Downtown Vietnamese Truck! - 'Banh Mi Cart'

Hopefully, I will be getting back to my updating moods. Life has gotten really busy this past Summer, between traveling, working (a LOT, Thank GOD!) and being a crazy, I've hopefully calmed down a bit for a little to pop my head in this blog and write about some great foods I've been lucky enough to try.

So one of my personal favorite places to eat is this truck, called the "Banh Mi Cart" on Hanover Square and Pearl Street in downtown Manhattan. (In the Financial District) There are so many stories associated with this little truck. But I've eaten there 3 times and each time has been heavenly goodness.

The first time was with my friend Shelley, who told me about this truck (since she works like a block away). The second time with my friend Alan, which best story ever, we literally ran around the whole financial district looking for this stupid truck in the pouring rain. My blackberry's googlemap really sucked, so we got lost, and I'm not very familiar with that area so yeah, we got lost a lot. The third time was with my sister for a really random quick lunch break, where we both craved it, and I traveled all the way from midtown just to go get it with her. (Yeah, I know..SUCH.. a _long_ way :p) Each time it tasted great, hit the spot and filled me up like a happy child getting a huge gift on Christmas morning.



I always get the sweet pork Vietnamese sandwich. They have things like spicy pork, chicken, vegetable, spring rolls, summer rolls, whatever finger-type foods the Vietnamese have- but no PHO.. sadly. Anyway, the sandwiches are thin, packed with meat, cucumbers, carrots and some other mysterious veggies (which are probably easily named, but I can't think of them off the top of my head right now) - but it all tastes great. The reason why I really love this place is because of how fresh and clean it tastes. It doesn't feel too heavy after you eat it, and it definitely leaves you feeling good after finishing the whole thing. It's not huMONNgo, nor is it too small, it's pretty much the perfect size. What's also pretty great, is that it costs $6, which if you're from queens, you're like WHAT THE HELL, WHY WOULD I PAY SO MUCH FOR A STUPID VIET SANDWICH, because you can get one for like $4, BUT! again, in manhattan, honestly, where can you get a lunch that's less than $8?! (WITHOUT a drink!) This is actually a jewel of a deal! :)

Anyways, if you guys have a chance, go check it out- should be there Mon-Fri from 11am-2pm. Don't call me if you get lost- I still probably can't find it even to this day. Ha!

Thanks to some of those DEDICATED FANS (HA HA WHO AM I KIDDING??) I realized that I forgot to put my proper ratings in, so here goes:

Taste: 5/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Cost: $6

Luke's Lobster - NYC

Luke's Lobster - http://www.lukeslobster.com/
"From ME to you" (ha ha, for the slow ones, ME = MAINE) ;)

A friend and I went up to the Empire State Building tonight to do the MOST touristy thing a person can do in New York City. I bet if you're reading this, and you're a New Yorker, you'd be like, "why the hell did you go there?" -- Yeah, the people that worked there asked us the same question too... but it was definitely worth while, and c'mon- have you REALLY, REALLY seen the city? In that type of view.. pretty breathtaking.. for like 20 minutes anyway. So, it was quite beautiful and afterwards we were tired and starving.. and wanted to eat some really great food.

We went over to 7th street and 1st ave, and had some LUKE'S LOBSTER!
It was amazing. I mean, when I first saw it, I was like, "ugh, I thought this was going to be a freaking restaurant.. " but instead, it was a chic little place, with somewhat of a fast-food aura to it. There were small counters and stools for maybe about 8 people to sit down and eat. The stools were really cute- had little lobster decor all over it. The spices on the table were also really cute, they were little claws of lobsters that were labeled, "Secret Spices". The little "sandwiches" were amazing- I don't know if I was super hungry or what--, but the lobster, the crab and the shrimp were ALL super fresh tasting..and delicious! There was none of that fishy-taste crap.. and the sauce was to die for. It was some kind of marinara-type sauce- but it was a little bit tangy and spicy and worked really well with the meat. The rolls that the meat was on was also VERY well made. It was lightly buttered and toasted!

I highly recommend this place- at least try it once! The only setback really, is the price of the food. It IS little pricey (for college students and poor working people like me :) so it's not probably somewhere I'd go all the time..but still worth it once in awhile! I mean, basically, what you're seeing in front of me was about $19.00 (and that includes all 3 rolls, a crab, lobster and shrimp one, 2 claws, 1 drink and a bag of chips!)

Here are some pics: (taken with my blackberry because I forgot my camera tonight :P)