The Food Snob has connections, okay? One can't snob for as long as we've snobbed without making some powerful friends. This year, we used those connections to gain early access to the Cappies winners, to better plot our future snobbery. The first entry that caught our eye was “best lunch” winner Sandwich Depot. We hopped in the Snobmobile and headed to the South End to check it out.
Sandwich Depot is nestled in what appears to be an old train station of sorts. Relics of Concord's past adorn the walls of the snug little establishment, making us feel right at home. So, too, did the friendly folks behind the counter, who greeted us with engaging smiles and friendly conversation. Of course, try as one might, one can't eat smiles, so we settled on some food instead.
Our dining companion ordered the veggie burger ($7.45). We can honestly say without a hint of hyperbole that it was the most delicious veggie burger we've ever tasted! Homemade with fresh ingredients, this was no frozen Monsanto patty – this was the real deal. Served on a moist, fluffy bun with lettuce and tomato, the burger required neither ketchup nor mustard to give it false flavor. It stood tall on its own. A must-try for health-conscious and taste bud-endowed Concordians alike.
The burger came with a choice of french fries or a bean cup; we selected the latter. It was a tortilla bowl filled with refried beans and topped with fresh salsa. An unusual companion for a burger, but the bean bowl did not disappoint. There was nothing particularly noteworthy about the smooth, creamy refried beans, but they were a solid side. The fresh salsa was perfect as well; the Snob hates a runny salsa, but this was a chunky delight.
The Snob ordered the pulled pork sandwich ($8.25), a weekly special that appears every Thursday. It came with a side of coleslaw (naturally), which we proceeded to heap upon the pork, because we are not crazy people who eat the two separately. This was a treat! There are a lot of ways to prepare pulled pork: sweet, spicy or tangy; juicy or dry. This was definitely of the sweet and juicy variety, which, as we all know, is the best. The bun was overflowing with savory pulled pork goodness, but not to the point where it got all on our faces.
We can't say conclusively that the Sandwich Depot has the best lunch in Concord, as our readers have voted, but we were certainly not presented with any evidence to the contrary on our dining visit. We suggest you pay it a visit to see for yourself.
