Midtown Lunch

We here at Midtown Lunch like to harsh on generic delis a lot, especially if they are of the chain variety. Usually when I see that a place serves the holy trinity of paninis, create your own salads and steam table pasta I run the other way (or at least turn and walk out the door). A while back, though, I got an e-mail from lunch’er Lou asking if I’d tried Lane Cafe & Deli on Maiden Lane (btw. William & Gold). I’d walked by a thousand times and dismissed it as the weird deli that had fake hot dogs and boxes of crackers in its window, and served an interesting lunch special. Here’s his argument for the place:

Have you tried Lane Deli and Catering? Actual homemade food, usually have 3-4 meats, a few pastas, and some veggies/rices. That’s in the back. They also have a typical deli/panini counter, but the back section has the best selection in the place. I usually get flank steak over vegetables with a sweet potato. 10 bucks might be a little steep for an every day meal, but I’d rather have food made in the back of the house than the paninis shipped in from a production shop. Let me know if you get a chance to review it, interested to see what you think.

Lou also talked up the roast chicken and plantains. Wait, plantains? You can’t find that at Europa! 

When I walked in it didn’t look promising as the first thing I saw in the back was a make-your-own salad station and some urns of soup. But then I saw the counter that Lou was talking about, way back in the corner. I stepped up and saw a giant chunk of pernil sitting in a steam table tray, next to a giant piece of flank steak. This was going to be tough. After asking about some prices, I went for the flank steak sandwich with grilled onions ($7.50). You can also get it on a platter for $9.95. And they also serve gyro sandwiches and tacos and fajitas!

While I was waiting for my sandwich the guy behind me in line started telling me about how great the food was there (he recommended the shrimp in vodka sauce on Wednesdays). I’ve never gotten that kind of endorsement from any other place down here. And I trusted his judgment after he dogged all of the chain places on Maiden and said he’s been to the Biryani House Cart.

I unwrapped the sandwich and found it was a decent size for what I paid, and had plenty of steak in it. It had been marinated and was really good, but be warned that there was also a fair amount of crushed red pepper on it and some heat to go with. If you’re a hater of onions you can either get it without or not worry about it because there aren’t a lot there. And I’m sure if you asked nicely they would add some cheese. Also, I got a pickle with mine, but the counter guy asked if I wanted coleslaw or potato salad with and didn’t say anything about charging me more. So you’re getting a good amount of food here.

All in all, I’d say Lou was right that this place distinguishes itself from other delis down here in that they seem to make all of their food fresh. It’s always nice when a reader recommendation pans out, so keep them coming!

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• They make the stuff at the back counter in house.
• They sell tacos and pernil, and they actually may be good.
• Breakfast is served all day!

THE — (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

• I’m not eating anywhere that also sells panini and create your own salad.

Lane Cafe & Deli, 75 Maiden Lane (btw. William & Gold), (212) 943-0009