Midtown Lunch

I’ve only eaten at the Yushi in the World Financial Center once to try their healthy take on chicken katsu, but it wasn’t bad, so I was happy to see paper up in a window on Pearl St. btw. Maiden Lane and Cedar saying it was forthcoming. They’re known for their conveyor belt sushi and also have hot items and other Japanese fare in a fast food setting. The people at Niko Niko down the street probably are none too happy with this development as they have some of the same menu items. We’ll keep you posted when opening seems near.

Last year shaved ice purveyor Wooly’s Ice went home a winner for best dessert at the Vendy Awards. The cart was in ML Downtown territory last year – first starting next to the 1 Centre St. kiosks and later moving up to Elizabeth St. This year they’re on the move again and starting today will be parked for the summer season at the South St. Seaport, right at Pier 17. Danny Che from Wooly’s gave us the low down on some changes to the cart’s ices and some other information. They were expecting to be up and running by the beginning of May but as often happens there were some unexpected setbacks which is probably fine because it hasn’t exactly been warm enough to crave icy treats. Straight ahead for what you can expect to help you deal with the heat this summer.

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This week marks two years since I’ve started writing  for you fine people on Midtown Lunch: Downtown and I thought it might be fun to tell you about some non-review lunches that I’ve eaten on a regular basis since I started working in the Financial District but haven’t ever written about. I’m saving my most shameful guilty pleasure lunch for the end of the week, but today you get the lunch that I’ve probably eaten the most when I’m crunched for time or can’t think of anything else imaginative to stuff in my face. That would be the catfish banh mi from Baoguette, extra spicy.

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A couple of weeks ago, one of our Profiled Lunch’ers mentioned her love of a falafel plate (with extra white sauce) from Adel’s Halal cart at Maiden Lane & Front St. Lo and behold, we’ve never written about the cart’s falafel, only gave it a shout out in a review of their lamb/chicken over rice. There’s always a line in front of the cart which isn’t too common at halal carts in the Financial District unless you’re Sam’s Falafel or Alan’s Falafel – both of which put out great food, so it would make sense that if there’s also a line at Adel’s there must be a reason. Read more »

With warm weather making guest appearances off and on lately, I’ve had lobster rolls on the brain and we are lucky to have more than one option for those in the Financial District. A few weeks ago I attended the Village Voice’s Choice Eats event and eating shrimp rolls from Luke’s Lobster and Red Hook Lobster Pound reminded me that these things are delicious and also, why have I not written about the one from Luke’s on this on the site yet? Also a fact: Luke’s Lobster’s shrimp roll is the only non-soup item on the menu for less than $10. Read more »

One of my favorite trucks or mobile vending options in the Financial District is the $5 $5.50 Lunch Truck which dispenses street meat, curries, stews and a damn fine plate of fish on the corner of Ann & Nassau. Trouble is, since it’s out of the way, I often forget about it but the other day I remembered I’d been meaning to try their goat curry and headed over. Not that that curry wasn’t tasty, but if you click through I’ll tell you why I probably wouldn’t order this again.

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Lunch’er Seaweed passed along the sad news that The Country Kebab on Fulton St. (at Gold), where I’d only recently discovered some vegetarian delights, is closing as of today due to a rent increase. When I stopped by on Thursday, their last day of business, there was indeed a lengthy letter taped to each window and the door explaining in great detail why they were closing. From the look of it, they’re just as angry about a likely rent hike and loss of lease as I’m sure many of you will be, but you’ll still be able to order for delivery.