Midtown Lunch

Sometimes all you need is fried chicken + a biscuit. Courtesy of Lunch Studio.

• Dirty Bird To Go’s second outpost opening in DL territory. [Tribeca Citizen]
• An insider’s guide to Soho eating options. [SENY]
• A little love letter to Popeye’s from the “lunch ladies.” [Lunch Studio]
• The food lineup for All Good Things Market looks great. [TONY]

It’s a good thing I don’t live or work near the Taim brick and mortar location in the West Village or I may develop an addiction. However, when news came out that they’re opening a new flagship shop on Mulberry St. (at Spring) in Nolita, I did a little happy dance inside because their delicious falafel would be available after only a short ride on the subway. But that opening was announced what seems like ages ago, and the Taim Web site still carries a message that the shop is opening “soon.” Reports at the beginning of July said the location would open in two weeks, but that came and went. Rather than wait for the Taim Mobile truck to come close to my office (the WFC lot is as close as it gets, and that’s still far), I took matters into my own hands to try their harissa falafel at last weekend’s food truck rally in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. And after tasting this flavor of their falafel, I want that new shop to open even more.

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After a long, boring drought of new places to eat for $10 or less within the Downtown Lunch coverage area, we’re now being inundated with choices. I just reported on a place called grk coming to Fulton St. between Dutch and William, as well as Baked by Melissa opening and now that same stretch of street has spawned one more option with Roll and Go signage up touting not only pizza (will it be $1 like the locations on Broadway and Canal St.? The price on the sign seems to have been blacked out) but rotisserie chicken and shakes. Weird combo, but whatever. When I walked around the corner onto Nassau St. I spotted signage for another cheap eats option. Read more »

There’s no actual menu up for the chain-y looking grk coming to Fulton St. (btw. Dutch & William), but the items mentioned at the bottom of the window make it seem like it will be  similar to Pita Press on Cedar St. Among the dishes on tap will be gyros (which they spell yeeros), Greek yogurt, tzatziki, Greek salad and “freshly baked pita bread.” So nothing totally outside the box, but a decent option if you’re not in the mood for Crisp, Hale & Hearty or Chipotle that are all located on the same block.

It’s rare I’m pleasantly surprised by Indian food in the Financial District. I’m by no means snobby about my curries or chicken tikka masala, but how many times have you suffered through some sort of watery concoction from a steam table where the flavors seem to have been dialed down to please a wider variety of palates? After finding out a new truck had popped up on Whitehall St. (btw. Bridge & Pearl) serving Indian food, I decided to go investigate and found out from one of the women that they’re calling themselves Desi Food on Wheels. The truck is mysteriously affiliated with a restaurant and while which one seems to be under lock and key, it doesn’t really matter if the food’s good. Read more »