Not that there are any bad options for lunch in Lower Manhattan, but if you haven’t yet made it to Carmen’s Kitchen (17 Nassau St.), you’re missing out on one of the best deals in the neighborhood. Carmen’s has netted long lines since opening its downtown outpost in 2022, and for good reason — for $16 or less, you can score a heaping (and we mean heaping) bowl packed with a protein of your choice (options include chicken, beef, fish, veggies and pork), which come with a variety of seasonings, like barbecue or jerk.
If that’s not enough food for you, opt for a combo deal, which comes with three sides, like baked mac and cheese, potato salad, collared greens, kale, white or yellow rice and sweet plantains. Note that there’s no room to sit inside Carmen’s (or to stand, really, hence the long outdoor queue), but you can take your feast to our outdoor tables and chairs or another dining spot of your choice — or back to your desk, of course, but only if you want to make your colleagues super jealous.
