PRESS 195 BY YVO OF THE FEISTY FOODIE

April 14, 2010 - View actual article by clicking here

As I mentioned before, I returned to Press 195 after my last review posted because I started craving those frites.  I decided to get the lunch special again, but couldn't resist adding soup (again) when I found out the daily soup was New England clam chowder, which I adore. Frites were on the menu, and frites were ordered.  This is the 'small' size, with ketchup and garlic aioli for dipping.  OMG, these were super crisp and delicious.  I'm a Pommes Frites kinda gal - loyal since 99, baby! - and love Box Frites, which is, alas, only open during baseball season (um, cuz it's at the stadium) - look, I love frites.  I know a good frites when I eat it.  And these, friend, were good.  Crisp, hot (but I managed to not burn myself, phew!), properly salted and just delicious... I was ecstatic as we munched the frites and caught up on each others' lives. 

I am super picky about clam chowder because I make a bangin' rendition on my own.  This was really delicious.  Not too thick nor thin, with shredded bits of clam (don't know why, but it worked), and bits of bacon in the background... I happily gobbled this all, and barely used the croutons provided on the side for dipping/soaking.  Totally delicious. 

On this occasion, I opted for strawberry lemonade - this time, a touch sweeter and still really yummy! - and frites with a panino, garlic aioli for dipping - I could have dipped the sammy in there, but I didn't try, mmm imagine how good that could be! - and enlisted the help of a friend to choose my panino.  The frites were, per usual, deliciously crispy and perfect for munching. 

But my panino! let's get a little closer, shall we?  Do you know what that white glob is in the center?  It looks like a burger, right?  With some random stuff slapped on?

No, my friends, that is a meatloaf panino with mashed potatoes (!), gravy (!!) and cheddar.  Okay, I don't see the cheddar, but let me tell you: holyfartballs this was good.  The exterior bread was super crispy (and piping hot, I kept burning my fingertips, oops! too eager to dig in!) and stayed such, while the inside was meatloafy goodness with a slightly sweet ketchup-gravy, mashed potatoes, and succulence.  I was amazed at how good it tasted; I hadn't even noticed it on the menu but was super glad I'd asked some other people to help me pick.  But DAMN that was GOOD.  I need to try to make this at home but the first step is excellent bread, and they have a lock on that, f'serious.  Damn.  This could be my new favorite panino here...but there are so many from which to choose!

Yvo says: I fully intend to continue to visit Press 195 and eat my way through the entire menu (minus the really boring offerings, yes they have some of those, but even those I bet are really really good).  I just spotted, while looking through the menu for a moment, this awesome dessert panino, and I don't like dessert.  But I have to have it, and I will have it.  Mmm, goodness.  And to think - I haven't even started on the salads, which I see other people ordering and look really yummy as well... I may have to start going in order down the list!