I work over by Port Authority and have been trying to keep lunch under five bucks. There’s a spot on 9th around 42nd that used to have a grandma slice for like a buck fifty or two. Last three times I swung by around 1:30, the pan was empty and the guy just said “later.” Am I going too late? Did they stop making it? I don’t want to keep eating the regular slices from the place with the hot lamp, they taste like the box. Any alternative for a good cheap grandma or square slice near the bus station? I’m still learning which lunch spots are worth the line.

You’re too late, not crazy. That pan runs out by like 12:30 because the office rush treats it like free money. If you can get there before noon or after 3:30 on a slow day, they’ll sometimes put out a fresh one. But honestly the grandma at that spot fell off—too sweet and the crust gets dried out. For the Port Authority zone, the square slice at the old joint on 40th just off 8th is more dependable. Cash only under a certain amount, so bring singles. Ask for it well done, otherwise it’s a little soft.

NewUtrechter, the empty pan at 1:30 is normal for the Midtown grandma/Sicilian game. Most of these shops aren’t running a continuous specialty-pie program anymore. A grandma or pan pie takes up a full shelf in the oven and doesn’t move as fast as plain, so they bake them in small batches around 11, maybe again after 2, and sometimes around 4 if the after-school crowd lines up. The guy saying “later” usually means literally later, not discontinued. The trick is to ask “is there one in the oven?” or “what time’s the next pan coming out?” Some counter people will point at the tray, others won’t.

Near Port Authority, the $2-ish square at the 40th/8th corner is good if you catch it fresh, but I’d also walk a block down to the place on 37th between 7th and 8th. They do an upside-down square with tomato on top of the cheese; it’s usually under $3 and holds up better in a cardboard box. Caveat: if it’s not hot when they pull it, tell them to reheat. Delivery apps seem to soak up the fresh ones, so in-person before 1 is your friend.

I’m new to the midtown lunch thing too but I work by Columbus Circle and this thread is making me hungry. What is the actual cross street for the 37th spot? And how does upside-down square differ from normal Sicilian? I tried a $2 slice on 50th last week and it was floppy, no crunch. Is asking for “well done” a real thing here or do they just ignore you? Also is it far from the 8th Ave stop? I might walk over on a short lunch.

bronx_newbie, asking for well done is absolutely a real move here. You have to say it while they’re pulling the slice, not after they already slid it into the bag. If they ignore you, ask if they can leave it in for another minute. The 37th spot astoria_arch mentioned is between 7th and 8th, but it’s below 42nd, so if you’re up by Columbus Circle it’s a bit of a hike—maybe hit it on a day you’re already walking through Bryant Park. If you’re already up there, the better cheap square might be at the place on 9th around 50th—red awning, older guys at the counter. That’s more Sicilian than grandma, but it has actual crunch and they don’t rush you.

This whole conversation reminds me of what happened to the cheap Midtown slice after the delivery-platform boom. A lot of these counters stopped running separate grandma or pan trays during the middle of the day because plain slices move faster and don’t slow the oven. A pan pie has to cool slightly before it’s cut or it shreds, so if the kitchen is backed up, they skip it on purpose. If you see it at 11 and it’s gone by 12:30, that’s not a hidden schedule—it’s a production decision.

The 9th Ave spot near 42nd still makes them, but only for the early lunch wave. If you’re after 1:30, don’t expect it. The best substitute in that radius is the old-signage place on 39th between 7th and 8th; they keep a Sicilian tray out later, but it’s heavier and more bready than a true grandma. Grandma should be thin-ish, olive-oily, with a crisp bottom; Sicilian is taller and fluffier. Don’t let them sell you the latter as the former. And always check if the slice is actually hot—if it’s been sitting on a wire rack, tell them to put it back in for a minute. Most will.

Thanks, everyone. I took the advice and got there at 11:45 today. The grandma was out and way better than the sad 1:30 miss. astoria_arch is right that it’s a little sweet, but I liked it. I also asked “is one in the oven?” and the counter guy actually pointed to a fresh tray behind him. Might try the 40th/8th square tomorrow for comparison. bronx_newbie, if you’re going to walk down from Columbus Circle, bring a coffee and make it a two-slice tour. Does the 37th place have seats or is it just a counter?

NewUtrechter, the 37th place is pretty much just a counter and one wobbly shelf along the window. Don’t plan to sit. If you’re doing the two-slice tour, do 40th/8th first for the square, then walk to 37th for the upside-down, and get both well done. That’s the correct order because the second one is better and you don’t want to end on a dry slice. Gowanus_G is right about the red awning spot on 9th around 50th too—it’s the move if you end up further north. This thread is making me want to break my no-lunch-cash rule.