Stoupsy's Greek is still a favorite. The grill is hot and the chicken or gyro meat is fresh. Sandwiches are rolled on middle eastern flat bread that's thicker and tastier than pita. Greek salads and even a "South Beach Diet" special are really popular. Thursday's vegetarian stuffed eggplant special is a ritual for some people. They are also opened for made to order breakfast weekdays.
Next door is Isola's Cafe and a liquor store for cruisers who want to BYOB.
Offerdahl's Grill is a bagel and chicken chop place with a steak topped option if you're feeling beefy. The Johnny's House salad with crasins & sunflower seeds is a staple. They make an effort to mix it up a little.
Top of the food chain remains La Loggia on Flagler. Light Italian, divine Chicken Milanese, a lawyer filled happy hour... best food in this price range - Downtown facing the old courthouse. Check out their new sidewalk seating option. Daily happy hour drink specials and free tidbits at the bar. Lunchtime only - Rigatti's around the corner on S. Miami Ave, is smaller & often too crowded to sit at lunchtime.
Sushi Bento downtown has cooked Bento box lunches for $10 include miso soup, a small salad, and entrees including shrimp and veg tempura, gyoza dumplings, chicken or pork katsu, a California Roll etc. Very pleasant and filling for ten bucks.
Union Square Cafe in the Palm Court is still crowded. Folks love the "sandwich AND" specials and the turkey lunch sells out too. Pretty typical menu - 2 soups du jour, 2 daily hot specials, salads with toppings including grilled fish, chicken, shrimp... They make a pleasant cobb salad with chicken and fresh avocado.
New in the neighborhood is Habibi Grill, a Lebanese spot in the arcade where Giovanna's got their start. Still working out the kinks, but the mixed middle eastern platter is a good choice with hummus, tahini, stuffed grape leaves etc. There is a meat and a vegetarian version.
Around the corner, the Jamaican Cafe has a daily special that's filling and reasonable. Jerk chicken, oxtail etc. Service varies so don't visit if you're in a huge hurry. It's great to have this option in Downtown where the typical salad/sandwich places out number all else. Across the street is Fresh Cafe, a healthy food spot with sidewalk service.
Mario the Baker opened a small storefront by the Courthouse on Flagler. It's no match for the 135th /Dixie Highway original, but a few slices of pizza and a garlic roll can make anyone's lunchtime a happier place.
The Gourmet Carrot changed hands again and is now The Golden Carrot? Same menu pretty much. Ironed flat sandwiches like a tuna spinach melt, a chicken melt, fresh squeezed juices and salads.
Premo's makes sandwiches to order. An example of a menu item is curry chicken salad with golden raisins. The daily specials are always a value with a bag of any sort of chips and a drink included. They make a huge Cuban sandwich grilled flat - a little Americanized in flavor - but a foot long nonetheless.
If you're wandering a bit off the grid, have lunch on the patio at Tobacco Road. You won't want to return to work. Burgers, salads, grilled chicken options. Daily specials on the board are hit or miss.
Next door is a real FIND - the River Oyster Bar is getting crowded at lunch time. You can belly up to the bar and try a light tuna tartare, a bevy of freshly shucked oysters from around the globe, a smallish grilled mahi sandwich served with houuse made rosemary potato crisps. The best-kept secret is a pulled pork sandwich that's got well-sauced chunks of delicious smoky meat on a brioche bun... at a fish house! Imagine.
Addresses>
Isola's 360 SE 1st St
Union Square Cafe 200 S Biscayne Blvd # 200
Stoupsy's of Athens 350 SE 1st St
Sushi Bento 125 SE 3rd Ave
Offerdahls 195 SE 3rd Ave
Premios Deli 1 SE 3rd Ave
Habibi Grill 140 SE 1st Ave
Jamaica International Cafe 119 SE 1st Ave
Rigatti's Cafe 100 S Miami Ave
La Loggia Restaurant 68 W Flagler St
Mario the Baker 25 W Flagler St
Golden Carrot 201 NW 1st Ave
River Oyster House (Tobacco Rd.) 650 S Miami Ave
Enjoy!
