Essen Slow Fast Food

Buffet style food with a wide variety of choices. The pasta was excellent, and the meat. A few different salad choices as well. The places has lots of tables, very clean and good customer service. There is a cook at the open kitchen grill style to prepare meals right there.

Easy place to grab lunch if you are in the area. Cafeteria style set up where there are multiple stations and even a buffet style grab and plate where you pay by the pound. Ignore typical lunch hours, as it gets hectic.

Essen should be Michelin stared.
The hot bar is red hot… it’s so hot it could melt the sun LOL JK5. But seriously, it could melt the steel beams.
I’m going to break down my review by select products at the hot and cold bars. You can find me there every day at exactly 11.45 am — this way I can get back to my desk and eat at 12 pm sharp. No exceptions.
The Salmon: Fresh from the atlantic, caught by eskimo’s and sent to the store to be grilled perfectly by what I can only assume are more eskimo’s given their understanding of how to perfectly grill salmon. My favorite dish that I get every day… healthy and delicious. Pro Tip — Get there at 11.45 am for the best pieces of fish and before the masses mush up the fish with the tongs. They should have a security guard standing next to the salmon and boot out anyone who accidentally tongs some one else piece of fish. That ain’t cool Dale… not cool.
Vodka Pasta — I have this on Mondays because it feels like an acceptable way to drink (Am I right or am I right?). The pasta tastes like it was made on top of the Grand Paradiso by 17 virgins and their 17 virgin Nona’s. Bellissimo.
Salads Assorted: All good! No real need to go into the details. Salad is salad… No friends here.
The Cod Fish: I first thought this was a dolphin or a mini whale platter — I was a little hesitant at first cause I’m not about eating exoctic marine animals… but once I read the sign and found out it was Cod Fish I was like“Mmmm Hmmmm… getting me some of that” My mmm hmm’s where right, cooked perfectly and it tasted like it had been caught 20 minutes ago it was so fresh. Come to think of it. I saw a group of fisherman (Gear and everything) leaving Essen so it probably was caught moments before it was cooked.
The Beef Stips — Better the Peter Lugers, Keens or the Strip House… It tastes like the cows where massaged daily and wore headphones listening to Japanese waterfalls as they slept. So soft and delicious. I have a pretty expensive but not to expensive mattress at home and the Beef at Essen is softer. If you like soft beef then go to Essen and load up. Great for people who like to gym and need some muscle repair food (Like my friend Charlie. not me)
Once you have wrapped up your lunch harvest and head to the counter this is where the real service kicks in. An angel will wave at you and you pay within 2 minutes no matter how long the line is… don’t let the crowd fool you — this is a well oiled machine. I saw a Beyoncè concert last night and it was tight — the service at essen is even tighter.
Thanks Essen — Don’t Slack off now… Every day is a new opportunity to be better than yesterday.
Peace.

I went with a couple of coworkers a few days ago and had salmon & vegetables. I got so sick that had to go to the ER that night when I got home. Food poising. Never eating at that location ever again.

I placed a food order for lunch from Essen using
. The food arrived before the estimated time and it was DELICIOUS! I had the tuna melt on a flatbread and an order of cheese curly fries… OMG! Mouth watering! Everyone in the office was complimenting how good it smelled. lol I will order from them again.
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Today (⁶⁄₉), I ordered a chicken Parmesan paniini and it was just as delicious as my previous order and it arrived on time. Thanks again, Essen!

Essen is cool. It’s like a food court/​buffet/​sandwich place/​everything. I’ve done the sandwich station, but more recently, I opt for the buffet.
For sandwiches, you can’t go wrong with the 27^th street combo (roast beef, turkey, provolone, onions and mayo). You can do sandwiches on rolls/​sliced bread for $ 7.50, but it’s a much better deal to go with the hero/​wrap option for $ 7.95. Warning: it’s a ton of sandwich.
For the buffet, I like the pork belly, and the lamb, and the labeled vegetable fried rice that actually has chicken in it. The buffet gets as little pricey, but you just have to have self-​control, of which I have none.
Check out is fast and they take all credit cards.

Over the past 10 years in NYC, there has been a renaissance of sorts in regard to the deli/​takeout culture for breakfast and lunch. Gone are the old, dirty bodegas of yesteryear, replaced primarily by Korean owned «upscale», very large, salad bar, buffet joints.
Essen appears to be one of the more popular chains sprouting up regularly. They have a large selection of salads, sandwiches and beverages to choose from. Essen likes to give the impression that they are different from the other clones, by stating its is «slow, fast food», but essentially it is the same thing as all the rest. To their credit, they have a fast moving line, and are good at what they do. But at the end of the day, they are the same as all their counterparts.
I have tried on multiple occasions their egg and cheese on a roll, and their tuna sandwiches and have been underwhelmed. They are what they are, but the fact that they are more expensive then the bodegas they are replacing isn’t justified in my opinion. The coffee is fine, but is more in line with the $ 1 cart coffee that I regularly partook from in college.
If you’re looking for a quick, moderately cheap breakfast or lunch, that doesn’t make you double check the health inspection grade on the window, Essen is not a bad pick.
Note, grabbing a table at lunch time is a challenge.

Essen is good for grabbing a quick lunch. They have plenty of options, and even a range of snacks like a supermarket would have. I usually go for the make your own salad; if there is a long line you can sometimes feel rushed as they are trying to work through the busy time, but you can add however many items you want to your salad for no extra cost! I’ve also tried a good amount of their flatbread sandwiches, the bread is really good and they sometimes give you samples of it as you wait in that area. I’ve tried the soup and noodle dishes as well and they are okay.

I like chaos (when I’m a peripheral part of it, and not the epicenter, that is). Essen is lunch chaos — the kind you expect in NYC. There’s loads of people rushing around, no real queues, everyone doing their own thing to the beat of their own drummer… and if you’re at all an introvert, while the intense throng of folks might be overwhelming, it actually feels really nice to be just another face in the crowd.
My friends went with sandwiches, but I’m a sucker for a salad bar. I agree with my girl Sara M — «salad bars can be sort of sketch», but this one just isn’t. Everything is clearly labeled, everything looks very fresh (i.e. there were beautifully scooped avocado halves that look like they had just been put out), no one seems to double-​dip or cross-​contaminate by using the same spoon in different areas, etc.
I got some lentil and avocado salad, roasted beets, quinoa, a caprese and olive salad, and some teriyaki tofu. It felt like it weighed a lot, but I think my total was around $ 10. And it was plenty of food and I didn’t feel gross after eating it (all). The lentil and avocado salad had way, way too much cilantro for my liking, but everything else was good. I only wish the salad bar had clearer information about what was vegetarian. For example, there was some really nice looking green beans in a brown sauce which I didn’t get for fear the sauce had oyster sauce in it. So, some ingredient info would be appreciated.
Other than that, I could come here for lunch every day and probably never get bored because of the variety (and massive amounts of avocado halves)!

Jack of all trades, master of none. Everything I’ve had here has been perfectly average. You could probably find better options for any one of their selections (and there are many selections) in the area, but this is the only place to find them all under one roof. Have a bunch of indecisive coworkers? Essen is the place to go.
Highlights have included their wraps (lunch and breakfast), udon, and omelettes. Salad is also one of the best deals around — unlimited toppings for under $ 10? Yes please. For some reason all of their dressings have tasted abnormally sweet, though.
Don’t get the matzo ball or chicken noodle soup. Just don’t.

Crowded, bustling, busy, loud… Want to have lunch here? No, you don’t. Want to do take-​out? Yes, you do.
Whether craving a salad, a panini or a bag of chips, Essen certainly has you covered and will accomplish the goal of getting you served in under 5 minutes, no matter what you order. Just go in with a game plan, because if you don’t know what type of lunch thing you want, you’ll get sucked into the vortex created by busy New Yorkers in a rush and may never find your way out (with the food you want, that is).
I went with a panini that was made-​to-​order before my eyes on fresh bread that was made before my eyes, and while it was good, it was very, very messy and very, very huge. I ate about half of it and felt like I’d been gut-​bombed for the rest of the day. The sandwich and a bottle of tea cost me just under $ 12, for for NYC it’s reasonable, even if I wasted half the food I bought.
It feels like a market but is so much more. Just take a few seconds to drink it all in upon arrival, and have a game plan.

The cashiers are very rude!!! They allow people to cut in line based on their preference!!!
The food is average at best and the price for what the food is is ridiculous!!!
Never have I been so disgusted with such a rude staff for an average product!!!

Oh Essen, my saving grace! Ever since I landed a new position, I have come to Essen Monday — Friday, sometimes for both breakfast and lunch. I come in so often or have ordered pick up from here that many of the people who prepare the orders know me on a first name basis.
What keeps me coming back?
OPTIONS people. If you’re an indecisive like me, this is the place for you to get some good. Don’t get me wrong some of their prices may cause you to think twice, but that’s how they get you lol.. You may for the convenience. I’ve enjoyed their juice/​/​smoothies, the delicious oatmeal with many toppings to choose from (flax seed, brown sugar, blueberries and toasted coconut for me) and the ever changing lunch buffet (Israeli couscous youre a winner and should be out every day).

I’m not really a fan of this buffet style dining. It’s the perfect kind of fast food place someone would go to if they didn’t know what they wanted to eat during their short lunch break. It’s fast, it’s easy, (it’s chaotic), and has just about everything – from salads to hot meals.
Yet, with that being said, when a place has everything, it doesn’t mean «everything» will be good. Just very mediocre in my opinion. Salads were meh, the hot food looked okay, and the sushi… i’ll pass.
Another problem with this buffet style is how pricey it can be. It’s a weigh system, which means it doesn’t matter what exactly you put in your container, just how much it weighs. Which sucks, because you could just be piling on a bunch of veggies and maybe a potato and next thing you know you’re basic meal is $ 12. Like, cmon.
So if you’re indecisive for lunch or are short on time, this may be the place for you.

I’m not usually a fan of buffets, but the hot bar here is pretty good. There is always a good variety, so you can get whatever you want for lunch that day. I’m not sure why so many people are complaining about the cost…$ 8.99 a lb is pretty standard (aka Whole Foods pricing).
I’m usually a pretty picky eater, but I found the dishes to be flavorful. I also tried the rice bowls, and they were ok (wouldn’t recommend as highly as the hot bar because it’s just rice, steamed veggies and a limited variety of meat) but then again, what can you expect for $ 8.25? This is NYC after all.

decent for lunch. super packed so it’s a little crazed when you are trying to get food. lots of options — sandwiches, burgers, salads, salad bar, mixed veggies/​meats/​fish. all around pretty good.
would suggest going early — 11am or 2pm if you want to be in and out (and have enough time to take a look around at options) although the service is pretty quick

A deli/​bodega with a lot of variety for cold and hot salad bar/​buffet for the office lunch crowd. While out in the city I came here to attain a bottle of water for a cool down from summer’s purgatory heat and sun. Checkout is painless.

I went there yesterday to eat and I Found an Employees Vegetable Shredder in the Toilet Stall that they must have Forgotten! With carrots on it as well!
That Is Disgusting!

Salad bars can be sort of sketch. A bunch of people touching the same food that has been sitting out for hours. Ick, I’ll pass.
Essen is an exception to my no salad bar rule. The food is fresh and plentiful and I’m willing to navigate through the crowds to pick up some lunch here from time to time.
I normally opt for the cold station– think pasta salads, veggies and grains. My eyes can definitely be bigger then my stomach and with so much to choose from, it’s easy to leave with a stuffed container of food. Luckily the cold options are healthy so I can’t feel too guilty.
Come here with an indecisive lunch group, as there is something to satisfy any craving. Sandwiches, salads, wraps, asian rice bowls, burritos, sushi– I could go on and on.
***Err with caution during prime lunch hours, people flock here by the masses (especially with so many office buildings nearby). You’ve got to time it just right– if you get there too early not all of the food is out, and if it’s too late it can be hard to get around. If you’ve got the flexibility, it’s all about finding that sweet spot where you can catch the freshest food without the crowd.***

I’m familiar with Essen in midtown when I used to work on 40^th street, now that I work on 26^th street I was delighted to have found one around the corner from my new office… but unfortunately it’s not the same.
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Pros:
Lots of variety and a good selection of foods, snacks and beverages for everyone.
Cashier & Line management is quick and efficient making the time is takes to pay pretty minimal.
Location is convenient.
The hot and cold bar food is pretty yummy and has seemed fresh the 2 or 3 times I’ve been here thus far.
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Cons:
Expensive. $ 8.99 a lb is what they claim they weigh their food out by — but I’ve never paid less than $ 12 – 14 and usually end up a little hungry (yeah, this is even with the 20 minute gap that exists between our tummies and our brains).
Not as friendly as their nearby competitors over at Bread & Butter.
Limited seating area. This has never been a problem for me since I usually bring food back to my office desk, but I’ve seen it be a problem for other customers.
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I’ll be back because it’s so convenient, but only really if my boss or coworkers want to. I’m better off at most other places in this area if I’m looking for sandwich or hot/​cold bar food.
EDIT 2÷6÷2015: 4 stars because their «Milano» sandwich (grilled chicken breast with bacon, fresh mozzarella cheese, roasted red pepper, pesto sauce and mayo — I always ask them to hold the peppers) is consistently BANGIN’!! :D