Midtown Lunch

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 Chloe who is in search of “love”-filled Mexican food and is wondering, like we all are, what happened to a certain BBQ truck.

Name: Chloe Knox

Occupation: Energy underwriting

Where you work: On Water St., close to Hanover Sq.

Age: 26

Favorite Kinds of Food: Sushi, falafel, churrasco with a ton of chimichurri & cebollitas, anything with garlic, dumplings, and most importantly – any and all authentic Mexican food: chilaquiles, tortas, carnitas tacos, etc.

Least Favorite Foods: Liver

Favorite Lunches Downtown: I gotta shout out Sam’s Falafel cart on Cedar (nr. Broadway) and the Gatehouse on S. End Ave. (at Albany) for sushi – you got me through those tough years in the World Financial Center dead zone.  Niko Niko on Pearl (btw. Wall & Pine) is great to grab right after the gym (I usually go for salmon sashimi & edamame), and Zaitzeff on Nassau St. (at John) is great for a killer burger with a bunch of their hot mustard & mixed fries. Read more »

It’s been mentioned twice now by profiled lunch’ers, but until a few weeks ago I had no idea the Barbarini empire existed. It’s on Front St. (nr. Beekman) off the main drag of South Street Seaport, on a nice little stretch of cobblestone street. One lunch’er recommended the spaghetti alla chitarra, while another mentioned the speck, taleggio and frisee sandwich. The little Barbarini empire exists in three forms: Mercato, Ristorante andAlimentari. The Mercato part sells Italian products, with a meat counter, and reminded me a lot of Despana. Make sure if you want anything to go, you go into the Alimentari entrance or you will look like a confused tourist. It was a sandwich I was after because although the homemade pastas sounded delicious, the cheapest one is $13 and I wasn’t prepared to eat spaghetti while sitting on a bench outside. Read more »

This is better than a wonton, courtesy of Me So Hungry

• Contrary to logic, the wontons are not the best thing on the menu at East Corner Wonton. [Me So Hungry]
• This sandwich from Grandaisy Bakery sounds tasty despite its lack of meat product. [Fork In The Road]
• A sandwich with roast duck and duck sauce, you say? [Serious Eats NY]
• Never fear, Hoomoos Asli has redeemed itself after a bout of mediocrity. [Lunch with Front Studio]

Do you like golden-hued pastries stuffed with meat? And would you like to pair one of those patties with some chicken and rice and peas for less than $10? Well, then Golden Krust is the place to be since they have a $5 lunch special of either curry or stew chicken with “veg” and rice and peas. I realize this is probably not as good as going to either of the Veronica’s Kitchen or Little Ochi carts downtown, but it is slightly cheaper and a little more accessible for those who work in the northern part of the Financial District. I went to the location on Nassau St. (btw. John and Fulton) to try out the lunch special and finally try one of their patties that I see everyone in my neighborhood eating. Read more »

There was a huge amount of excitement last year when word came that a cart selling banh mi was coming to the Financial District. Longs lines ensued. Really long lines. Well, the No. 1 Banh Mi Cart is still down here, at Pearl St. and Hanover to be exact. Prices are up $1 since Daniel visited and the menu is different. There’s also a giant picture of summer rolls on the side for identification purposes. Read more »

The Indian fusion place Hot Clay Oven that is intending to take over Manhattan, followed by the world, has put up signage on its first location on Maiden Lane (btw. Gold & Pearl). A peek inside revealed that there’s still some work to be done, but it looks on track for the early September opening. You can check out the menu now and decide on your four-step order for opening day. Update: A girl standing outside handing out menus today told me that they’re opening in the “first week or two of October.”

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 Craig who doesn’t believe in $5 foot longs or certain green vegetables, and thinks the FiDi is a pretty good place to be come lunchtime.

Name: Craig Savitzky

Occupation: Research Associate

Where you work: The American Lawyer magazine

Age: 28

Favorite Kinds of Food: Neapolitan-style pizza, Cincinnati chili, Milwaukee frozen custard, Tibetan momos, El Salvadorian pupusas, muffulettas, shokshuka and any and all Caribbean food.

Least Favorite Foods: Not into peas, green beans or baked ziti.

Favorite Lunches Downtown: The “Napoletano” calzoni at Farinella on Worth St. (nr. Broadway); jerk chicken at Veronica’s Kitchen on Front St. (at Pine); Alfanoose on Maiden Lane (btw. Broadway & Nassau) for their red lentil soup; the calamari done with a southwestern flare at the Capital Grille on Nassau (btw. Liberty & Pine); the speck, taleggio and frisee sandwich at Barberini Mercato on Front St. (btw. Beekman & Peck Slip); the chicken, mushroom and spinach burger with peach ketchup at Kitchenette on Chambers St. (btw. Greenwich & W. Broadway); Urban Lobster Shack on Stone St. (btw. Broad & Broadway) for the ongoing $10 special, but if it’s ambiance you’re after, get the tuna roll at Ed’s Lobster Bar kiosk instead behind the World Financial Center (nr. Vesey); Jou Jou Café on Nassau (at Maiden Lane) for their Israeli panini comprised of egg salad, Swiss cheese and Zataar; Takahachi Bakery on Murray St. (at Church) for scrumptious almond-miso cookies. Finally, step on over to Battery Park City where Izzy & Nat’s on South End Ave. (nr. Albany) will tend to all of your appetizing needs. Read more »