Midtown Lunch

A while back I was busted by a street cart owner enjoying a falafel platter from his competition across the street, Moshe’s Falafel Truck. The man told me the falafel at his cart, Alan’s Halal, was better. Then, this discussion popped up in the forums about this awesome falafel at a cart on Water & Old Slip which turns out to be none other than Alan’s. This sounded like something worth investigating but it wasn’t until this week that I was able to both check out the cart owner’s claim that his falafel was fabulous, and see if it was a good deal. Update: Turns out there was some confusion about the name of this cart, and it’s Alan’s, not Adel’s.

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When you walk into Pita Press – the Greek rotisserie on Cedar St. (btw. William & Pearl), one of the first things you see is chunks of lamb and beef slowly turning behind glass doors. Next to that is a grill where chicken souvlaki skewers cook. To say that this place focuses on meats may be an understatement. Why then, would I go in and order the vegetarian option on the menu? Well, sometimes I get meat fatigue and the words “zucchini feta fritters” called to me.

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Some people have their favorite food truck based on a certain item they sell, but one of mine is because I am almost guaranteed to have a good conversation while waiting for my food. I’m referring to the All American Diner I & II Truck that’s perpetually parked at Whitehall and Water streets serving up hero sandwiches and plates of meatloaf and roast beef. I’d been there once before and had a massive and delicious roast pork sandwich on garlic bread. The other day I was for some reason craving a parm sandwich and remembered that this truck served a couple of different varieties.

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When I first heard that Potbelly Sandwich Shop was opening its first New York City location just down the street from my office I kind of rolled my eyes and uttered a “meh.” To me it was just another addition to what I like to call “Chain Row” between Water St. & Gold, and really, why would I get excited about another sandwich chain? Well, the store opened yesterday and of course I had to go check it out even though that meant waiting in a line that stretched down the block. It wasn’t until I unwrapped my lunch that some of my skepticism dropped away.

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There was a line stretching down the block when I walked toward Potbelly Sandwich Shop on Maiden Lane (nr. Gold) today during prime lunch time. They were handling things well, though, passing out menus and water and once you got inside a guy with a less techy version of an iPad took your order. All you had to do was tell the people at the counter if you wanted additional toppings on your sandwich . I think I waited less than 20 minutes in line – not bad for an opening day! How was the food, though? Check back tomorrow to see what I ate and a for a little advice in the toppings department.

Attention Potbelly Sandwich Shop fanatics: You’ll be happy to know the store on Maiden Lane (nr. Gold) starts serving food at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow as I found when I thought they were open today, but instead found it was an invitation-only friends and family event. If you’re not familiar with the Chicago-based chain they sell sandwiches, shakes, soups and salads along with fresh-baked cookies. I’m eager to check it out to see what all the fuss is about, but one thing they have going for them is sandwiches top out at $5.80. Also, if you have any recommendations on what to eat here let us know in the comments.

Up until Milk Street Cafe opened on Wall St. last week the options for kosher food in the Financial District (OK, and most of the area this part of the site covers) was limited to glorified generic delis, a place that consists of a take-out window and another place with not a whole lot of seating. Milk Street is the classiest option that the kosher among us have, and nearly everything on the menu is more than $10. If you don’t keep kosher then you might not eat here just because the prices are higher than you’d normally find, but the food seems high-quality and there are options galore. Read more »