Midtown Lunch

I admit I was a little skeptical when Toloache Taqueria announced an opening date of Dec. 9…last week. The new store in the old Swich location on Maiden Lane (btw. Gold & William) looked mostly ready to go on Wednesday, with a sign on the door saying they were closed for a private event. That event looked an awful lot like employee training, so fingers crossed for an opening today. And while there was no menu in sight, the front window announces they’re serving tacos and tortas among other things.

I know it’s strange to head up to Chinatown or Little Italy to eat at newish Bluebird Sky instead of eating at one of the million cheap Asian or Italian places there. But this cafe on Baxter (btw. Canal & Hester) came highly recommended by lunch’er Mark and also lured me in with its promise of a muffuletta listed on the menu. And since it’s right by the Canal St. subway stop I decided it was time to if their sandwiches were up to the task of being my lunch.  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 Peter who has the unfortune of working in the World Financial Center where the options sound depressing. But he’s found a couple of Mexican places to soothe his wounds.

Name: Peter

Occupation: Business intelligence

Where you work: World Financial Center (i.e. culinary wasteland)

Age: 37

Favorite Kinds of Food: Mexican, Mexican and more Mexican

Least Favorite Foods: Pretty much anything that’s made in the World Financial Center (that includes you, PJ Clarke’s and your revamped burgers)

Favorite Lunches Downtown: Tajin on Greenwich (btw. Edgar & Rector) –  big fan of their tacos rancheros; Samantha’s on S. End Ave (nr. Rector Place) –  one of the very few places to grab a good sandwich. Get a meatball hero when it’s cold; Alan’s Falafel on Broadway (btw. Liberty & Cedar) – my preference over Sam’s; or Sophie’s Cuban (Multiple Locations) –  the green sauce is liquid crack.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Devon & Blakely in the World Financial Center. There’s one right outside the elevator bank. It’s so convenient I just can’t help myself sometimes). Read more »

I don’t know about you guys, but whenever I’m trying to decide what’s going in my belly for lunch I rarely crave chicken specifically. But when the combo Ranch 1 & The Original Soupman opened on Pearl St. and Hanover Square. I had to go check it out because after all, it is Zach approved. I happened to go on the day of the monsoon last week and broke two umbrellas in pursuit of my chicken lunch, but I would have to say it was kind of worth it. Read more »

Beware the fake chicken! Courtesy of Serious Eats.

• There are some hits and misses at the 99% Vegetarian Food Cart, which we already knew. [Serious Eats NY]
• Old-school Italian may live on in an old deli at the South St. Seaport. [Eater]
• When you get a burger at Brinkley’s, expect a wad of meat. [Lunch With Front Studio]
• Toloache’s new location could open next week! [Zagat Buzz]
• A roundup of restaurant openings and closings includes several downtown. [Fork In The Road]