Monday, November 9, 2009

Rain, Rain, Go Away

When I checked the forecast last night, there was a 100% chance of rain today. Even if it's not raining when you start your lunch break, the ominous dark clouds above usually serve as a deterrence from a long walk for lunch. That likely leaves you with three options:

  1. You brought something from home.
  2. You are driving to somewhere with covered valet parking.
  3. You are eating whatever is available in your office building.

Chances are likely that you forgot to pack your lunch, and today being a Monday you would prefer a quick bite rather than fighting your way out of the parking lot. So it looks like you will be dining in today, a thought which makes most people cringe. But not all office buildings were created equal when it comes to lunch options. Let's take a closer look:

  • One Shell Square - Smoothie King, Subway, Roly Poly, pizza, coffee shop, Square One Buffet, and Empire State Deli. Little known fact: Square One formerly hosted an evening lingerie show for those tenants who needed a break from burning the midnight oil.
  • Place St. Charles - The second floor food court has too many stands to list, but Steve's Diner (home of the "breakfast in a cup") deserves special mention. For dessert, head to Mrs. Field's on the first floor for cookies and soft serve.
  • The Energy Centre - Allegro Bistro (go with the seared tuna salad with ginger dressing) or the sandwich shop next door which has a halfway decent salad bar.
  • Canal Place - Not a deep selection in the food court, the Mrs. Field's doesn't have soft serve, and Morton's is closed for lunch.
  • Poydras Plaza - Whole Hog Cafe and the sandwich shop on the ground floor, plus we will give you Catty Corner next door as a lagniappe.
  • Pan-Am Center - The cafeteria on the 11th floor is reminiscent of my freshman college dorm. I'll let you fill in the blanks on that one.
  • First Bank & Trust Building - Unless there are leftovers from The Pope's complimentary breakfast fare last Friday morning, you will be subsisting on peanut butter crackers from the sundry shop. Epic fail.

And the winner is... well, you tell us in today's poll.

6 comments:

Anna Whitlow said...

Place St. Charles also hosts Sweet Leslies--which is way better than Mrs. Fields.

Donnie Boy Riguez said...

Metairie has Wendy's and McDonald's close to both 110 & 111 Vets. Get the double cheeseburger from either.

QB said...

First Bank & Trust/LL&E has those delicious Sandwich Man sandwiches.

Shelly said...

I maintain that OSS wins because it is within dashing distance of Luke. :) Also, I have a strange love for Roly Poly.

Celeste said...

Basement cafeteria at the federal courthouse...surprisingly good eggplant dressing & other typical NOLA foods.

Clay said...

OSS: Empire deli is good, but gets big deductions for price and portion size. I eat at Place St. Charles almost every day instead. HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THE LINGERIE SHOWS?!?!

Place St. Charles: Great medianoche, Good Pho (not great) and spring rolls), and gyro sandwiches from guys who are there every day at 6 AM cooking everything (the yogurt, cheese, EVERYTHING) from scratch.

The Intercontinental, attached to the PanAmerican Life Center isn't to be overlooked for food.

An honorable mention goes to Martha's (Louisiana Grocery on Julia). Very cheap and very friendly.