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The Pump NYC

Few restaurants inspire polarized foodie opinions like the Pump, the New York City "Physical Fitness Restaurant" mini-chain that serves up ultra-plain health food. Those who hate it claim that the Pump's food has no flavor, a valid argument. Those who love it swear by the joint's high-protein, low-fat, and (sometimes) low-calorie leanings. Either way, it's a New York staple, and an excellent pit stop for your long city walks. The Pump also happens to be one of New York's worst offenders when it comes to celebrity crap on the wall, so rest assured that you'll always have something to look at while waiting for your food.

The menus are the same at each of the Pump's 5 locations, but the clientele varies, from the somewhat sleepy Murray Hill/Thrill location, to the bustling West 55th spot, where you can chat it up with sad record company interns on lunch runs for their office. The Pump's one disadvantage is that it doesn't have a true Chelsea location, and that's where its main competitor, Energy Kitchen, has it beat. (There's no better place for gawking at Chelsea bodybuilders. Energy Kitchen, however, may or may not have recently given us food poisoning.)

Recommended menu items include vegetarian chili ($3), the famous baked falafel sandwich ($4.85) and pizza-esque chicken and spinach sandwich with tomato sauce and mozzarella ($7.10). As a bonus, the Pump has been known to send poor souls in food costumes out into the street to hand out coupons for free shakes (see above).

[Photo: ceonyc]

Related Stories:
· The Pump Energy Food [Official Site]