Midtown Lunch

Exquisite jewelry giving way to Thai.

After a long, cold winter of only a few new lunch spots opening downtown with food under the $10 mark there’s now a slate of new places opening in the next couple of months. The list is getting longer every day, with an announcement that the FiDi is getting a cheap Thai option when Rhong Tiam opens on Water St. (nr. Coenties Slip) on May 30. We’re also getting a location of Luke’s Lobsters on William (nr. Broad) and the Potbelly Sandwich Shop on Maiden Lane (btw. Gold & Pearl) that looks like it could open any day now. But wait, there’s more!

Tacos and paletas will soon be had here.

The Village Voice reported last week that Tortilleria Nixtamal, aka the maker of awesome tortillas, is opening a kiosk at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge by City Hall selling tacos among other things including paletas from La Newyorkina. The story gives the opening as this week so if anyone sees tacos being sold, let us know! You may recall there were four kiosks called the Open Air Cafe that opened and closed last year so it’s good there are some replacements going in.

As if all of this weren’t enough we’re also still awaiting the Shake Shack on N. End Ave. in the Goldman Sachs building and pizza restaurant from Ed’s Lobster Bar in Battery Park City. That normally terrible area for lunch is also getting the Fatty Cue kiosk behind the World Financial Center.

Of course all of this is mostly in the Financial District, and I’m sure there are other places coming to SoHo and Tribeca that border on the ML price guidelines. I for one am just happy to get some options that aren’t huge chains.