L
U NC H T I M E . People everywhere; cars seem to be go-carts racing in the streets. Mom and I are near faint from hunger and having passed this small corner restaurant a dozen times, this time I impulsively zip into the parking lot because I like the font and the blue on the sign. (Hey, I’m easily swayed by visuals.) Melt. A Sandwich Joint. No identity crisis, no sovereign foodie masquerading as gourmet. Simple and to the point. Their sandwiches are named after different cities and their motto is “tasty eats that can’t be beat.” You order at the register and everyone is genuinely nice. They said their bestseller was the Philadelphia—a rib-eye cheesesteak grilled with mushrooms, onions, peppers, and American cheese ($8). It was all tucked neatly on an Italian sub. I told them to go full-tilt kamikaze extra chopped and they did it with verve. We also ordered the honey-roasted turkey with smashed avocado and bacon bits ($8). We sat near the window at a comfortable table; the sun was shining and life tasted extra good. The portions are generous but not obscene and they‘ve got the right ratio of meat to grilled veggies to cheese. Same with the turkey—and there’s plenty of avocado. They make a mean sandwich: they’re good quality, and they know how to layer on the grub. The macaroni salad was a bit heavy on the mayo but I adore mayo. Inside, it’s roomy, with high ceilings, simple tables, and dedicated eaters in work clothes on their lunch breaks. The noise level is low, the focus on eating. Customers grab their sides and drinks out of the cooler in the front. To me, there’s almost nothing better than two slices of some kind of yeastf lour-water combo baked into something chewy with various foods stuck between. (Years ago I read a whole detective series by Lawrence Sanders who described elaborate sandwich making in painstaking detail. He could write poems on horseradish.) I can’t believe I haven’t come here before, but now I’ll be a regular. The bill was $21.46 (with tip), which doesn’t break the bank.
5056 E. Broadway Blvd. 520.326.6358. MeltTucson.com. Melt’s roomy interior matches their hearty sandwiches. 34 January/February 2016