Midtown Lunch

In a somewhat surprising development, sandwich/quick lunch chain Pret A Manger has given up its store at Maiden Lane & Pearl St. It was heavily damaged during hurricane Sandy, along with most of the other nearby businesses, some of which have reopened, and others like the Hale and Hearty across the street are still being rehabbed. If you’re in need of a Pret fix, you walk a few blocks further up Maiden to the location on Broadway between Cortlandt and John streets.

Following in the footsteps of grilled cheese, barbeque and Japanese rice balls from Smorgasburg vendors, Yuji Ramen is bringing a test kitchen to the second floor of the Whole Foods at Bowery and E. Houston from March 12 to May 12. The ramen maker used to draw large lines at Smorgasburg, and then at a shop in Williamsburg before that shuttered. Yuji is now trying to raise money via Kickstarter to open a restaurant serving its mazeman, or dry ramen, pictured here from their Twitter. What will they be serving at Whole Foods? Find out straight ahead.

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After a streak of offering nothing but Taiwanese potstickers, the A-Pou’s Taste cart at Liberty St. & Broadway has been on something of a streak of adding non-dumpling dishes to the menu. Not that any of us got sick of those delicious, crisp-bottomed dumplings, but maybe they got sick of cooking nothing but them?

To my surprise, when I stopped by the other day to investigate a sign announcing a new chicken curry dish, there were two Indian men working at the cart instead of a tiny Taiwanese woman. The man – who informed me he was Bangladeshi – got super excited when I ordered the chicken curry, proclaiming it his favorite dish. It turns out he should be proud of this Indian curry served alongside Taiwanese dumplings and Chinese spaghetti.  Read more »

Do interconnected dumplings taste better? Via FitR.

• The FiDi could be getting a Denny’s. [Broadsheet ]
• A look at Canal St.’s new coffee spot. [Tribeca Citizen]
• Confirmation that Pearl St. Diner is back. [EV Grieve]
• American Flatbread has a sweet secret ingredient. [SENY]
• Lotus Blue is part of a dumpling trend. [FitR]

It’s been a couple of years since I stepped into Downtown Deli on Church St. (nr. Park Place) in order to try their reuben on a recommendation from a luncher. I was thwarted when they were out of the proper meats and instead had a thoroughly OK brisket sandwich with gravy.

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Some of you have wondered in the comments how some of the other offerings at Blue Spoon Coffee are, and I’ve forgotten to investigate. The second location at William & Platt (the original’s on Chambers btw. Broadway & Church) has been my go-to for a cup of coffee or breakfast goods when I’m strapped for time, and it seems they either make everything themselves or source the food from good purveyors in the city.

I really like the vegetarian sandwich I got there after the FiDi location opened, and this time, on a cold and windy day, I went for one of the three soups they have on rotation each day.  Read more »