Best Sandwiches and Sides in SoHo: Spring '11 Edition

    While it may feel like August in Abu Dhabi, it's still spring in Soho, which means it's time for somewhat lighter lunches. Here are some great sandwiches and sides to get you through the heat. Eat these indoors by the window to enjoy the views, and when the temp goes back down find some public space to sit back and relax before you head back to office or your next client meeting.

    I don't know what they do to their turkey breast at Torrisi Italian Specialties, but it makes an amazing sandwich with their special sauce, lettuce and tomato. Get it as a small round roll and go with a side of their awesome spicy rabe ($4).

    Bread has a great selection of sandwiches ($11 for most) that comes with a side salad. I'm a big fan of the shrimp with arugula, avocado and salsa rosa on big ciabatta. They also have a great soup and half sandwich lunch special for $11 and have chilled soups likes gazpacho. Of special note: not only is the waitstaff at Bread comprised of beautiful women, but more importantly some of the most personable as well.

    As great as their Cuban is, I've become a big fan of Cafe Habana's "Sloppy Jose" comprised of spicy barbcue pulled pork, served with black beans, jalapenos, lettuce, tomato and chipotle mayo. It's a bit on the caliente side, but muy bueno. Now as for sides, do I really need to tell anyone about the corn ($4.25)? I think every guidebook lists it. Oh, they do offer serious competition for best looking and personable ladies of lunch.

    I'm going to give the "Hunter's pb & chocolate Genius combo award" to Snack for their Roasted chicken with tomatoes, roasted red onions, arugula, and fresh mint topped with....drum roll please... spicy mint lemonaise on stirato bread ($10). The award is for the use of the dressing and as a leafy green. I love me the mint. For the side, go with one of their great spreads ($5).

    This is not you clown's fillet o' fish sandwich. Just north of SoHo, Pinche Taqueria's Torta's ($6.95 + $2 or $3 for the fish) are great and their fish on a fresh baked Mexican sandwich roll with lettuce, onion, tomatoes, jalapenos, guacamole, beans, cheese and special Mexican mayonnaise are yummy. Go with their tasty Yuca Fries and dip them in homemade cilantro mayonnaise and roasted jalapeno ketchup.

Best Sandwiches and Sides in SoHo:
Torrisi Italian Specialties: 250 Mulberry St., at Prince St.
Bread: 20 Spring St., bet Elizabeth & Mott Sts.
Cafe Habana: 17 Spring St., at Elizabeth St.
Snack: 105 Thompson St., bet. Prince & Spring Sts.
Pinche Taqueria: 333 Lafayette St., at Bleecker St.

Tacombi: Tacos de Delicioso Desayuno

    Buenos Dias Senoritas y Gringo's! While there are many contenders for best taco's in NYC... it would be rather challenging to pick which is best, since this one has the best this and that one has the best that...(plus I will be saving this and that for a future piece). However, I did have this weekend the best Breakfast Taco's I've had outside of Texas (the best being my buddy Terry's wife Michelle's ...who also turned me onto Cerveza-rita's* and those at the Stripes Gas Stations** on South Padre Island, Texas).

    Tacombi offers their breakfast taco's for 3.69 all day. The selection varies depending on what is available, best and freshest at the market. Today they had three choices and it's hard to pick a favorite. I really loved the Mexicana which had tomatoes, onions and  jalapenos for some heat, the Chorizo and Potato was nice and spicy and last but certainly not least the Verde Huevos (think Dr Seuss) eggs cooked in tomatillo sauce (little green tomatoes w/a husk) with potatoes. All were topped with a slice of fresh avocado and delicious.

    The interior of Tacombi is set up to look like a taco stand in a seaside town south of the border. It has a VW bus (serving the lunch and dinner taco's) big leafy plants, folding metal tables and chairs and a nice big skylight to let the sunshine in. You purchase tickets at the drink counter (Coffee, Horchata, Aqua de Tamarindo, etc) on the center right and get you breakfast from the kitchen in the back.

    Tacombi's lunch and dinner taco's ($3.69 as well) are really good as well and I'm really looking forward to trying their home-made Paletas (Mexican Ice pops usually made w/fresh fruit ...and I'm really hoping they make some of the spicy versions with chilies added to the fruit)

 *Dumbfounded that this was not invented earlier...and that it is still offered in few places...Quite simply pour a good dark Mexican beer like Negra Modelo or Bohemia in a glass and top with a few ounces of frozen margarita. Add a slice of lime to the glass...drink...repeat as necessary...to quench thirst


**I'm not kidding...do not think some slurpee joint here. Stripes is a gas station and among the usual convenience store fare and beer cave...they have a large taco stand serving awesome breakfast taco's and a salad bar with fresh salsa, chopped jalapenos, etc...