Archive for September 2011

Wafel Wednesday On The Twitter Tracker: On the ML Downtown Twitter Tracker...Wafels & Dinges has its truck at Hanover Sq., Bistro Truck is back in action at Old Slip along with Souvlaki GR, and Eddie's Pizza's cart is on Greenwich & Duane. Big D's Grub and Frites N Meats are on Hudson, Korilla BBQ is on Front, Bian Dang is at Coenties Slip and Bongo Brothers is at Broad & Water. La Cense is parked on Wall.

Ba’al Cafe Fills Soho’s Void Of Cheap Falafel In Spectacular Fashion

Soho is pretty barren in terms of carts or restaurants specializing in falafel, unlike other parts of downtown this site covers (OK, mostly the Financial District). There are a couple of generic street meat carts scattered around, and others like Taim Mobile and Crisp On Wheels make stops once or twice a week but that’s about it. Maybe that’s why everyone got excited when Ba’al Cafe & Falafel opened on Sullivan St. (btw. Spring & Broome). And after eating there twice, I really wish whoever owns this place would expand to the FiDi.

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Mexicue Is Playing Dress Up Today: Everyone on the Mexicue truck is dressing in '60's garb today when they're parked on Water. The ML Downtown Twitter Tracker also tells us that Cupcake Crew is at Hanover Sq. along with Big D's Grub, Sweetery is on Hudson and Taim Mobile is on Varick along with Korilla BBQ. Souvlaki GR is at Old Slip.

PROFILE: Downtown Lunch’er “Nancy”

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 Nancy who works in the middle of three neighborhoods with plenty of food options. Just don’t expect her to ask for extra mayo. 

Name: Nancy

Occupation: Advertising art director

Where you work: Canal & Varick

Age: Younger than the San Gennaro Feast

Favorite kinds of food: I prefer Asian food over American but I do love a good steak, great BBQ and lobster.

Least favorite foods: Anything with mayo or eggs, so egg salad tops the list.

Favorite lunches downtown: This neighborhood is great since we are so close to Tribeca, Chinatown, and the newly named “Hudson Square” which is growing in lunch options. I go to Pecan in Tribeca for their soup (butternut squash) and salad (chicken quinoa) lunch combo. When heading to the library on Leroy St., I hit Better Being Underground  (btw. Hudson & 7th Ave. South) for the Nuyorican wrap or Slumdog Millionaire press sandwich. Everyone in the ‘hood loves Alidoro on Sullivan (btw. Spring & Prince) and I usually order the Frugoletto sandwich. For $5 pho, I go to Nha Trang on Centre St. (at Walker) but if I’m not up for a walk through Chinatown, Mekong on King (at 6th Ave.) has tasty, though more expensive, Vietnamese. Mooncake Foods on Watts (at 6th Ave.) is close by and I love their salmon.

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Are The $6 Specials At Soma By Nature A Good Deal?

There’s a sign outside of Soma By Nature on William (btw. John & Fulton) that I always pass by but have never investigated. That would be the $5.95 lunch specials that include curry chicken, ma po tofu, udon soup and japchae. Considering that most things there are $8 or more I feel like this is a pretty good deal, but do you get enough food to fill you up or do they stiff you in the name of a bargain? That’s what I headed inside to find out.

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Grilled Cheese, Souvlaki On The Twitter Tracker: Souvlaki GR is back at Old Slip Water & Hanover after their Vendy Awards win this weekend, and Bian Dang is on Front. Elsewhere on the ML Downtown Twitter Tracker, Sweetery is on Hudson, La Cense is on Barclay, Mexicue is at Church & Lispenard and Comme Ci Comme Ca and Eddie's Pizza Truck are on Water. Gorilla Cheese and Frying Dutchmen are on Varick.

Two Downtown Vendors Go Home Winners At 2011 Vendy Awards

Just in case  you didn’t make it to the 2011 Vendy Awards that took place Saturday on Governor’s Island, there’s a lot to recap from the afternoon of standing in line, regretting eating that second ice cream cone from the Miss Softee truck, and then staggering back to the ferry. Three vendors from downtown were finalists in two different categories and I’m happy to say two of them took home an award, including Souvlaki GR. As you can see above, they were pretty happy about winning the People’s Taste Award. A recap of the winners in other categories, and some photos of the many, many plates of food that made it into my hands straight ahead.

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