Midtown Lunch

Around the corner from Sole di Capri (aka, Capri Caffe), there is another source of cheap lunchtime pasta called Tre Sorelle. Based on the number of people I saw coming and going at prime lunch time, this place is popular with office workers and people such as myself taking their food to go for a little desk dining. This could be because of the extensive lunch menu that includes personal size brick oven pizzas, pastas and platters of Italian standbys for $10 or less. Perhaps the best deal on the menu is the pasta of which you can choose from five varieties for $6.95 which is a good price for this area.

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I’m a little bit late in trying out the new source of falafel in Tribeca, Nish Nush, on the corner of Reade St. and Church. After reading one glowing review, and walking by and seeing indeed how nice this shop looked, curiosity got the best of me and I wanted to know if it was true that this place was serving falafel that could be compared with Taim‘s. After eating there once, I’m mentally kicking myself for waiting more than a couple of days to check this place out.

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When I mentioned that L&L Hawaiian BBQ on Fulton St. (at Gold) had started serving Chinese food from a steam table, luncher rodalpho commented on his favorite item from the establishment:

I haven’t tried the buffet because I generally don’t leave my office for lunch, but I have sampled most of L&L’s menu. Skip the plate lunches, the sushi, and the Chinese food. L&L has one (and only one) truly great item on its menu– the BBQ beef sandwich. I strongly recommend it.

That sounded like a strong enough endorsement for me to go get myself a beef sandwich.

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There are several restaurants in the Financial District that fall outside the $10 price range at lunch, but sometimes I’m still curious about them. One of those places is Smorgas Chef on Stone St. just off of S. William St. The Swedish meatballs on the menu kept luring me in, but even the open-face lunch sandwich is $12 and the entree version costs even more. But what about the $10 appetizer of meatballs, mashed potatoes and lingonberry? Would it be enough to satisfy at lunch?

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The food truck situation in the Financial District has been in flux since many parking spots have been taken up by emergency vehicles and generators. That means many regulars, like the Tribeca Taco Truck which has regularly been rat Water & John, have been forced to find new locations in the neighborhood, or just park in Midtown for the time being. They returned on Tuesday after an absence and I happened to walk by as I was figuring out what to eat for lunch. I’ve already tried their tacos and a chorizo burrito when the truck used to park in Soho (they now have a cart on Broadway btw. Prince & Spring). It turns out they’ve upped the price on some of their burritos, but the $5 options are a great deal.

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It’s been a while since we’ve checked in with L&L Hawaiian BBQ on Fulton St. (at Gold), one of the city’s only sources of greasy, carby Hawaiian plate lunch and Span musubi. They were closed by the Department of Health last fall, and then reopened, but I’ve got to say I’ve been a little afraid of returning for another lunch. I may have to though because they now have a $5.99/pound Chinese buffet Chinese food steam table (not by-the-pound, upon further investigation). I think in place of the sushi bar that used to be up front. This price point is on par with Yip’s a couple of blocks away on William St. so there’s a little competition brewing.

L&L Hawaiian BBQ, 64 Fulton St. (at Gold), (212) 577-8888

It’s not only the Financial District that’s having a flurry of new lunch spots opening: Battery Park City is having its day in the sun with the previous Japanese curry invasion announcement and word that Bill’s Bar & Burger is coming to the neighborhood. It’s already been approved by contributors over on the Midtown site, so maybe we should start getting excited about the beef influx coming our way. Read more »