Lunchonomics: Mid-Day Munchin' in Manhattan's Money Maker

Hotlafel: Production

fidilunch — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:44:47 +0000

It lives. The hot dog bun was secured for free from the street meat cart 60 feet from Alan’s falafel cart. Twenty-five steps and five minutes later three falafel balls were similarly provided for no charge by Alan. Twenty-five steps back to the street meat cart and the falafel-bun baby was slathered with ketchup, mustard and sauerkraut. The taste? It’s like trying to describe the color of the sky to a blind man. All I can say is that it was an unexpectedly perfect balance of flavors. The soft, supple hot dog bun was a welcome departure from the Jack Sprat of breads, the pita pocket. Chickpea and sauerkraut were murder buddies, just killin my tastebuds and sending them to heaven. Ketchup and mustard played it like sociopaths. You’d have no idea they started as a hot dog hat.

You've been missing out for your whole life.

Hotlafel: The R&D Phase

fidilunch — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 03:07:25 +0000

Pizzafel is passe. We’ve been there, eaten that. We created the dish, broke the story, paraded it through the streets, and now we’re famous for it. I’m amazed I’m able to type this post considering my right hand has cramped into an eagle claw from signing so many autographs.

We crave a streetfood mashup even more bodacious. Shockinger. More bester. It will be the definitive beast of the streets. Keep watching.

Amazing Food Tricks: Pizzafel

fidilunch — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:38:46 +0000

Why stress yourself out agonizing over choosing between pizza and falafel for a quick lunch when you can have both at the same time?! Meet the lovechild of the slice and the pocket: PIZZAFEL. My pizzafel was the offspring of Friendly Pizza (Maiden and Nassau) and Alan’s Falafel Cart (B’Way btw. Liberty and Cedar). Funny thing: Alan didn’t blink when I requested that he make me a falafel sandwich using the slice of pizza I handed him. It looks quite disgusting in the photo below, which is partially due to the fact that it was taken with a camera phone and partially due to the fact that it really looked very disgusting. The taste, however, was gang banger. If you know how to do an amazing food trick, tell us about it.

Pita Grill

fidilunch — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:54:55 +0000

Spot: 69 New Street
Phone: 212 363 2333
Delivery: Yes, $8 minimum

Rundown: Pita Grill offers a variety of lunch options that include stir fries, salads, rice bowls and grilled meats. We haven’t sampled the food, so if you have, please let us know what you think.

Under $10:
Selections include, but are not limited to:
Greek salad – $9
Grilled chicken salad – $9.50
Grilled sliced cajun steak pita – $8
Hawaiian chicken or steak pita – $8.50
Chicken rice bowl – $10
Roasted chicken BLT panini – $8.50

Tandoor Palace

fidilunch — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:35:51 +0000

Spot: 88 Fulton St (@ Gold St.)
Phone: 212 349 7643; 212 349 7646; 212 349 1888
Delivery: 11A – 9P, $10 minimum

Rundown: Judging by the menu, Tandoor Palace looks like a run of the mill Indian lunch spot.
Please send us your opinion of the place if you’ve eaten here.

Under $10:
The entire menu, except for the tandoori shrimp. Selections include, but are not limited to:
Aloo gobi – $6.95
Saag alu – $6.95
Channa masala – $5.95
Chicken tikka masala – $6.95
Lamb curry – $7.95
Shrimp vindaloo – $9.95
Lamb shahi korma – $7.95
Goat biryani – $7.95

Diwan-E-Khaas

fidilunch — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:33:50 +0000

Spots: 53 Nassau St.; 26 S. William St.; 26 Cedar St.
Delivery: Yes
Phone: Nassau: 212 571 7676; S. William: 212 248 2361; Cedar: no phone

Rundown: We haven’t eaten here yet. Reviews/ blurbs welcome.

Under $10:
The whole menu. Prices range from $6.45 – $7.85 for entrees.

Maggie’s Cajun Grill

fidilunch — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:01:13 +0000

Spot: 12 John Street
Delivery: 11A – 6P, M-F
Phone: 212 577 2668

Rundown: I felt like some kind of fish the first time I walked by this place. An employee on the sidewalk with a plate full of samples dangled a lightly charred cube of bourbon chicken in front of my eyeball. I bit it. It was good. I went inside. I bought food. That’s how they get you. $5.95 gets you an entree with rice and two vegetables. In my estimation, it was at least a pound of food. The bourbon chicken was quite flavorful, but a bit gristly. The vegetables were surprisingly not overcooked or mushy (although some people like mushy). Although I was satisfied with my meal, this type of “cajun” food is available at any mall food court.

Food Quality: 3.5/5

Under $10:
The entire menu. $5.95 for one entree w/ rice and 2 vegetables; $7.50 for 2 entrees w/ rice and 2 vegetables. Entrees include:
Bourbon chicken
Shrimp etoufee (stir fried w/ tomato sauce)
BBQ grilled chicken
Blackened fish
Honey-glazed chicken
Blackened chicken
BBQ spare rib tips
Vegetables: Carrots, sweet corn, red beans, steamed cabbage, string beans, fried potatoes w/ onions

Texas Rotisserie and Grill

fidilunch — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:26:24 +0000

Spot: 94 Fulton Street, 2nd Floor
Delivery: 11A – 3P, M-F
Phone: 212 566 6666

Rundown: After a co-worker’s mad ravings about this place, we gave it a try. The food is fantastic and very well priced for what you get. I got a 1/4 rotisserie chicken, a side of perfectly prepared collard greens (zero grease, a little onion, garlic and salt), expertly steamed and very lightly salted mixed vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower), and a fresh baked corn muffin…. FOR $6! The chicken (I got the white meat) was unbelievably juicy and not greasy at all. That said, the quality of the food belies the food preperation area. This place does a huge delivery business for good reason; it’s up a dark, slimy, yet somehow tacky flight of stairs on Fulton Street. There’s no seating in the establishment–it’s basically an industrial kitchen that looks like a whale sneezed in it. That’s the best I can explain it. We looked into Texas Rotisserie’s NYC Department of Health rating, and it checks out, so it probably looked worse than it actually is.

Food Quality: 5/5

Under $10:
The entire menu. Items include, but are not limited to:
Char-grilled chicken w/ steamed vegetables – $8.95
Grilled chicken caesar wrap – $6.95
Greek Salad – $6.95
Bar-B-Q pulled pork w/ 1 side and choice of bread – $8.95
Quarter rotisserie chicken w/ 2 sides and corn bread – $6.95
Angus beef burger w/ seasoned fries- $5.95
Blackened salmon w/ 2 sides – $7.95

Alan’s Falafel Cart

fidilunch — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:45:02 +0000

Spot: Street Food Alley, East side of Broadway btw. Liberty and Cedar Streets

Rundown: Please understand that this is NOT your average falafel cart. For $3 you get a pita overstuffed with 5-6 fresh, warm, crunchy, golden on the outside, green on the inside falafel balls, fresh lettuce and tomato, hot sauce, tahni, a slice of buttery grilled eggplant, jardinera (pickled hot peppers) and a stuffed grape leaf (yes, inside the pita pocket). The sandwich can of course be tailored to your exacting specifications. This is easily one of the best lunch deals in the entire City, let alone the FiDi.

Insider Tip: Lines are shortest after 1:30pm. If you’re going to eat this on the go, tell them to go easy on the tahini, or else you’ll end up with drippy earlobes.

Food Quality: 4.5/5

Under $10:
Falafel sandwich – $3
Falafel platter – $5

Terrace Fish and Chips

fidilunch — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:51:20 +0000

Spot: 77 Pearl St; 187 Church St; 124 Fulton St

Rundown: Small and crowded during peak lunch (12-2pm M-F), but cheap, high quality seafood. We’ve had the very fresh two-piece whiting fillet on a dense, multigrain roll topped with fresh lettuce and tomato for $5.40 at the Fulton St. location. Very filling. My only complaint is that the “hot sauce” provided with the mean comes in a packet and tastes like cayenne-laced Robitussin.

Food Quality: 4/5

Under $10:
1-piece whiting sandwich – $4.50
2-piece whiting sandwich – $5.40