Archive for March 2010

Grotto’s Pièce De Résistance: The Bacon Jalapeno Slice

The Grotto 002
Last time I talked about the Grotto, there was much hubbub over the elusive Bacon Jalapeno slice.  Was it really there? Or just a figment of my imagination?  Lucky for us, Mike, owner and operator of the Grotto, stepped in to inform us that it was real and that it was now available in slice form.  While I’m sure a good number of you dropped whatever you were doing and rushed over to the Grotto to grab a slice, not everyone downtown was so lucky.  After all, it’s a big chunk of Manhattan we work in and not everyone has the flexibility to saunter down   For those unfortunate souls, I’m here to give you the scoop. I know, I know, not exactly a fair trade but I’ll do what I can.  I know it ain’t cabbage and corned beef, but tormenting pictures of some delicious pizza after the jump…
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Express BBQ Goes Under

Express BBQ ClosedSound the funeral dirge; Express BBQ (27 Park Place @ Church St.), downtown’s go-to spot for barbecue (at least when Picnick Smoked isn’t around), appears to be shuttered for good.  This news comes to us courtesy of Lunch’er Andy who noticed something wasn’t quite right when he came off the E train this morning.  And Kevin only just took a closer look at this place! In Andy’s own words, “Sad day when downtown BBQ loses a venue.”  Amen to that.  I guess we’re back on the hunt for mo’ betta’ BBQ again.

PROFILE: Downtown Lunch’er Corey

As is customary here on Midtown Lunch, every Tuesday we’ll profile a different lunch’er and get their recommendations for places to eat in Downtown NYC. This week, Corey doesn’t want to “seem like a pig.” Really? Isn’t that what Midtown Lunch is all about?  Pig or not, he makes me really want to go to Istanbul…

CoreyName: Corey

Occupation: Video Editor/Producer

Where you work: FiDi- Wall Street

Age: 34

Favorite Kind of Food: Burgers ( I am slowly eating my way through nymag’s 82 most notable burgers), Japanese, rustic Italian, Indian, classic French, Caribbean, BBQ, pork by-products and of course street meat. The list could go on for a very long time but I don’t want to seem like a pig.

Least Favorite Food: There really isn’t much that I won’t eat. But the only thing I can think of that I try to stay away from are any kind of savory meat cooked with fruit. I just don’t see the purpose… the whole hawaiian pizza thing makes no sense to me. You can also add couscous, polenta and brussel sprouts but who really like those nasty little green balls anyway? Everything else is fair game.

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Swich Shuttered. Re-opening “Very Soon.”

Chris and I were surprised to see the relatively new Swich (on Maiden Lane btw. Gold and William) all papered up today. Not usually a good sign.

But a closer look at the sign on the door suggests that all’s well and that they’re just doing some minor work. Full story after the jump.

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Xi’an Famous Foods Shows Us How It’s Done

Xi'an Famous Foods 001
I don’t get out to Flushing nearly as much as I want to these days. Or pretty much ever. It’s just so far. The only time I really get out there is if a friend has an extra Mets ticket and is looking for someone to go with ’em, which, quite frankly, also doesn’t happen often enough. But getting on topic, with all that great Chinese food I hear about out there, when one of those Flushing legends finally landed in Manhattan, I had to go. There was no if’s, and’s, or but’s. I had to go.

Xi’an Famous Foods, located on Forsyth (careful, the address is tricky), is that place. I had heard so much hype about it, particularly the noodles, I had to get up there and see what it was all about. And as you can probably predict, I wasn’t disappointed in the least.
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Downtown Links (The “Decadence” Edition)

Caffe Falai’s Swiss Leaves cookies, courtesy of Lunch with Front Studio

  • If they keep it up with awesome sweets like these Swiss Leaves cookies,  Lunch with Front Studio is going to give me diabetes. [Lunch with Front Studio]
  • Does Downtown really need a 10-pound, $75 burger, complete with associated eating contest? [Eater]
  • Hell yes it does! [ML Forums]
  • How did we miss this awesome hand-pulled noodle wrap-up? [Salon]
  • Kathy at Serious Eats reports that Farinella in Tribeca is good for more than just pizza. [Serious Eats]
  • Yvo is wowed by Wafels & Dinges.  Make sure you don’t miss their next downtown visit by following our downtown Twitter Tracker. [Feisty Foodie]

Jury Duty Lunch: Downtown Goes Philly (Cheesesteak) on Your Ass

Carl's Steaks 017
No, no, you’re at the right place! This isn’t Midtown Lunch: Philadelphia, I promise, though after Jamie’s video about how to eat soup dumplings, it doesn’t look like such a bad place to be.  Which is why I’ve chased down a little corner of Philly and taken a closer look. Carl’s Steaks has been on the collective ML radar for awhile now, Zach having reviewed it back in the day up in Midtown, but for some reason the Downtown outpost has eluded us. But not anymore. Last week I went in, shook hands with Carl himself, and took a big, greasy bite out of Philly.

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