Midtown Lunch

I was a little dismayed to walk down Fulton St. and see this sign for a forthcoming Red Mango near Dutch St. It’s a couple of doors down from the also forthcoming Crisp location that I’m much more excited about. Not only does fro-yo not sound good in this freezing weather, but it’s joining the company of Bread Factory Cafe and Burger King on this stretch when other places like the wonderfully dirty Terrace Fish & Chips are losing their leases. Make it stop!

If you were outside yesterday then you know there were sub-freezing temperatures ahead of the snow, but that didn’t stop you lunch’ers from freeloading! When I got to Hot Clay Oven on Maiden Lane (at Pearl) at about 12:45 p.m. the line was nearly to the end of the block. It later grew longer as people walking by couldn’t resist the siren song of free food. After about a 30 minute wait outside, I got inside only to wait 30 more minutes to order my food. This wasn’t because of a lack of organization, but partly because people cut the line and partly because of the sheer number of people waiting. See what I scored for my patience after the jump. Read more »

As is customary here on Midtown Lunch, every Tuesday we’ll profile a different lunch’er and get their recommendations for places to eat in Downtown NYC. This week, we have Danielle who likes the bread + meat equation and still pines for certain midtown places despite being an official downtown lunch’er.

Name: Danielle

Occupation: Project manager

Where you work: Across the street from City Hall at Park Place

Age: 30

Favorite Kinds of Food: Indian subcontinental, Tex-Mex, Italian subs, street meats.  Meat wrapped in bread seems to be a theme here.

Least Favorite Foods: Salad, foods that are served cold, Thai, bad attempts at pizza.

Favorite Lunches Downtown: Any of the specials at Pakistan Tea House on Church (btw. Duane & Reade) ; Spicy grilled chicken meal or sandwiches from Sophie’s Cuban (Multiple Locations); Italian subs delivered from Acquedolci on Grand St. (at Mulberry).  Acquedolci is run by the same folks who owned Pane Pepe which we lost in 2008.  Try their semolina hero as the bread for your next sandwich.  I am loyal to the Halal cart at Broadway & Park Place where I get the lamb gyro with hot chickpeas.  Burritos at Chipotle.  Basic American soft subs from Toasties on John (btw. Broadway & Nassau) and tacos from The Bigger Place on Warren (at W. Broadway).  For a decadent breakfast at lunch it’s Kitchenette on Chambers (btw. Hudson & Greenwich). Read more »