It's like someone read my post about neighborhood food and decided to come save me. Since yesterday, a halal food cart has set up two blocks away from my building. They will open from 7pm to 4am daily and offer options of chicken/gyro/kofta/falafel over rice or on pita. The platters with rice cost only $5, which is terrific considering how overpriced this neighborhood is.
The food was good. I had the chicken and gyro over curried yellow rice. Most of the stuff was curry-flavored, so I didn't even need that much white sauce. I also liked that they cooked the meat with some broccoli, as I'm a huge broccoli fan. I'm just really happy to have a cheap meal option that's close-by and can be relatively healthy.
I did have some street meat recently that wasn't so cheap, but was quite amazing in taste. It was from the 45th St and 6th Ave Kwik Meal cart, the winner of Midtown Lunch's Street Meat Palooza 2. For $7.50, you get lamb over rice (I ask for yellow rice) that has real chunks of lamb and not just mystery gyro meat. The tzatziki-like white sauce has a nice tang and you must ask the guy for the green hot sauce, which you have to apply yourself. They also serve tiger shrimp over rice for $8.50 and salmon or tilapia over rice for $8.
There are a lot of food carts and trucks in NYC, with many providing truly great food. It makes sense for a place like this. With such high rents, why open a restaurant and force your diners to pay $13 for something they would be very happy to eat at $7? I'm waiting for someone to do a documentary on eating one month of food from NYC's mobile vendors.
3 comments :
Hey Henry,
Hope you did not have to wait in a long line to grab Kwik Meal fare. I agree their lunch is very nice (what a white sauce!) and I used to get it quite often. These days lunch hour mob is too much for my patience. It seems to be a common knowledge that the guy who runs it used to be at "Russian Tea Room" before striking on its own. Back in the day he would occasionally work alone, but now he needs a plenty of help to feed the crowd of his fans.
Regards,
Alex
Well, I have a habit of not eating at peak hours. This allows me not to have to wait in long lines. One of the perks of my job.
I hear he has a few "branches" out now as well, though I assume the original is always the best.
His food is good, but I don't know how much weight being at the RTR is. I've heard that the last time the RTR was good was a long time ago.
Hi Henry,
You are right that RTR has a questionable reputation. I do go to Russian places from time to time but never to RTR.
Alex
Post a Comment