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.

[Photo: Robyn Lee]

While it looks like a Spanish food shop (rather than a lunch counter) from the outside, Despaña in Soho is a terribly civilized place for a meal, thanks to three large tables set off in an open room in the back, stocked with the sort of oils and vinegars that line their shelves.

I always have to fight off the temptation to order an Iberico ham bocadillo (unless it's your birthday, a $25 sandwich is hard to justify), but just about everything else on the menu is a memorable lunch, too. A recent favorite was the Catalán ($8.50): thin slices of meaty and mild Butifarra sausage with Garrotxa, a faintly nutty-tasting goat milk's cheese, and a tomato-garlic spread to punch it up. I love their crusty ciabatta bread, though there tends to be just a little too much of it for the filling; I'm often left with spare ends. The solution? Dump over some of their excellent Spanish olive oil, in a convenient canister on your table, and you have a few perfect bites to finish lunch off.

Despaña

408 Broome Street, New York NY 10013 (map)
212-219-5050
despananyc.com