Pine Street Market is crowded AF. If you’re not careful, you can spend $21 on lunch. Lots of the stalls need to get their menus and execution in order. It’s confusing—like the fact that showing up at 10 am on a Sunday means your only option for breakfast is a milkshake. And some people seem to care way too much that the bathrooms require a punch code.
But in the two months since the upscale food court opened, I’ve learned to stop worrying and think Pine Street is pretty okay (because love is too strong of a word).
Recent visits have showed a more manageable bustle. I’ve gotten used to grabbing my silverware and water in one go before sitting down. I now relax and wait for my dishes—maybe gyoza from Marukin, a burger from Common Law, and a salad from Pollo Bravo—to roll in.
Pine Street market is expensive. It will undoubtedly be a tourist trap. But I’ve also seen parents of young kids—who are most definitely NOT welcome in most of these chef’s actual restaurants—bring their wriggling progeny and enjoy a dish that isn’t mac ‘n’ cheese. I’ve seen downtown workers slurping some of the city’s best ramen. And I’ve been happiest when I’ve gone with a few friends and made a mish-mash meal of plates that capitalizes on the best of each stall.
And that’s what a visit to Pine Street requires: menu hacks on how to fill up. Here are our picks for the top eight items for $10 or less at Pine Street Market:
