Archive for June 2011

Mexicue & Korean Tacos On The Twitter Tracker: It's a little quiet on the ML Downtown Twitter Tracker today, but we have Cupcake Stop at Maiden Lane, Mexicue on Water, Souvlaki GR on Old Slip, and Kimchi Taco Truck and Sweetery on Hudson.

Checking Out The Pork Chop At Ho Yip With Surprising Results

Pork chop over rice is one of those things that I occasionally crave but don’t really indulge because it requires a train ride to Chinatown. My personal favorite is Wah Mei Pork Chop Fast Food on Hester St. and when a craving struck the other day I ended up looking at my options in the Financial District. That led me to Ho Yip on Liberty St. (nr. Trinity Place) which I had never been to before but had been recommended to me by a friend for having good food and plentiful seating. And they had pork chop over rice on the menu at the “Chinatown style dishes” counter! While I was pretty sure this wasn’t going to be the pork chop of my dreams, drowned in pork sauce, I was completely unprepared for what I got.

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Every Food Truck Is In SoHo Today: If you are in need of a lobster or shrimp roll, Red Hook Lobster is on Varick today. Also on the ML Downtown Twitter Tracker, Cupcake Stop and Gorilla Cheese are also on Varick, La Cense is on Wall, Frying Dutchmen are on Water and Bistro Truck and Souvlaki GR are at Old Slip. Bian Dang is on Coenties Slip, Cupcake Crew, Joyride and Big D's Grub are all on Hudson and Sweetery is there until noon. I guess the trucks aren't avoiding Hudson anymore...

First Look: Potbelly’s Sandwiches Just Might Win You Over

When I first heard that Potbelly Sandwich Shop was opening its first New York City location just down the street from my office I kind of rolled my eyes and uttered a “meh.” To me it was just another addition to what I like to call “Chain Row” between Water St. & Gold, and really, why would I get excited about another sandwich chain? Well, the store opened yesterday and of course I had to go check it out even though that meant waiting in a line that stretched down the block. It wasn’t until I unwrapped my lunch that some of my skepticism dropped away.

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At Lunch Now: Line Down The Block To Taste Potbelly’s Sandwiches

There was a line stretching down the block when I walked toward Potbelly Sandwich Shop on Maiden Lane (nr. Gold) today during prime lunch time. They were handling things well, though, passing out menus and water and once you got inside a guy with a less techy version of an iPad took your order. All you had to do was tell the people at the counter if you wanted additional toppings on your sandwich . I think I waited less than 20 minutes in line – not bad for an opening day! How was the food, though? Check back tomorrow to see what I ate and a for a little advice in the toppings department.

Cupcakes Galore On Twitter Tracker: On today's ML Downtown Twitter Tracker...Big D's Grub Truck, Coolhaus and Cupcake Crew are at Hanover Sq., and Schnitzel & Things is at Old Slip along with Souvlaki GR. Cupcake Stop and Korilla BBQ are on Varick, and so is Taim Mobile with harissa falafel. La Cense is on Barclay, Bistro Truck is on Hudson, and don't forget that Potbelly Sandwich Shop opens today on Maiden Lane.

PROFILE: Downtown Lunch’er “Gayatri”

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 Gayatri who isn’t afraid to say she eats at chains come lunchtime and is looking for a certain Japanese dish.

Name: Gayatri Nair

Occupation: Project/business manager

Where you work: Wall Street

Age:29

Favorite Kinds of Food: Mexican, grilled/BBQ, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern

Least Favorite Foods: Raw food, anything with cinnamon on top or raisins in it.

Favorite Lunches Downtown: The Mexicue Truck for the smoked chicken and BBQ beet tacos, and the Souvlaki GR Truck for chicken stix and veggie pita. Recently, thanks to a colleague I found Pita Press on Cedar (btw. William & Pearl). Their zucchini feta fritter pita is divine.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: When I’m in a hurry and don’t want to think too much, me and my co-worker end up at Shinju Sushi or Pret. At Shinju Sushi on Pearl (btw. Pine & Wall) we ALWAYS get the sweet potato tempura rolls. At Pret (Multiple Locations), the Moroccan lentil soup & the hot falafel wrap is my favorite.

Places downtown you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Downtown: Red Mango on Fulton St. (nr. Dutch). I ate there for the first time two days ago. I was never a ‘fro-yo’ fan, and I have been converted. Read more »