Midtown Lunch

There have been some fluctuations with the trucks and carts in the lower part of the Financial District as the area continues to be clogged with generators and vehicles taking up parking spots.

A couple of you lunchers have written in wondering where the Desi Chef On Wheels and All American Diner I & II trucks, and the Greek Street Meat cart have been. Apparently the trucks had been MIA for a week or more and you were going into withdrawal from Indian food and hero sandwiches.

While this is all worrisome, I have come bearing a little bit of good news.

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If you like pita sandwiches and hummus, a second branch of The Hummus & Pita Co. is set to open Wednesday in Tribeca on Chambers St. between Broadway & Church in the old Carl’s Steaks space. Photo via Hummus & Pita Co.

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The stretch of Pearl St. between Maiden Lane and Pine has become quite the magnet for new lunch spots since hurricane Sandy left many of the existing options shuttered for weeks or months. A new one that’s popped up is Terri. When I saw the sign a week or two ago, I didn’t post about it because frankly it looked like a ladies clothing boutique based solely on the signage.

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The pernil and other meaty products from Sophie’s Cuban (Multiple Locations) get most of the attention, but they also offer a few seafood options on their daily menu, and a couple of special dishes on Fridays. If you want to get lunch for less than $10, the fried fish special will not only fill you up, but it’s pretty good if you make one important addition.

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A tip of the hat to luncher Daniel who wrote in to tell us about a new Mexican option on New St. where Pita Grill used to be. El Toro Mexican Grill opened between The Grotto and Sophie’s Cuban, and has a varied menu (no, not like a generic deli).You can build your own burrito, tacos, bowl or salad, from a wide variety of proteins including tofu and chorizo, and then also have quesadillas, rotisserie chicken and burgers for those who may not be so much into lunch in a tortilla.

Have any of you eaten there?

El Toro Mexican Grill, 69 New St. (btw. Beaver & Exchange Pl.), (212) 363-3900, (212) 363-3901

There are a couple of events put on every year by the Street Vendor Project that help out the people providing us with lunch (or other non-edible items) from carts or trucks on a daily basis, without a PR machine behind them. The Vendy Awards are one, but there’s another coming up on April 2 called The Great Street Meet that you can buy tickets to. This one celebrates the SVP community, as well as the recent City Council bill that cut the cost of the tickets that vendors get for certain violations in half. And if you buy a ticket before Friday, you’ll be entered in a drawing that could net you a tasty-sounding dinner at Ma Peche.  Read more »

Danish fish and chips. Via Blondie and Brownie.

• Pan Latin desserts at Battery Place Markets. [Tribeca Citizen]
• Pier 17 revamp would bring two food markets to area. [Crain’s]
• The secret ramen of Tribeca. [FitR]
• How the Danish do fried fish. [Blondie & Brownie]