A Sandwich A Day: Smoked Mozzarella at Birdbath

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]

We love our healthy-but-not-really-at-all sandwiches, ones that trick us into thinking we're doing our bodies good while actually pumping ourselves full of crave-worthy fat, carbs, and other delicious things. And the Smoked Mozzarella ($9) at Birdbath does just that. Sure, cheese, broccoli rabe and pesto sounds harmless enough...I mean, there's broccoli in there, right? Think again.

Not only is the panino a behemoth—almost the size of a small personal pizza—but it's also heavy on the olive oil. As you bite into the sandwich, the mix of basil-infused olive oil, bitter broccoli rabe and smoky (but not too smoky) mozzarella packs a punch that many vegetarian sandwiches aspire to, but few achieve. The Italian roll is pressed and toasted dark, lending a hefty crunch to every bite. It may not be the healthiest sandwich out there, but it is a notable panini that forgoes meat without skimping on flavor—a winning combination if you ask me.

Birdbath

Multiple Locations in Manhattan (map) 646.556.7720 (SoHo Location)
thecitybakery.com/birdbath

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