PRESS 195 BY SETH HOCHMAN OF WHAT'S UP NY!

December 25, 2002 - View actual article by clicking here

Over the past few years, New York City has seen the rise of a unique style of eatery - a place good enough to satisfy mid-day hunger cravings and provide a welcoming place for a satisfying dinner. These places are specialty sandwich shops; restaurants that boast eclectic menus centered around what can be done with two pieces of bread, and what goes in between them.

At these restaurants you won't find typical peanut butter & jelly sandwiches on the menu. Think homemade roast pork and spicy chicken cutlets with grilled red peppers and zucchini.

Some favorite sandwich shops of mine are Press 195 and the Mexican Sandwich Company, both located in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood. Press 195 specializes in creating warm, pressed sandwiches made with ingredients from local markets. Their crispy, delicious ciabatta bread arrives fresh daily from a Park Slope baker while vegetables and cheeses come from farms located in upstate New York. Pair all this delicious snacking with a wide variety of wines from their well stocked wine bar and you can see why this is not your typical brown bag lunch.

The Mexican Sandwich Company specializes in tasty grilled quesadillas that are based on a variety of cuisines, not just Mexican fare. They have sandwiches that include sesame roasted chicken, spicy chipolte shrimp, tofu, and corn & feta cheese salsa. Layer these tasty ingredients in between homemade tortillas for a fresh, savory lunch or snack. The Mexican Sandwich Company prides itself on making their food fresh to order and their devotion to their customers pays off.

Press 195 (718-857-1950) is located at 195 5th Avenue in Brooklyn and is open during the "Lunch, Dinner, Late Night" hours. The Mexican Sandwich Company (718-369-2058) is located at 322 5th Avenue, also in Brooklyn and opens at 11:30am daily.