'Let’s Do Lunch' Does Breakfast, Too

We received a friendly greeting followed by a question from the man behind the counter at Let’s Do Lunch. We were not dressed in business casual attire, nor were we sporting a corporate badge like most of the other patrons who entered the small shop during our visit.

The regulars were greeted with inquiries as to their families, or if they’d like their usual lunch. We claimed that we were running errands in the area and decided to stop in for sandwiches as we passed by. Truth be told, an entrance to the long clean space is not readily seen from the outside of the building. Discrete signs marked the entrance in a wing of the complex.

A posted menu and a white board with daily specials were visible from the counter where soft pretzels, fresh fruit, snacks and candy bars were on display. Two coolers holding beverages offered a wide variety of drinks. An interesting assortment of seasonings perched atop the preparation area—fish sauce, cumin, oyster sauce, rice vinegar—piqued our interest. The sole nontraditional deli item on the menu, however, was a special teriyaki salad.

As the man prepared our Veggie Hoagie ($4.50) he asked first about our choice of mustard, mayonnaise, oil and vinegar or oregano, then about the filling. He apologized for not having olives that day, and offered sweet or hot peppers in addition to a variety of fresh vegetables.

He started our Turkey Club ($6.25) and Italian Hoagie ($5.25) as other customers arrived for lunch. Although he was the sole worker, replying to one woman that his helper was out sick that day, he efficiently juggled the orders and small griddle for melted sandwiches.

We added a cup of Vegetable Beef Soup ($1.55) to our order and took a small bag of potato chips that accompanied the club sandwich. He thanked us and told us to stop by again, mentioning that workers from neighboring corporate centers were welcome.

We unpacked our food at home for a taste. The Veggie Hoagie had a wonderfully fresh crusty roll lined with American cheese slices to prevent any sogginess. The sweetness of raw carrot threads and sweet pickled peppers was balanced by cucumber, tomato and green pepper cubes to give a light but satisfying lunch option. The generously sized hoagie roll and fillings could be shared by two people.

A cup of the daily special Beef Vegetable Soup was a mixture of kidney beans, small pasta shells, peas, carrots, celery and tomato in a thick beef broth that was flavorful and not overly salty. Two packs of crackers and soup spoons were packed with the soup.

The Turkey Club was really a turkey BLT—it lacked the middle layer of toasted bread, a variation the server had mentioned when we ordered. We chose wheat toast and mayonnaise for the slightly sweet, thinly sliced deli turkey, crisp Romaine lettuce, tomato slices and strips of bacon. One of us thought the amount of meat was too much, but we both agreed that the quantity of bacon was just right.

The Italian Hoagie was so big it was literally bursting from its container. Generous portions of thicker cut Genoa salami, Capacola, cooked salami and Provolone cheese were arranged over shredded iceberg lettuce, tomato and thinly sliced red onion to allow a taste of each component. A bit of spicy heat hit the tongue after a bite into the crusty stuffed roll. This hoagie would definitely be one to share, at least for our appetites.

A breakfast menu of Bagels, egg sandwiches and containers of cold cereal are served from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.

1200 Atwater Drive, Malvern

Telephone: 610-722-9190

Hours: Mon - Fri, 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Cost: Bagels, breakfast sandwiches, $1.25 to $4; sandwiches, salads, wraps, $3.75 – $5.75

Credit cards: VISA, MasterCard ($10 minimum)

Special Features: Outdoor seating