Midtown Lunch

It was by chance that I discovered Pisillo, the new Italian panini shop on Nassau St. (btw. Fulton & Ann). The menu is simple with a roster of sandwiches and not an Italian-American park in the bunch. In fact, there aren’t any hot options at all, only cold cuts, cheese and a few vegetable toppings. You also won’t find any mayo or marinara sauce. These are all good things.  Read more »

Word came yesterday that the renovation of Pier 17 and the South Street Seaport by the Howard Hughes Corporation is set to include a large food market in the style of Italian mecca Eataly. There aren’t many details of what exactly this market will contain, but it won’t be focused on the cuisine of just one country. And I think we can safely say whatever food options that come can be considered a win for that part of downtown.

New menu items keep popping up at A-Pou’s Taste cart and some of them are so different that I feel the need to try them. When I walked by the other day, there was a sign for a new dish called “brown meat sauce over rice” next to the ones for pork chop over rice and shrimp fried rice. What I was picturing in my head and what I got were pretty different, but the dish wasn’t like anything I’d eaten before.  Read more »

• Energy Kitchen didn’t just shutter its FiDi location. [NY Post]
• A look at some classic NYC pizzerias. [Eater NY]
• Gastropub and craft beer bar coming downtown. [TC]
• Taim in Nolita will serve special Hannukah sweet. [Grub St.]
• A shout out to Leo’s Bagels. [FitR]

This happened a little while ago, but Jou Jou Cafe on the corner of Maiden Lane and Nassau St. has closed. It used to be my go-to for a sandwich or soup when it was cold or the weather was bad and walking too far for lunch was out of the question. However, in the past year it seemed like no one was eating there anymore, and a couple of the sandwiches I bought were less than excellent. Thankfully, the excellent French Cafe Gourmand up Maiden Lane will more than fill the void.

When Saffron Thread Indian opened on Chambers St. (btw. Broadway & Church St.) they touted their kati-type rolls, and they were indeed delicious and filling. The thing most people order here is the $9 lunch combo, and as I discovered you get a boat load of flavorful food for the price.

Read more »

• The seafood spot hanging on at Pier 17 gets the boot. [Tribeca Trib]
• Hale & Hearty is partnering with chefs for special soups. [Grub St.]
• Rizzo’s does Sicilian pizza right. [SENY]
• Stuff yourself to the brim at Shu Jia Fu Zhou. [FitR]
• An update on a restaurant guide. [Tribeca Citizen]