
They have TURKEY BACON!!! I don't eat red meat, ?never have, so this is a big bonus for me! Love getting egg, provolone, turkey bacon on an english muffin!
They also have an awesome Avacado/Guacamole serving at the food bar that is really good! At one point they had some really good homemade tortilla chips that were unbelievable but haven't seen them in a month or so :/
They loose points for the following:
Chaos, they take your order at the grill while they are making five other orders so instead of going to get my coffee I feel like I have to babysit them as they ask me to clarify my order a bunch of times or I see them making a mistake and correct them.
Though I love the coffee there is no room to prepare it or set your food down.
The weighed food seems pricey and I don't like that they only have plastic containers even for the hot foods.
And yeah what's up with the slogan Slow Fast Food??? Don't think they thought that one through! hahaha
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Useful Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from soy l. 3 friends 63 reviews soy l.
Jersey City, NJ
6/12/2012
My coworker and I ordered the same meal-cheeseburger deluxe, back-to-back, from the same cook. ?He asked her how she wanted the burger done but he did not ask me. ?Her burger louis vuitton (http://www.delouisvuittononlineshop.com/)
was very big; mine was tiny. ?The latter point was not the cook's fault; the burgers are made ahead of time but they should be somewhat comparable in size. ?The difference was noticeable enough that my group was laughing at the inconsistency. ?Two of us in my group are fairly tall and our legs touched the underside of the new tables. ?Guess what-they all have chalk underneath them for reasons unknown. ?The chalk looked lovely on our suits. ?The burgers were quite tasty though. ?The food was half-priced today to celebrate their opening (re-opening?) but the regular price is $10. ?For $6.75, you can have a tastier cheeseburger deluxe at Cafe 42.
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Useful Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Joolie T. Elite '12 644 friends 1203 reviews Joolie T.
Brooklyn, NY
8/18/2011 3 photos
FINALLY!!!!
i've been waiting for Essen- Slow Fast Food to open up for MONTHS!
beautifully designed- with shiny white furnishings, brightly lit hot/cold buffet, breakfast station, sandwich/grill station, salad station, sushi & udon station AND... coffee station! i love that they provide every means of breakfast/lunch and even dinner items. i'm talking about healthy/organic juices and yogurts, the typical soda/juice brands and even something for the mighty mighty hearty eaters... CUBANOS and PHILLY CHEESESTEAKS! Korean mandoos, quesadillas and paninis... oh my!
the great thing about this place is that- you can tell they really trained their staff. whether it be: making sure nothing has run out and stations are constantly replenished, sweeping/mopping up messes from clumsy customers, stocking the shelves and refilling the buffet station.
what's the big seller for me? well- the fact that this is a Korean-owned establishment makes me very happy. i know this doesn't mean much to just anyone. however, to me... this is very important. stereotypically, Koreans provide the BEST customer service to their clients. they take the time and sympathy to make sure that their customers are 110% satisfied. if you've ever dined at a Korean restaurant or cafe... you totally know what i'm projecting here. the minute you walk in- you are greeted by a few ah-jeum-ma's (middle aged woman) and makes you feel welcomed... like your Korean friend's mom welcoming you into her home. it kind of warms up my heart.
the COFFEE was free today! i think they're extending the promotion for their Grand Opening week. i liked the many options of coffee you could choose room and it's all do it yourself. i LOVE it. i bought a bunch of items for lunch- chips, juice & fruit... i have yet to try their Korean Mandoos. breakfast was freshly made and delicious. i cannot give this place 5 stars yet... i haven't been able to sample all of their offerings. but... for now, i am one happy camper.
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Useful (10) Funny (5) Cool (8) Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Diane C. Elite '12 117 friends 357 reviews Diane C.
New York, NY
8/23/2011
What EXACTLY is "Slow Fast Food"? ?Fast food at a snails pace? ?I do NOT want to be served fast food slowly... totally defeats the purpose! ?
Aside from the self-loathing name, I think that the Essen food selection is pretty good. ?The setup, however, is utter CHAOS. ?1 station for coffee, 1 station for bagels, 1 station for hot foods, etc. ?That means if I want a bagel and coffee, I'm standing in 2 lines. ?Sad. ?Also, the patrons have no sense of where the line is formed and therefore people cut, a lot. ?Its almost panic attack inducing when I think about getting into multiple lines here.
Granted they just opened, but the workers really don't know their products. ?I came in on their 2nd day of opening and spotted a Blueberry bagel. ?I was SO excited b/c I LOVE Blueberry bagels. ?I asked the guy "Blueberry bagel please" and he said "What? Onion?" and I pointed to the Blueberry one (it was the only bright BLUE one for goodness sake) and it took him 4 tries before locating it. ?Asked for it toasted with Cream Cheese... and it was barely hot! ?The cream cheese was still hard when I ate it. ?Disappointing. ?However, I will chock that bagel experience up to "new opening jitters"... I have been back several times for breakfast since and the yogurts and fruit and other prepared foods are actually really good and you don't have to line up to get them!
Mediocre experiences aside, Essen Slow Fast Food is MUCH more pleasant than Cafe Europa around the corner. ?I'm relieved that I now have this option in the neighborhood for breakfast. ?Once they start managing all the basics and figuring out how to run the business, I see the potential that they become a neighborhood staple.
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Useful (1) Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Matt F. 32 friends 44 reviews Matt F.
New York, NY
8/20/2011
I tried 'Essen out when I saw it had opened largely because it is very close to my office and it said half price sandwiches to celebrate it's opening. I figured this meant it would be a mad house and it was. However, I do not think 'Essen was prepared to handle that kind of volume. The lines were chaotic, the guy even forgot my order a few times. The whole set up was not ideal for a large lunch rush...
Once I got my food, it was ok. I had a turkey sandwich with mozzarella and bacon, lettuce and tomato... which I ordered on a whole wheat wrap but got on a hoagie roll. Came with a fist full of fries that were nothing spectacular. ?I wouldn't order it again.
I think 'Essen may have a few growing pains, menu adjustments, and then will come out a stronger lunch spot. I might wait a while to try it again. Let some of the kinks get worked out.
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Useful Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Jamie C. 0 friends 1 review Jamie C.
Manhattan, NY
11/8/2011
Was looking forward to trying this place as I work across the street. ?GREATLY disappointed! ?Waited for almost 30 minutes. ?Placed an order with 2 coworkers lunette louis vuitton (http://www.frsaclouisvuittonpascher.com/)
- they received theirs and mine wasn't even on the grill even though I ordered first. ?
Don't try to substitute or custom - you will not get what you ordered. ?A coworker had to place his order 3 times for them to get it correct on the grill, yet they still managed to screw it up - they put cheese on it & he had a dairy allergy. ?Another patron ordered a panini sandwich - it was just sitting on the counter until she told THEM it was hers. ?
The decor is nice & the space is huge - just inefficient use of space and POORLY managed. ?They need a better system of taking orders STAT if they want to survive in this neighborhood. ?Europa & Toasties are nearby - same price, quicker service and def more efficient.
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Useful (1) Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Stephanie W. 0 friends 21 reviews Stephanie W.
Manhattan, NY
11/8/2011
They were right to put the word "SLOW" in the name of this place. This place doesn't get that many people for louis vuitton site officiel (http://www.frsaclouisvuittonpascher.com/)
midtown standards, and it still can't handle the low volume of orders. Don't expect to go for a quick grab and go, do expect to spend at least 30 minutes waiting.
Don't order ask for subtitutes, custom orders, or anything that is slightly more complicated, because your order will be mixed up and/or forgotten. There's also a high probability that your order will end up in someone else's hands.
After all the wait, food was not cheap and quality was only borderline satisifactory.
Not worth the hassle... I'd recommend going next door to Europa, walking 2 blocks to Toasties, or one avenue over to Dishes instead of this place.
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Useful Funny Cool (1) Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from andrew r. 1 friend 3 reviews andrew r.
New York, NY
12/1/2011
Was very surprised to see all the neg. reviews about this place. While I haven't ventured past the sandwich bar - they don't get any better than they are at essen.
They guys are super nice, they are fast, they are totally open to customizing their special sandwiches, and frankly, cheaper than most places in the hood for far better quality.
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Useful Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Donald D. 1 friend 2 reviews Donald D.
Chicago, IL
11/13/2011
This place is great. Delicious, clean, and efficient - everything a midtown lunch place should be, plus points for the kombucha selection. Perfect place to be a "regular."
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Useful Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Susan A. Elite '12 70 friends 402 reviews Susan A.
New York, NY
8/19/2011
Customer service, decor, ingredients are pretty good. ?This may be a cultural issue, but omelettes are not prepared the traditional manner (American) and not sure how the breakfast crowd will react... I know I was surprised! ?Will update sometime when I get lunch I 'spose.
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Useful Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Lauren F. 5 friends 60 reviews Lauren F.
Manhattan, NY
8/18/2011
SALTIEST SOUP EVER! I couldnt even finish it. I think there is enough sodium in that one cup of soup to account for your weekly allotment per the FDA food pyramid. I feel the headache and dehydration coming on. I cant comment on anything else, but the food looked like standard deli fare. Nothing special.
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Useful Funny (1) Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Mary P T. 0 friends 2 reviews Mary P T.
Manhattan, NY
9/5/2011
Hope they get better. Give it a pass until they get organized!
Been 3 times and won't go again for a while. ?Last time I could have walked to pax gotten my single scrambled (where they actually scramble the egg) on a roll and been to my office in less than time than essen took.
Chaos, language barrier, terrible customer service, insane lines.
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Useful Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Mike F. 0 friends 5 reviews Mike F.
Plainsboro, NJ
8/26/2011
This is a brand new spot so I assume they will get better over time. Like other reviews stated the lines here are ridiculous. Nobody knows where they start and its chaos during lunch. I went for a lunch twice and breakfast once
Lunch: Chaos because its half priced. The guys behind the counter dint appear to have any idea whats going on but its the first week. The sandwiches tasted good but were a little expensive when they start charging full price. They are better than subway but not as good as Dishes. At these prices I'd prefer dishes.
Breakfast: Not as crowded but the grill is so slow. The deli around the corner could have made 15 sandwiches in the time it takes them to make one. Seems a little disorganized but it is the first week as I've mentioned. My bagel was toasted on a panini press? That's a first for me but the egg and cheese tasted good. Standard prices in comparison to other places around.
All in all its just your average deli with a very nice decor. The location is great as its right out of the subway for me. I might add it to the breakfast rotation if they speed things up in the coming weeks. Some of the people in line were getting very aggravated at the disorganization. They really need to fix because this is fast paced midtown. People wont wait in line 20 mins for a $8 sandwich. They should also add some line ropes to keep people organized.
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Useful Funny Cool Add owner comment Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Review from Rob K. 1 friend 6 reviews Rob K.
New York, NY
9/8/2011
What a yummy salad. ?They have very fresh ingredients and a big fan of their build your own salad station. ?Before Essen's I was going to Europa a Block away who is also worth a look. ?However,the pesto chicken salad and fresh ingredients made be come back to Essen's three times last week and two times this week. ?Also had their Steam table sandwiches and had a great grilled chicken sandwich one day and meatloaf another. ?Both yummy and cost approx 7.75 for a big hero. ?Good eats and a good mainstay for my lunch rotation.
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