In this great city of ours, one could eat a different sandwich every day of the year—so that's what we'll do. Here's A Sandwich a Day, our daily look at sandwiches around New York. Got a sandwich we should check out? Let us know. —The Mgmt.

[Photograph: Robyn Lee]

When I think about the perfect peanut butter banana sandwich, I think of crisp, fried bread, creamy banana, and peanut butter that's laid on so thick it sticks to the roof of your mouth. You can pre-toast, and get the peanut butter all melty when it's spread on the hot bread, or caramelize the banana beforehand with butter and brown sugar. Or, you can slap the whole thing together in a hot pan for a few minutes, grilled-cheese-style.

On the menu at Terri, the peanut butter banana sandwich reads like a dream. It promises to have those caramelized bananas, and it boasts a great name: the Skinny Elvis, as opposed to the Fat Elvis, which has soy bacon. Fat, indeed. Did I mention Terri is a vegan restaurant, located next to a New York Health and Racquet Club?

The Skinny Elvis has very puritanical peanut butter (Once Again organic, in fact) and grill stripes so perfect, they could have been sprayed on. While I do admire geometric precision, I prefer my food to look a little more, well, edible. Also, I was disappointed that the banana was not caramelized. You can't throw a word like caramelized around lightly.

So my question: is it ever worth buying a peanut butter sandwich? I am convinced that grilled cheese always tastes best in diners, but I cannot seem to find a PB&B in the city that rivals my own handiwork. Am I really king of the Skinny Elvis, or does there exist an ace that tops the home-made peanut butter and banana?

Terri

64 West 23rd Street (map)
212-647-8810
www.terrinyc.com