Midtown Lunch

I haven’t checked in with French Cafe Gourmand since they opened on Maiden Lane (btw. B’way & Nassau) last May. Since then the place seems to have cultivated a following judging by the steady stream of customers ordering quiche, soup and sandwiches from the affable counter workers. The focus is on French-tinged sandwiches but they have a few like an Indian curried chicken one that stray a bit outside the norm. I had spotted a lamb sandwich on the menu and was intrigued to see how the French did it, and because it was a steal at less than $8.

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It seems like it’s been awhile since a lunch spot like French Cafe Gourmand has opened in the Financial District – as in a place that’s not a chain or a new branch of a chain. No, this cafe on Maiden Lane (btw. B’way & Nassau) is run by actual French people and they sell a small selection of items including coffee, soup, salads, sandwiches and some French pastries and baked goods. When I went in to check it out, I could almost for five seconds imagine that I was somewhere else but Manhattan (or at least in cafe-heavy Tribeca or Soho).

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I was a little surprised to walk by the previously papered-up French Cafe Gourmand on Maiden Lane (btw. B’way & Nassau) this morning to see they were open and a couple of people were drinking coffee inside. I didn’t have a chance to go in and look at the menu, but a sign outside says they have coffee, pastries and sandwiches. You can expect a report soon, but I think we can all be happy with another place serving decent coffee and pastries that isn’t Starbucks.

I’d noticed paper went up in the windows of the small space on Maiden Lane between Nassau & Broadway that held a coffee shop and more recently, Baoguette, and yesterday a sign was up saying whatever was opening was hiring counter help and other staff. It turns out a place called French Cafe Gourmand is opening there, as I learned after cracking the door open to find a French guy sanding the floors. No clue what kind of food will be served, but I would be fine if they served good coffee since we’re severely lacking in non-Starbucks options in the Financial District. I’ll keep you posted on further developments or any clues as to the food that will be served.