Inside 20 Blocks, a sandwich shop coming to the East Village. (Photo courtesy of the restaurant.)
Sometimes all you want is a sandwich: There are no shortage of old-school spots, and yet the newcomer shop that gets it right is often deceptively elusive. Court Street Grocers remains the standard-bearer. And I think about once a week how much I wish Saltie was still open. Chefs turning to fast-casual sandwiches is increasingly appealing for some like Brown Bag Sandwich Co., now with several locations, that was started by an Eleven Madison Park alum looking to leave tweezers behind. Others have been bolstered by social media, but I’d rather eat anywhere other than Salt Hank’s even if it’s supposedly good.
Could a new spot scratch the itch? Griffin Valentine, an early-career cook who worked briefly at Cove and its former sibling Gem Wine, is heading the kitchen at the new sandwich shop 20 Blocks. (It’s fitting for Valentine, who is part of the catering company Primo, known for its focaccia.)
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