“Times Sq. Food Market” City Kitchen Opens Today!
City Kitchen had their soft opening last night and opens to the public today at 11am. This is the latest addition to the growing NYC trend of ‘food halls’ – although some might question whether or not 9 vendors actually qualifies as a food hall. In any case, since the food at soft openings can vary drastically from what you actually get from a place once it’s open (both in terms of quality and portion size, since they want you to try everything), I’m going to just share with you the prices/photos of the posted menus, without comment. Well… without much comment.
Gabriela’s Taqueria (click twice to get the menu to show larger) – for some reason, also offers rotisserie chicken in addition to their tacos. The price is obscured by spotlight; $9 for a quarter chicken, $18 for a half. Comes with rice and beans. Gabriela’s salad (it does not say what’s in it) is $11, add chicken for $3 and add steak for $6. I think the other prices are visible in the photo.
More importantly they have breakfast tacos! Which are served until 11am, though I was informed the entire hall opens at 11. Maybe they open earlier? Not sure.
(Note: someone contacted me to let me know the hours are actually 6:30a – 9:00p.)
Dough had plenty of doughnuts on display, and the set up to make them fresh, but their menu (wisely?) displayed no prices.
Azuki offers plenty of under $10 appetizers and salads.
Kuro Obi offers three types of ramen in their special ‘take out’ friendly collection. I’m not sure how I understand thinner noodles holding up better for takeout, but I did try them and the noodles themselves are quite springy. I didn’t transport them anywhere though.
Wooly’s is serving up shaved ice.
Across from Wooly’s is a cute pretzel cart – Sigmund’s. They had no posted menu, but I asked the guy manning the cart. Plain or salted pretzels are $3, flavored are all $4, and the “uber” pretzel – which is bigger than my face – will cost you $6.
Whitman’s offers up burgers and its accompaniments. Everything except the “special” is under $10. I’m guessing the special rotates.
ilili box, the casual offshoot of personal favorite ilili, has interesting Lebanese accented items like duck shwarma (the only item well over $10). Prices were once again obscured by glaring lights: kale fattoush 8.27; Phoenician fries 2.98; Brussels sprouts 7.35; Hommus 2.76; House hot sauce 0.69; Garlic whip 1.38.
Finally, Luke’s Lobster, which, as expected, has only one item under $10 – the shrimp roll alone, for $8. Is this new – the calorie counts are posted. Do they have that many locations now (I forget the minimum number of locations before law requires you post calorie counts)?
As far as I know, the Kitchen’s open today – I don’t think this weather is going to affect that. I only took one awkwardly angled photo of the space (which was crowded with people) – there are stools around the edge next to the windows for you to sit and eat, and there’s another space adjacent that has tables but is technically part of the hotel, but I’m sure you can take your food there to eat.
Early adopters, let us know in comments if it was busy and what you thought!
City Kitchen at Row NYC
700 8th Avenue at 44th Street
Posted by Yvo at 10:30 am, March 5th, 2015 under *8th Ave. btw. 43+44th, City Kitchen.
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You had me at ‘duck shwarma’. Goddamn this weather.