Grilled Pork Chop Bahn Mi @ The Spot

After a three year absence, Sandwich Guy just couldn't get enough of sandwiches and the Grilled Pork Chop Bahn Mi @ The Spot in Murray Hill brought him out of retirement! Who doesn't love a Bahn Mi, but this pork chop was grilled perfectly with a nice sweetness that balanced the salty meat, along with pickled carrots, daikon, and cilantro. It's the generous heaping of their smooth and creamy pate that really sets this Bahn Mi apart. I could eat it as dip all day every day and be fat and happy.

Check out The Spot on 719 2nd Ave. for other delicious sandwiches and phos.


https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-spot-new-york-13

HOUSE-SMOKED TURKEY FROM SPREADS

New to Flatiron, Spreads has a menu with twists added to common sandwiches. So instead of the same boring turkey you've always had, Spreads' house-smoked turkey has avocado, monterey jack, roasted peppers, spicy chipotle aioli and tortilla chips on a toasted ciabatta. The house-smoked turkey definitely beats any standard Oven Gold/Boar's Head deli meat, but the star of the sandwich is the tortilla chips. I don't know why I've never thought to add tortilla chips to a sandwich before, but that is about to change. The added saltiness of the chips is balanced by the pickled peppers and a spicy-but-not-too-spicy chipotle aioli that's generously slathered on the toasted ciabatta. At $9.50, the sandwich is priced just about right. I will be returning for the smoked salmon/brown sugar bacon sandwich next.

441 Park Ave S
(between 30th St & 29th St)
New York, NY 10016
Neighborhood: Midtown East

(212) 758-5555

http://www.spreadsny.com/

FIVE SPICE GLAZED PORK BELLY - NUM PANG

Num Pang makes fantastic Cambodian-style sandwiches in three locations throughout Manhattan. I've yet to have a bad sandwich there, but the five-spiced glazed pork belly ($8.50) is definitely their best. Served on a semolina roll that mops up the contents well, the pork belly has a sweet tang due to a slice of glazed pear on top and isn't overly fatty like pork belly tends to be. Num Pang's signature chili mayo adds a nice bit of spice to the sweetness, and a generous helping of cucumber and pickled carrots give the sandwich a much-needed crunch. Just make sure to skip their blood-orange lemonade which tastes like Tang.

NUM PANG GRAND CENTRAL

140 E. 41st Street
(Btw. Lexington & 3rd Ave)

212 867-8889

numpangnyc.com

BAOS FROM BAOHAUS

BaoHaus is serving up authentic Taiwanese steamed buns right off Union Square. For under $4 bucks you can choose from their seven unique options plus rice bowls and fries. Each bao is served with a soft, pillowy bun that holds the contents well. The Chairman Bao is filled with braised pork belly, crushed peanuts, cilantro and Taiwanese red sugar. The pork belly is packed with flavor but not too fatty and the red sugar gives it an added sweet tang. The Haus Bao is made with beef cheek instead of pork belly that was tender, but not quite as tasty as the pork. The last bao was the Uncle Jesse, named after John Stamos' character on Full House since the actor is a vegetarian. The tofu is fried but not overly greasy and a nice way to end the meal after two meat baos. All in all, the place is great for a quick snack or a solid lunch if you order more than one. The taro fries are no slouch either.

BaoHaus
238 E. 14 St (2nd Ave)
(646) 669-8889
http://www.baohausnyc.com

ROAST LAMB SANDWICH FROM BALTHAZAR

A fantastic place for any meal, Balthazar in SoHo is a French brasserie that makes a terrific roasted lamb sandwich for lunch with grilled vegetables, arugula, and a harissa mayonnaise. The lamb is juicy and flavorful, but also lets the rest of the sandwich shine as well. A bevy of grilled vegetables and a tangy homemade harissa mayonnaise add a nice peppery kick. Get it with crispy shoestring fries that aren't greasy or oily at all. In addition, the restaurant boasts over 300 French wines and has a next-door bakery that's great for take out.  For a Parisian fin de siecle experience in NYC, you can't go wrong with Balthazar.

Balthazar Restaurant
80 Spring St. (b/w Broadway and Crosby)
NYC 10012
(212) 965-1414
balthazarny.com

CHEESESTEAK FROM 99 MILES TO PHILLY

I've never had a cheesesteak in Philadelphia so I imagine that 99 Miles to Philly wouldn't stack up to Pat's or Jim's, or any of the other supposed greats; but in NYC you be hard-pressed to find a better steak sandwich.  Carl's is pretty solid as well but 99 Miles has the edge since their cheesesteaks are less greasy.  Recently, a new to-go 99 Miles opened on 45th St. off 2nd Ave in addition to the one in the East Village.  A friend and I took the taste test by getting three cheesesteaks all with different cheeses - provolone, American and wit wiz.  The Provolone was the best, creamy enough but not getting in the way of the star of the sandwich.  American came second and the wiz was good for a few bites but not much more.  I'm told 99 Miles uses the traditional Amoroso rolls, which holds the meat and grease well so the sandwich doesn't become a sloppy mess.  I'm a fan of peppers and grilled onions to add some extra flavor, but the best part about a cheesesteak is you can design it with whatever topping you prefer.  So head on over to 99 Miles for one of the best cheesesteaks in the city and don't forget to bring your hungry.

99 MILES TO PHILLY
94 3rd Ave
(between 12th St & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10003Neighborhood: East Village
99milestophillyeastvillage.com

LOBSTER ROLL FROM NEPTUNE OYSTER IN BOSTON

Neptune Oyster in the North End District in Boston has a lobster roll that is literally exploding with lobster meat.  They have two options for rolls at $25.00, a hot one with butter and a cold one with mayo.  The toasted roll is sweet and compliments the explosion of lobstery goodness very well.  The mayo is slathered on but not overdone, and the pieces of meat aren't just lobster shavings but big and chunky globs from the tail and claw.  An appetizer of oysters is a must since it's half the restaurant's namesake.  The Wellfleets and the Island Creeks are the best since they have the shortest trip from the ocean to your plate.  While the Sox got clobbered by the Yankees in their last game of the season, at least Bostonians have this roll to help them lick their wounds.    


NEPTUNE OYSTER

neptuneoyster.com 

HAM & CHEESE FROM MILK TRUCK

Nothing beats an amazing grilled cheese sandwich, and the folks at Milk Truck know how to do it right since it's the only sandwich they make.  With their Ham & Cheese sandwich, smoked ham and Vermont aged cheddar is topped with a spicy mustard on rosemary bread.  Only a few slices of ham is used so the cheese becomes the star.  The bread is grilled perfectly and the cheddar is a gooey wonderful mess.  The mustard is spicy but not overpowering.  All in all the sandwich makes for a great light lunch or an afternoon snack.  Check their twitter to see where in Manhattan they are each day.

Milk Truck Grilled Cheese
milktrucknyc.com
Locations Vary

PRIME BEEF SANDWICH FROM LOBEL'S AT YANKEE STADIUM

Forget any other food you've had at Yankee Stadium before and do yourself a favor by getting the prime beef sandwich from Lobel's along the left field line on the field level concourse (section 133).  Lobel's Meats has been around since 1840 and supplies some of the best steakhouses in New York.  The beef is hand-carved prime rib goodness, not too fatty but with some marbling for flavor.  It's piled high on a brioche bun with an excess of rich au jus.  If the $15 dollar price tag alarms you, you'll pay $12 for a beer and around $10 for an average steak sandwich at Carl's, so treat yourself to some of the best baseball fare you'll ever have at Lobel's.  Pare it with great Garlic Fries from one of the many locations throughout the stadium and cheer on the Yanks that are having a great season so far!

Lobel's at Yankee Stadium
Left Field Line on the Field Level Concourse (Section 133)
Yankee Stadium
lobels.com

HAM AND MUENSTER WITH PICKLED BLUEBERRIES

So I've reviewed No. 7 Sub before, but since they change their menu all the time and their ham and muenster with pickled blueberries is pretty magical, I thought I'd review them again.  Usually I find ham sandwiches a little boring.  Serrano ham, prosciutto - now you're talking; but straight up ham I'll usually skip.  This sandwich takes ham to a level you've never experienced before.  Pared with muenster cheese, potato chips, jalapeño mayo and pickled blueberries - yes, motherfuckin' blueberries on my sandwich! - makes this sandwich stand out above all others.  The sourness of the blueberries goes well with the creamy muenster and salty ham, and the crunch of the potato chips gives the sandwich an elevated bite.  Jalapeño mayo slathered over the whole thing is just gravy.  If you haven't tried No. 7 Sub yet, you are truly missing out.  Check out their new location downstairs in the Plaza Hotel as well.


No. 7 Sub - no7sub.com
1188 Broadway (between 28/29 St) at the Ace HotelNew York, NY 10001
Open Mon-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 11am-4pm, Closed Sundays
telephone: 212.532.1680

CURRY CHUTNEY CHICKEN DOSA

If you're tired of the same old sandwich you always get for lunch, head on down to The Hampton Chutney Co. in SoHo for the Curry Chutney Chicken Dosa or any of their other great dosas.  Dosas are a light and crispy sour-dough crepe made from a rice batter.  While it's not the kind of meal you can eat on-the-go, if you have the time to dig in it'll be well worth it.  The curry chicken is spicy without being overpowering and goes well with the cooked spinach and raw red onions.  But the highlight is definitely their mango chutney.  Go ahead and slop it all over the dosa.  Much like their curry chicken, it's spicy but with a sharp sweetness.  And for a drink, their orange ginger iced tea will wash the meal down well.

Hampton Chutney Co.
SOHO NYC
68 Prince Street
(212)226-9996
hamptonchutney.com

GRILLED SHRIMP ON FRENCH BREAD FROM SAGAPONACK

The owners of Sagaponack in the Flatiron district have given their restaurant a Hamptonesque vibe and filled their menu with primarily seafood and fish options.  The grilled shrimp sandwich ($10) with roasted peppers, bacon and a lemon-thyme mayo is one of those sandwiches that would be hard to mess up.  The shrimp is grilled perfectly and bacon always makes any sandwich better.  My only caveat was that there's too much bread and the shrimp gets a little lost in the mix.  It would have probably worked best on slices of sourdough bread.  However, the pesto fries as a side are fantastic - just enough pesto added to spice up a boring french fry.

4 West 22nd Street (Off of 5th Ave)
New York, NY 10010 
212.229.2226
http://www.sagaponacknyc.com/

SMOKED DUCK BREAST FROM LAMAZOU

Lamazou is a fantastic cheese shop in the east 20s that also makes innovative sandwiches.  Their smoked duck breast with cornichons ($10.99 for a whole) is just one of their many delicious creations on a ciabatta.  The sandwich usually comes with brie but a substitution of manchego cheese actually yields more flavor.  The gamey duck pares well with the cornichons and the ciabatta is freshly made.  It'll make you wonder why duck isn't used in sandwiches more often.

   LAMAZOU

370 Third Avenue @ 27th Street,     (212) 532 - 2009 http://lamazoucheese.com

TENTAZIONE PANINI FROM VIA QUADRONNO

The Tentazione panini from Via Quadronno on the Upper East Side is another standout sandwich in the restaurant's arsenal.  On their fresh baked bread, shrimp, arugula, and smoked mozzarella is wrapped in prosciutto.  The prosciutto and shrimp balance each other out well and the smoked mozzarella adds a nice creaminess along with the crunch of the arugula.  At $13.50, I'd expect that the sandwich would be damn good; but you'd be hard-pressed to find such quality ingredients for less.  Dine-in or grab a panini to go since Central Park is just around the corner.


VIA QUADRONNO
25 East 73rd. Street
between Madison & 5th Ave.
New York City, NY 10021
Phone: 212.650.9880
http://viaquadronno.com

PIG'S HEAD CUBAN SANDWICH FROM CANNIBAL

Cover your eyes vegetarians, the pig's head Cuban sandwich from Cannibal in the Flatiron area might just be your worst nightmare and a carnivore's dream.  Slow roasted pig's head is chopped up and spread over house smoked ham, creamy gruyere cheese and pickles to make the most innovative Cuban you've probably ever had.  The beer list at Cannibal is just as impressive as their array of meats.  The sandwich pared really well with a Schneider-Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse.  And if pig's head ain't your thing, they have plenty of sausage and kielbasa platters to choose from as well.

CANNIBAL BEER & BUTCHER
113 29th St.
212.686.5480
http://thecannibalnyc.com/ 
 

KOBE BEEF BURGER FROM ZAITZEFF

Ah, Kobe beef burgers.  There's definitely some extra flavor going on with Kobe beef that's akin to crack.  The meat is juicier, more flavorful, and doesn't feel as heavy in your stomach after regular beef.  Zaitzeff is the place to go for a reasonably priced 1/4 pound Kobe burger at $9.25.  It's topped with the lettuce, tomato and caramelized onions, but a Portuguese muffin is substituted in place of a standard bun.  The muffin holds up well with the greasy patty and has a sweetness that gives the burger a nice balance.  Add some kick-ass sweet potato fries and you have a good lunch at any of their locations.

ZAITZEFF BURGERS
Murray Hill, Financial District and East Village Locations
http://zaitzeff.com/

CHICKEN SOUVLAKI FROM ETHOS

Ethos is a standout Greek restaurant in Murray Hill.  Their thalazomezes appetizer, which is a mixture of char-grilled octopus, calamari, and shrimp, is always a good choice.  But if you're looking for a just simple souvlaki at $7.00, then Ethos will deliver.  The worst crime in a souvlaki is dry over-cooked chicken, but Ethos makes theirs moist and flavorful with a blend of spices.  Even though it's sacrilegious, I'm not a tzatziki fan and prefer the sandwich with Melitzanosalta, a blend of whipped eggplant with herbs.  

ETHOS RESTAURANT

• 495 3rd Ave, New York 10016
• (Btwn 33rd & 34th St)
• Subway Directions

(212) 252-1972


http://www.ethosrestaurants.com/

POACHED SALMON ON A BAGUETTE

Westville Restaurant is a solid, upscale diner in Alphabet City.  I've usually only gotten their burgers on a Portuguese muffin, but this last time I decided to try their poached salmon on a baguette.  Instead of the standard lemon dill dressing, I got a homemade chipolte mayo instead.  While nothing was wrong with the sandwich per se, nothing was exciting about it either.  Who only puts lettuce on a sandwich with nothing else?  Give me tomatoes, or caramelized onions, or something else for $10 bucks.  I will say that Westville's fries are fantastic and pretty much make up for a snoozefest of a sandwich.  The fries are greasy, and crispy, and impossible to eat just one.

Westville Restaurant (East)
173 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
Corner of 11th Street
Phone: 212-677-2933, 212-677-2033
Daily 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
http://www.westvillenyc.com/

VEGGIE BURGER AT FIVE NAPKIN

In the past few years, Five Napkin locations have sprouted up in NYC and all over the country.  Their burgers are solid.  Burger Joint, Shake Shack and even Five Guys have the edge on them for an upgraded fast food burger, but their veggie burger is definitely one of the best in the city.  Since I'm mostly a carnivore, if I'm eating a veggie burger it has to have some substance.  Five Napkin's beet-heavy patty more than makes up for the loss of meat.  Piled high with lettuce, tomatoes, bread and butter pickles, and their 5N Sauce (basically thousand island dressing), the burger is moist and flavorful.  The taste of beets is definitely present, but even if you're not a beet fan this burger might turn you into one.  Add some shoestring fries and you have a solid lunch or dinner.  The only veggie burger in the city that I'd rate higher would be Hillstone's, another beet-rich patty that's a drop crispier and thicker.

Multiple Locations
http://5napkinburger.com/

MILANESE AT VIA QUADRONNO

If you're on the Upper East Side and have a hankering for the kind of panini you'd get in Northern Italy, then Via Quadronno is the place for you.  They have an all day menu of about two dozens special sandwiches that range from paninis with wild boar prosciutto, to a smoked ham with three cheeses and tabasco.  The Milanese is one of their stand-outs.  Generously filled with bresaola (air-cured beef), rucola, and hearts of palm, the sandwich is as rich and luxurious as its $13.50 price tag; but it's filling and decadent enough to eat as a once-in-a-while treat.  The bresaola is juicy and flavorful and contrasts well with the spicy rucola and tangy hearts of palm.  They have a full dinner menu as well, which I assume is just as good as their paninis.

VIA QUADRONNO
25 East 73rd. Street
between Madison & 5th Ave.
New York City, NY 10021Phone: 212.650.9880

Email: info@VQNYC.com