Midtown Lunch

I don’t know about you guys, but whenever I’m trying to decide what’s going in my belly for lunch I rarely crave chicken specifically. But when the combo Ranch 1 & The Original Soupman opened on Pearl St. and Hanover Square. I had to go check it out because after all, it is Zach approved. I happened to go on the day of the monsoon last week and broke two umbrellas in pursuit of my chicken lunch, but I would have to say it was kind of worth it. Read more »

Beware the fake chicken! Courtesy of Serious Eats.

• There are some hits and misses at the 99% Vegetarian Food Cart, which we already knew. [Serious Eats NY]
• Old-school Italian may live on in an old deli at the South St. Seaport. [Eater]
• When you get a burger at Brinkley’s, expect a wad of meat. [Lunch With Front Studio]
• Toloache’s new location could open next week! [Zagat Buzz]
• A roundup of restaurant openings and closings includes several downtown. [Fork In The Road]

I’m not quite sure why there are so many Mexican places opening in the Financial District all of a sudden, but we’ll take it! A chainy-looking place called Caliente Mexican Grill has opened on the corner of Trinity Place and Thames, where there used to be an Original Soupman outpost. A sign touting their grand opening said they serve burritos, tacos, etc. Anybody eaten here? If so give us your take on the food in the comments.

It’s that time of year when there are days (like yesterday) that you just want to hunker down for lunch with a hot steaming bowl of soup. The recently-opened Nicky’s Vietnamese Sandwiches on Nassau St. (at Ann) said they would be serving pho and have delivered on that promise. This is the only place I’m aware of in the Financial District that you can get the Vietnamese noodle soup, and it’s nice to not have to hop on a train up to Chinatown when the craving hits. Read more »

A walk past the former Swich space on Maiden Lane (btw. Gold & William) during the monsoon yesterday showed that it’s quickly being turned into a location of midtown “Mexican Bistro” Toloache. This is major news not only because their food is tasty, but because we’re definitely starved for good Mexican down here. It looks like it will be a downscale taqueria version of the other location, but it’s hard to get a read when the windows are papered over.