Midtown Lunch

The first Five Guys in the Financial District opened last weekend, and I went to check it out on the first day they were inundated with office workers. Also, I must confess that I have never eaten at Five Guys before (I know, I know) so I was really excited to see what all the hype was about. And really, who even needs an excuse to eat a burger and fries for lunch? Read more »

Indian-fusion restaurant Hot Clay Oven on Maiden Lane (btw. Gold & Pearl) has its menu up on its Web site, and it looks like it will be a sort of Indian twist on Chipotle, one of which is actually located across the street.  You choose an “entree” like a wrap, naan and kebab, or salad and then a protein, toppings and sauces. The windows were still papered up when I walked by yesterday, but it seems like it will be opening soon (complete with a grand opening sponsored by a radio station!). Update: They’re shooting for an opening in early September. Check out the four-step menu after the jump. Read more »

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 we have lunch’er Deep who works pretty far south but hits a wide swath of downtown in his list of dislikes reads like the Midtown Lunch hand book. He’s looking for some help in the sandwich department.

Name: Deep, dbdtron

Occupation: Graphic Designer/Illustrator

Where you work: One New York Plaza. It doesn’t get more south on Manhattan than here…

Age: 34

Favorite Kinds of Food: Anything delicious. It can be fancy or street cart food, as long as it makes an impression.

Least Favorite Foods: All those delis that have the same food on every block. I saw one that called itself “Variety Cafe” the other day. Nothing could prevent me more from coming in the door, guys. Same goes for all the bars that are variations of the same thing.

Favorite Lunches Downtown: Alfanoose (kofta + fried onions = awesome) on Maiden Lane (btw. Broadway & Nassau), BonChon Chicken (spicy, duh) on John St. (btw. Cliff & Pearl), Adrienne’s Pizza Bar (le sigh) on Stone St. (btw. Old Slip & Broad), Locanda Verde (bank buster) on Greenwich St. (nr. N. Moore), Columbine (soups, whoopie pie) on W. Broadway (near White), Baoguette (catfish sandwich). Read more »

It came out last week that the Bon Chon Chicken location on Chambers St. had been cast out by the company for using unapproved sauces. This leaves the larger John St. location as the only one downtown, and that might be for the best based on my experiences at both locations last week. The Chambers location was still called Bon Chon and prices and everything seemed the same. I decided it might be worth a look at what they’re serving there since that location has never gotten an ML review, and I also revisited the John St. location for some head-to-head Korean fried chicken comparison. Read more »

The first Five Guys on Fulton St. (at Dutch) opened over the weekend, and lunch’er Melanie snapped the above photo and wrote in to say they seem to be ready for “real” lunch today when it’s sure to be swamped. Click through to see what she and another early adopter had to say. Read more »