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 Jen who has all of the bases covered for downtown lunching, but is looking for some elusive good ramen.

Name: Jen Balisi

Occupation: Digital marketer and food blogger on the side

Where you work: World Financial Center

Age: 22

Favorite kinds of food: Anything indulgent (i.e. lobster rolls, rich & fatty ramen, anything with truffle oil/butter), proteins that are juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside (Filipino lechon, Peking duck), Asian fusion (Korilla tacos/burritos, Bibimbap burger, Japadog), pizza with LOTS of fresh basil, tacos, pork buns, and eggs benedict. I like most everything.

Least favorite foods: $15+ salads. It just doesn’t make sense. Also not a fan of cole slaw, non-pickled cucumbers, bananas, or raw tomatoes (exceptions: pico de gallo and bruschetta).

Favorite lunches downtown: When I was still at NYU, I practically lived off Cafetasia lunch specials, shakshuka from Hummus Place, and NY Dosas. For corporate life, the food trucks at the WFC lot have been my lunchtime savior with the falafel platter from Taim Mobile, arugula pie from Eddie’s Pizza truck, lobster BLT from Red Hook Lobster Pound truck, and al pastor tacos/torta from Mexico Blvd. at the top of my list. Having a Shake Shack on Murray St. (btw. West St. & N. End Ave.) by the office is obviously a great option too. Other FiDi faves are the shrimp or lobster roll from Luke’s Lobster on S. William (nr. Broad), the $6 potsticker/”Chinese spaghetti” combo from A- Pou’s Taste cart on Liberty (at Broadway) w/ extra hot sauce, chocolate pork tacos from Toloache Taqueria on Maiden Lane (btw. William & Gold), and half soy garlic/half spicy wings from BonChon on John St. (at Cliff).

Since I practically live in Nolita on weekends, I also have to give some love to the Cuban sandwich and grilled corn (it’s like crack) at Cafe Habana on Prince St. (at Elizabeth); beef rendang and Hainanese chicken w/ rice from Nyonya on Grand St. (btw. Mulberry & Mott); bocadillos at Despaña on Broome St. (btw. Lafayette & Centre) – the namesake with Serrano ham and goat cheese is my fave; the most amazing shrimp tacos from Cafe El Portal on Elizabeth (btw. Kenmare & Spring); and the Bronte/Bondi burgers from Ruby’s on Mulberry (nr. Spring). Sweet chili sauce on a burger/chicken sandwich? Yes, please.

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When lofty claims such as “the best kofta kabab in NYC” emblazon the side of a food truck, I feel they must be investigated through eating. After asking you all if Ambizza Cafe truck was worthy of a review, a few of you said it was so I headed over for a kabab platter ($8), although there’s a wide variety of meats cooked on sticks available as well as a couple of burgers and some vegetarian options such as falafel and a vegetable sandwich. Really, though, this trucks seems to cater to the carnivore.

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It feels like every week we’re reporting on It’s A Pizza being closed for one reason or other lately. The cheap yet delicious pizza and pasta place on John St. (btw. Broadway & Nassau) was closed on Friday for operating without a permit, and this is after a shuttering by the Department of Health back in January for health code violations. Let’s hope they’re able to bounce back from this closure to continue serving us 99 cent slices for dinner.

I know a lot of you are hardcore devotees of Potbelly Sandwich Shop, so I thought I’d bring you this PSA that they’ve added a new sandwich to the lineup. It’s called the Mediterranean and involves hummus, pepper and feta, and it’s vegetarian. I would guess you can get this not only at the shop on Maiden Lane where the above sign was spotted but also at the newer one at Broadway & Chambers.

I’ve only eaten at the Yushi in the World Financial Center once to try their healthy take on chicken katsu, but it wasn’t bad, so I was happy to see paper up in a window on Pearl St. btw. Maiden Lane and Cedar saying it was forthcoming. They’re known for their conveyor belt sushi and also have hot items and other Japanese fare in a fast food setting. The people at Niko Niko down the street probably are none too happy with this development as they have some of the same menu items. We’ll keep you posted when opening seems near.

This eggplant parm roll doesn’t look quite right…Courtesy of SE:NY

• If you donate $2 at Shake Shack, you can get a free shake on your next visit. [Grub St.]
• Go for the chicken parm in a hero over the roll at Parm. [Feisty Foodie]
• On the one hand, this is $1; on the other, it’s a hot dog in a sweet roll. [Fork in the Road]
• Moomah has reopened on Hudson St.. Quiche all around! [Tribeca Citizen]
• A ruined pork sandwich is indeed sad. [Lunch Studio]