Midtown lunchers are always on the search for the newest variation of the bowl. Customizable grains topped with protein, vegetables, and sauces. Many chains, like Sweetgreen and Cava, have taken the concept across the region.
I really hope dùndú, the latest foray into this bowl sensation, can make the leap to spread its food across the tri-state area (and eventually the country).
As far as I know, no other company has tried their hand at putting Nigerian flavors into the bowl concept.
Dùndú has existed as a pop-up, but their first brick and mortar shop is in a nook of Midtown East. The set-up (customizable bowls) is predictable, but the ingredients (like honey beans, goat stew, and stewed kale) and flavors are certainly not.
I stuck with one of the two Classic bowls on the menu, the one called the Party Bowl. It was 11am on a Friday, so I was about ready for a party.
I got bites of tender, well-spiced peppered chicken alongside charred sweet plantains and some tangy cabbage. This sat on a base of smoky, tomato-tinged jollof rice. Most interestingly, were the patties known as moin moin, which is something I had never tried before. And especially not on top of my lunch bowl.
Moin moin is a steamed patty resembling a chunk of salami. It’s actually made with boiled beans and held together with eggs and fish. The flavor was earthy with hints of fish, but it was subtle and light with a very interesting texture.
Along with the sweetness from the plantains, the tangy salad, the peppery meaty chicken, and the hearty rice this was more than just a lunch bowl. This was a well-rounded sensation of flavors. You can’t truthfully say that about açaí bowls, now can you? Price: $12.86
| DÙNDÚ |
| 140 East 41st Street (between Lexington and Third Avenue), Midtown East (646) 767-0100 |
| eatdundu.com |
