Midtown Lunch

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 Mel who is a recent transplant downtown but has wisely been using this site to make her lunches less painful. She needs your help locating a source of Latin food that may or may not exist.

Name: Mel B.

Occupation: Administrative assistant

Where you work: Trump Building – Wall St.

Age: 33

Favorite Kinds of Food: Mexican, sushi, Indian, Cuban/Puerto Rican/Dominican, street meat, anything spicy, non-odorous cheese, avocado, chocolate, designer frou-frou coffees.

Least Favorite Foods: Meatballs, animal organs, $15 salads, fast food Chinese, pre-made sushi/maki rolls, olives, fresh ginger.

Favorite Lunches Downtown: Indian at Zeytuna on Nassau (btw. John & Maiden Lane), sandwiches at Lane Cafe on Maiden (btw. William & Gold); Sushi from Haru on Wall St. Ct. (btw. Pine & Pearl) –  It’s out of ML price range but sooo (yes thats 3 o’s of yumminess) yummy; Street meat from the cart on William in front of the Chase Building across from Financier (Ed. note: It’s Pasha’s Cart btw. Pine & Liberty); Hummus plate from Chickpea on John (nr. William) – I’m so waiting for Crisp to open up on Fulton & William; Tilapia burrito from Terrace Fish & Chips (Multiple locations); Vietnamese sandwich & bubble tea from Nicky’s on Nassau (at Ann); Blackened salmon from Texas Rotisserie & Grill on Fulton (btw. William & Gold); Anything from Sophie’s (Multiple Locations); Burgers from Five Guys on Fulton (at Dutch); Slices from It’s a Pizza on John (btw. Broadway & Nassau) for their unique varieties; Whole pies from Adrienne’s on Stone St. (nr. Hanover Sq.) or Harry’s Italian on Gold (at Platt); McRib from McDonald’s; Cupcakes from Crumbs (I’m 33 –  I can have cupcakes for lunch if I want); Tomato cheddar soup from Hale & Hearty (Multiple Locations). Read more »

Hello Pasta announced a couple of weeks ago that its third location on Maiden Lane (nr. Water) would be opening today. And it actually is, according to its Facebook page! It looked mostly ready to open when I walked by yesterday, with all of the paper off the windows and the travel agency sign above the storefront finally removed. They open at 11 a.m. and free pasta goes to the first 25 people so early lunching may work to your advantage today.

If you work in Soho the options for finding the Midtown Lunch trifecta (cheap, filling and slightly gross) are limited. Tucked into a tiny space on Crosby St. (nr. Houston) next to the Housing Works store is Lahore Deli. It’s nearly out of bounds, and I didn’t even know it existed until I heard about its reliably good food. It is a lunch’er’s dream with its selection of curries and Indian and Pakistani foods. After eating so many disappointing Indian steam table lunches, would this finally be a good one? Read more »