Midtown Lunch

Sabor de Mexico seems intent on quietly taking over the downtown area, although not quite as fast as its close relative Chipotle. I had checked out the first location on Trinity Place (at Thames) when it first opened and was called Caliente Mexican Grill, and on that and subsequent visits found it was dependable if partly Americanized Mexican food. Their strong point is meats, which I’d tried in the form of tacos and a burrito, but they also serve them in a torta and the more desk friendly burrito bowl. I decided to try the latter when a craving for carbs and meat hit.

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There is a cluster of steam table Indian restaurants in lower Tribeca that seem to cater to office workers in a hurry and cab drivers. They are mostly utilitarian with a few tables and chairs, and have probably not had updates to the interior in a while. Even from the outside, Saffron Fresh Indian, which recently opened on Chambers St. (btw. Broadway & Church), looks a little brighter and inviting than those nearby on Church St. like Pakistan Tea House, Bangal Curry and New Shezan. There’s a lunch special, or you can do as I did and order off the menu. It’s pretty easy to stay below the $10 mark here.

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Hot Clay Oven, aka, the Indian Chipotle, is back in business on Maiden Lane (btw. Gold & Pearl) after being shuttered by hurricane Sandy. The reopening was announced in an e-mail blast that also specifies they will only be open for a few hours each day this week – likely due to the same reasons as nearby places like Yushi which have reopened but are operating on generators. You can stop in from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to get a naan wrap or rice bowl and soon you’ll be able to get breakfast and grab and go items.
Also of note: They don’t have e-mail or phone service so you’ll have to physically go to Hot Clay Oven to get your lunch.

Hot Clay Oven, 101 Maiden Lane (btw. Gold & Pearl), (212) 269-2103

I don’t know about you all, but winter just hasn’t been the same without some clam chowder or lobster bisque from Luke’s Lobster. The location on S. William St. (nr. Broad) has been shuttered since hurricane Sandy and word on the street is that they will reopen on Thursday with some cheap beer on hand, and you can then pop in for lunch on Friday and beyond. I guess it’s also just in time for Lent, if you’re steering clear of meat on Fridays.

The secret’s in the garlic bread. Via SENY.

• Someone else discovers the All American Diner Truck‘s sandwiches. [SENY]
• Tacombi is serving some special tacos. [Grub St.]
• Take a gander at new Saffron Fresh Indian. [Tribeca Citizen]
• Are these the top 10 Chinese restaurants in NYC? [FitR]

There are a few long-running food trucks in this city that have somehow managed to never be reviewed by Downtown Lunch, either because of infrequently parking down here or never tweeting their location (or doing it two hours after most people eat lunch). Bian Dang is truck that we’ve not written about, although we did check out their offshoot Fun Buns cart when it debuted last year. The truck’s been parking in the Financial District occasionally again after most trucks were unable or unwilling to come down here due to disaster recovery vehicles and equipment everywhere, coupled with a lower supply of office workers.

This is really the perfect time of year to eat some Taiwanese comfort food, so I was more than happy to pay the truck a visit when they were parked on Water St. earlier this week.

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When it comes to pasta, the two options at lunch time are either hitting up a sit-down place, or settling for what comes off a steam table at many pizza shops. Zigolini’s does a good made-to-order pasta, but they remain closed after hurricane Sandy. Another option that some of you have recommended is Koyzina Kafe – an otherwise generic deli on William St. (at Cedar) that has a make-your-own pasta bar where you can watch your lunch being cooked in front of you. After a taste, I thought their pasta definitely has a leg up on what comes from a steam table.

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