Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
If You Must Eat On The Subway, This Is How It's Done
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 21, 2014
Modified Mar 21, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Georgette Cline
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 21, 2014
Modified Mar 21, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Eating on the subway isn't illegal (yet), just disgusting. But sometimes your blood sugar drops and you're late for a super important meeting (perfect hair takes forever) and you just need to get that bento box or whatever it is in your belly STAT. So you plop your backpack down on the seat next to you (as one does), unfold the tray table you always bring along for just such emergencies, scrape the splinters off your chopsticks and tuck into a quick but civilized subway repast. Still, sparkling, or tap water for the table? Fiji, if you have it.
This photo surfaced on Reddit last night, and to be honest it's probably too perfect. Again, just look at that man's hair! If history is any guide, this is really just a shrewd viral guerilla marketing stunt for Fiji water, or Oscar Health Insurance, or "Simply Tray Tables." By the way, if you're curious about those chopsticks, Rakuten.com sells a set of 20 for $14.98, which also earns you 15 Rakuten Super Points. And is that a Wrangler backpack? Close enough—you can order one here for $30 and get the look.
We'll update as more guerilla marketing details become available.
Update:Georgette Cline, editor of The Boombox, writes in to say that she is the one who took the now-viral photograph. According to Ms. Cline:
I took the photo yesterday around 2:15 p.m. on the No. 6 train going uptown. I went one stop (from 51st St. to 59th St.), sat down at the end of the row of seats and heard this woman talk loudly and say, "I thought you were doing some art experiment."
I turn and look in the direction of her voice and there is the "boss" eating on his table with a Fiji water and chopsticks. I had a bad day yesterday and had a great laugh when I saw this because I thought it was so amazing. The universe works in great ways to help you out sometimes.
Sure, this man's the toast of New York, but never forget the enormous risks associated with subway dining:
Tagged
dining
MTA
subway
subway etiquette
original
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Sep 12, 2026
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
Food
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Can a congressional candidate's dumpling diplomacy win over Queens’ immigrant communities?
By
Caroline Shin
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .