Monday, February 18, 2008

Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches

Nicky’s Vietnamese Sandwiches has quickly become one of my favorite (and reasonably priced) restaurants in the city. The original store is on the Lower East Side. Conveniently, the second location is in my ‘hood—on Atlantic Ave between Smith and Hoyt.

There is only one veggie option, so my decision is made simple—a portabello mushroom sandwich, Vietnamese style. As I’ve learned, that means portabello mushroom, pickled carrots, cucumber, cilantro, and mayo on a toasted French baguette. You can make it “spicy” by adding jalepeno pepper or order it mild and add your own chili or hoisin sauce (I prefer the later.) Captain Carnivore likes the same sandwich but with chicken:-)

Finish off the meal with a lemonade with lime—tart but not too tart, it’s the perfect accompaniment to the fresh and unique sandwich. I’ve yet to sample the plum drink or Vietnamese coffee, but both are on “the list” to try.

Apparently the co-owner learned the trade from her father, who runs a restaurant in Sunset Park. The most classic version of the sandwich also has pate, ham and ground pork. On other blogs, some people commented that Vietnamese sandwiches in Chinatown are larger and cheaper. Since I doubt the shops in Chinatown are veg friendly, I plan to stick with Nicky's!

A Vietnamese sandwich, sitting in Sarah Roosevelt Park on the Lower East Side, with my sweetie. I don’t need an invite to a rope-line club to know I’ve arrived in the city. To me, lunch today couldn’t have been more perfectly New York.

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

There's a vietnamese sandwich place at the Bergen Street F Stop too. It's called Hanco's. It's super-delicious. I'd say better than the Atlantic Avenue Nicky's and the sandwiches are bigger. I can only comment on the ham and pork sandwich though. They do have a tofu vietnamese sandwich, which sounds like crazy talk to me, but it might be up your alley. Here's the menu pages link to it.

10:02 AM  
Blogger Erin said...

I'd try tofu, Vietnamese style! Yum! Gonna come have a sandwich with me?

10:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Niki and I love it that you have a "sweetie."

CJS

10:10 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home