Midtown Lunch

It seems like just yesterday that a tip came that the old Backyard Chicken space at John St. & Pearl was turning into another Mooncake Foods which already exists downtown in Soho. Then just like that, the doors were open for business yesterday at lunch. And I’d have to say – especially with similar places like OBAO and nearby BonChon on John temporarily down for the count due to the hurricane and a fire respectively, this is a welcome addition to the lunch scene in the Financial District. Read more »

I’d have to say I’ve never paid more than $10 for an uncooked meal, but that’ exactly what I did last week at the new Magic Mix Juicery on Fulton St. (btw. Nassau & William).

It was curiosity (and something of a dare by a fellow Downtown Luncher) that led me to this vegan, kosher, raw spot that mostly traffics in juices that cost more than 90% of most solid lunches. However, there is a small case of raw food items available when you walk in, and I tried to bypass the ones that looked most like salads for something that resembled an actual meal. Despite being denied my dish of choice the first time I stopped in, on a return visit they had properly dehydrated the kelp and I walked out into the freezing cold with the raw food equivalent of spaghetti.

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A sandwich worth its weight in pork. Via SENY.

• A lesson on a certain Chinese pudding. [Eating in Translation]
• Rumors of a burger challenger to Shake Shack in BPC. [Eater NY]
• Harry’s Italian on Gold St. could reopen soonish. [Tribeca Citizen]
• Several downtown eateries will make you forget the cold temps. [Grub St.]
• The WFC is getting its own Eataly-esque market!?! [Crain’s]
• A sandwich worth $12 at Dominique Ansel. [SENY]

It’s been a good three months since hurricane Sandy left the Financial District a mess of generators and shuttered restaurants and buildings. Some places have managed to reopen because of minimal damage, but with or without phone or Internet service (or in some cases, electricity, but we’ll get to that). Many that were completely obliterated by the flood waters still remain closed with papered up windows and vague notes in the window about reopening soon.

The lower part of Maiden Lane, or as I call it “chain row,” was especially hard hit, along with other low-lying spots along the bottom part of Pearl St. and at the South Street Seaport. Two affected lunch spots were Yushi on Pearl St. and Hot Clay Oven nearby on Maiden Lane. Both were shuttered after the hurricane, and only one has reopened. I reached out to both of them, and found out that opening the doors for business isn’t an instant cure all.

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The offshoot of Chinatown’s Vivi Bubble Tea  on John St. (nr. Nassau) soft opened yesterday, and is officially open today with a special to lure people in during this cold snap. A sign out front advertises a buy one, get one free offer which you can either graciously share with a co-worker or hoard for yourself and call it lunch. This apparently excludes slushes, hot drinks and smoothies, and the BOGO special’s good through the end of January.

Vivi Bubble Tea, 39 John St. (nr. Nassau St.)

The lights went dark in massive lunch spot (and bar!) Earl’s Court on John St. (at Gold) a while ago, directing visitors to their other location and not really saying whether the place would ever reopen. Based on the “For Rent” signs now in the window, we have our answer.

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One thing the city doesn’t have nearly enough of are carts selling fried foods. Yes, there are a few in Chinatown selling things like $1 chicken legs or fish balls on sticks, but that’s only useful if you work near Chinatown. What if you want a fried chicken fix but don’t want to trek to Popeye’s or pay the prices for the delicious, organic variety from Dirty Bird To Go? I introduce to you the Fried Chicken & More cart. Read more »