Midtown Lunch

Summer is the ideal time to enjoy a lobster (or shrimp or crab) roll from Luke’s Lobster on S. William (at Broad) although really you can’t go wrong with one in the colder months either. No matter how much we try to deny it, freezing cold is on its way and with that comes soup weather. A little bit lost amid all of the seafood stuffed into hot dog rolls is the chowder and bisque section of Luke’s’ menu. It’s a good way to enjoy some seafood without breaking your lunch budget.

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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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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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There are the fancy parts of Tribeca, and then there are the parts on both the extreme lower and upper reaches of the neighborhood that are a little dirty and contain some eating and drinking gems. Located on the corner of Lispenard and 6th Ave., Nancy Whiskey Pub is one of those places and while based on the crowd there during the noon hour on a weekday many people are here for alcohol, they also serve a menu where basically everything is less than $10. Or you can splurge and get a large pizza for $12.50.

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A couple of months ago the San Luis Taco truck (formerly called Tacos Mexicanos) rolled into the Financial District, filling a void with its Mexican and Ecuadorian food. They’ve bounced around in different spots since then but seem to have settled on parking on Front St. which is good because I think often fans of their food didn’t know where the hell they were from day to day. After my first taste of the truck’s hornado, I decided to return for something from the Mexican side of the menu and discovered that it was hard to choose when you have so many delicious options at your disposal

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If the thought of paying $10 for a sandwich and some chips pains you, then avert your eyes because Fresh Salt is not for you. The restaurant is on Beekman (btw. Front & South), part of a cluster of eateries at the South St. Seaport. While I was under the impression that it was a grab and go-type lunch place, it’s more of a sit down affair unless you want to get your food to go.  Several of you profiled lunch’ers have recommended this place but it’s just far enough off the beaten path that I tend to forget about it. The good news is the food is good – but you’re probably going to pay more than you’d like for the privelege of dining among cobblestones. Read more »

If you frequent the street food carts on Broadway between Liberty and Cedar streets you’re probably familiar with Zak’s Halal cart (later known by the man always working there, who told Daniel his name was Musthafa). A while ago, this affable man disappeared from the cart and I’ve never seen him working there since. There was always a line at this cart, mostly for the awesome chicken over rice plate. Lately I’ve noticed that line has disappeared and I was curious if the food had gone downhill or if everyone else was just suspicious with unknown faces cooking the food. So I did the only reasonable thing and went to eat a plate of street meat. Update: As you can see from the comment below, and confirmed by a couple of lunchers, Mustafa is back! He was just on vacation.

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