Hip Tastes Blog

A Wicked Good Lunch
filed under: Ramblings

For the longest time I've been hankering to go to 'Wichcraft, the well-known NYC gourmet sandwhich outlet that's chatted up in seems like every NY food blog I read. So imagine my excitement when I heard the spot was opening a location in our new monolith mall, the Westfield Centre in SoMa! As I happened to be in that area Tuesday (opening day) for a midday tasting at Vino Venue I popped in. How was it? Let's just say I'm already trying to coerce my next lunch date to relocate our rendezvous to the spot. Yes, the 'wiches are that good.

Seriously, the sandwiches are truly mind-blowing. Well, some of them, at least. I actually had a funny thing happen in that I ordered a roasted pork version and wound up with a fontina/trumpet 'shroom/truffle one that was HEAVEN. A manager type came around to ask me what I thought and, when I told him it was ridiculously good but, unfortunately, not what I'd ordered, he let me keep it and then fixed up my original order.

Should I be embarrassed that I ate the whole thing while waiting for my "real" sandwhich? Followed by half of the pulled pork one a few minutes later? Probably not, unless I'm talking to my personal trainer (wait, I don't have a personal trainer, so I guess that's an unequivocal 'no'!). I mean, aren't carbs coming back? If 'Wichcraft has anything to do with it, they will be soon enough.

The pork sandwich (specifically: roasted pork with coppa, pickled pepper relish & fontina on grilled country bread) was good and definitely qualifies as an above average lunch, but the glorified grilled cheese that I got by mistake qualifies for something much better: an orgasmic lunch. Don't laugh! It was seriously out of this world good. The kind of lunch you rave about to your friends later and daydream about while plucking absentmindedly at your computer keys circa 2pm.

In fact, the sandwich was so good it reminded me of similarly stellar treats I used to devour at Campanile Restaurant's Thursday Grilled Cheese Night in LA, where they'd serve up a dozen or so simply amazing variations on the grilled cheese sandwhich. I probably took several dozen people there over the years on Thursdays to grind that good stuff. A good sandwhich, I firmly believe, is worth going out of your way for. And you'll find tons of them at this new spot.

The service at 'Wichcraft was sincere if a little off (witness the incorrect order), and the operation definitely seemed like it was still getting itself off the ground. Plus, the credit card machines weren't up and running (they used an old school card imprinter and I couldn't leave a tip on the card), but they apologized and said that this would be resolved in short order. The main room also seemed a little bit too large and sparse, something I expect will also be resolved as they get into their groove and warm the place up with some more ambiance.

All sandwiches (arranged under "breakfast," "cool" and "warm" categories) are around $9, and there's a soup & half sandwich option at $8.50 that seems like a good deal (and great way to cut down on your carb intake, as ordering a whole sandwich puts you perilously at risk of eating the whole thing). Soups a la carte are $4, side salads a reasonable $3. The breakfast sandwich of fried eggs, bacon, gorgonzola and frisee looks right up my alley and will probably be my next conquest, be it morning or noon (bfast 'wiches served all day).

Bonus: ingredients are sourced where possible from small producers and green markets and 'Wichcraft is dedicated to using antibiotic and hormone-free meats. Size: 'wiches aren't huge, so even if you DO wind up eating the whole thing you don't feel like a rock just settled in your stomach. And, the SF location is ultimately supposed to offer beer and wine, a definite bonus in my book (although didn't have it when I was there).

I also tried this bottle of non-alcoholic (?) Vignette Wine Country Pinot Noir soda with my lunch. The label said "All Natural / Non-Alcoholic" and "naturally and lightly sweetened." I thought it was kind of weird, to tell you the truth. The sweet thing threw me, and then the taste was only vaguely Pinot-like. Seems rather fad-ish. But cute packaging.

Need another reason to go to 'Wichcraft? San Fran's first Bloomie's is there, in a big way, to tempt your wallet after your reasonable lunch at the sanchwich shop. Plus, I hear there are lots of goodies inside the new mall, pictured here. I've still not ventured in, as am a little intimidated. I'll probably make it inside when provisioned with adequate funds and a lot of time. Til then!

Where it's at:
'Wichcraft
868 Mission St.
SF
www.wichcraftnyc.com

Posted by Courtney on October 5, 2006 11:25 AM