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 Kate who doesn’t frequent a lot of generic delis, but imports sandwiches from Brooklyn. And she likes a certain bacon jalapeno slice.

Name: Kate

Occupation: Hedge fund assistant

Where you work: Wall St.

Age: 24

Favorite Kinds of Food: Italian/Mediterranean, Spanish tapas, cured meats –jamon, prosciutto, cheese, nachos, crispy rice with spicy tuna, homemade BBQ

Least Favorite Foods: Vegetarian, cereal, bad deli sandwiches

Favorite Lunches Downtown: Spicy basil with chicken from Lemongrass Grill on William (at Maiden Lane); Sophie’s (Multiple Locations) spicy grilled chicken with yellow rice and salad; Adrienne’s Pizza Bar on Stone St. (nr. Hanover Sq.) for prosciutto pizza; Turkey burgers from Café Hanover on Hanover Sq. (at Pearl) and bison cheesesteak wraps from Energy Kitchen on Nassau (btw. John & Fulton) when I’m being healthy; The Grotto on New St. (btw. Beaver & Exchange Pl.) for its bacon jalapeno slice (see below); Mark Joseph’s Steakhouse on Water (btw. Peck Slip & Dover); Heroes from Defonte’s- but I’m not sure these count since we have them brought in from Brooklyn – totally worth it though!

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It’s been a couple of months since Hot Clay Oven started serving its Indian-fusion version of Chipotle in the FiDi. You want a wrap made with naan? Or Indian meats on a salad? Or a fancy version of meat over rice from a cart? They have it all, plus mango lassi and booze. The only time I’ve eaten there was the first day of operation when they were giving out free food and the line was up the block. I wanted to check back in and see what the food was like when I had to pay money for it instead of freeloading.

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This just looks like a big bowl of goodness. Courtesy of Bionic Bites.

• A certain type of pho is worth heading to Xe Lua for if you’re a spice fiend. [Bionic Bites]
• There’s some sort of giant eatery/entertainment complex coming to BPC. Take that South St. Seaport! [Eater]
• Besides being dirt cheap, Wah Mei now has a seating area! [Lunch with Front Studio]
• Looks like the love of Asian-fusion falafel has spread. [Fork in the Road]
• There’s a lamb sandwich at Financier?! [Serious Eats NY]

I was kind of amazed to discover that the Wall St. Burger Shoppe has never been reviewed on this site. Sure, if you want a full lunch there you’re either going to approach the ML price wall or go over it. I for one would much rather do this than eat a crappy fast food burger (Five Guys excepted from this category, of course), and sometimes you just don’t want to eat in a bar for your burger fix. They also have some crazy burgers for $7 or more on their own. But if you get their “junior deal” or one of their daily specials you can get out of there for $10 or less and not feel ripped off.

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