What To Eat At NYC's Newest Food Hall, 570 Lex

The seasoned food-market professionals at Urbanspace (previous hits include Mad Sq Eats, Broadway Bites, and Vanderbilt Market) are at it again with 570 Lex, which opened just last week in the heart of Midtown. And before you jump on the "there are too many food halls!" bandwagon, consider the impressive lineup of nearly 20 different food and drink vendors here, most of which have never had the pleasure of serving up their fare in this part of town.

Located in the historic General Electric Building at the corner of 51st Street, the market occupies a soaring, two-story space with a nice, U-shaped pedestrian flow on the ground level and seating for about 120 people upstairs. There are also plenty of alcohol options available for the after-work and weekend crowd. Among the highlights:

• Keedick Coulter makes some of the best fried chicken in the city at his Avenue C restaurant, so it's a major score that UrbanSpace got Bobwhite Counter to come to Midtown with his chicken sandwiches, signature sides (the Baked Mac and Cheese is great), and, in a few weeks, straight-up fried bird and dense, buttery biscuits.

• Israeli street-food superstar Einet Admoney is here with Taim. Get her Breakfast Burekas, her acclaimed Harissa Falafels, and, for a change of pace, her bright and lively Cauliflower Shawarma sandwich.

• Akhtar Nawab is the genius in the kitchen at the great Alta Calidad in Prospect Heights, and at the terrific Inday Go-Go booth here, he collaborates with Inday founder Basu Ratnu on a variety of Roti offerings, including Braised Lamb and Seared Green Kebab. Loaded up Rice Bowls and "side hustle" like Spiced Chickpeas round out the appealing menu.

• Ippudo makes amazing ramen, but even after ten years there's still always a ridiculous wait to get a table at both its main restaurants. The solution: the equally good noodles at Ippudo spin-off Kuro-Obi, landing at 570 Lex with five can't-miss ramen options.

• Speaking of spin-offs, Susan Povich and Ralph Gorham's delightful Rockaway Clam Bar—a sort fried-food version of their phenomenal Red Hook Lobster Pound and last seen at Jacob Riis Park—is back before summer even starts with Clam Rolls, Lobster Clamwiches, Lobster Caramel Brussels Sprouts, and a talked-about Hook Burger.

• Sorely missing from the current roster is a true dessert place (maybe one of the three "coming soon" vendors will sell sweets?), but the excellent afogados at the Aussie coffee stand Little Collins, starring strong espresso, gelato from il laboratorio, and crunchy add ons like honeycomb, definitely hit the spot.

Also of note: pizza from Roberta's, smoothies and juices from Liquiteria, beer on tap from the Lower East Side's suds temple Top Hops, and Baja-style fish tacos and quesadillas from Dorado.

Urbanspace 570 Lex is located at 570 Lexington Avenue (obviously) at the corner of East 51st Street, and is open for breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks, and dinner, Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.