Bar Tartine's Sandwich Shop Goes Open Faced

[Photo: Molly DeCoudreaux]

Right on schedule, Bar Tartine (561 Valencia) is set to debut a new bread/sandwich shop on August 1. This annex to the main restaurant will be open Wednesdays through Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for dine-in or takeout service. Besides reducing the lines for bread at Tartine Bakery, this is an opportunity to try lighter bites of chef Nicolaus Balla's food, with a selection of snacks, soups and salads ($4-22), traditional sandwiches ($13-14) as well as open-faced sandwiches (smørrebrød; $6 each or three for $15), and baked goods ($4-7).

Highlights from the opening menu, which is still tentative, include smørrebrød options of bleu cheese, bacon egg, and avocado; smoked sturgeon with potato and dill sauce, or almond butter with plum compote. Full-on sandwiches include a pressed pork melt or lentil croquettes with yogurt and padron peppers on spelt slab bread. The snack section runs the gamut from small bites such as escabeche or sauerkraut to a not-so-snacky sized smoked chicken and cabbage stew.

As for desserts, items are still being finalized, including an unnamed concoction currently known as "Melissa's chocolate surprise." All will hopefully be revealed on Wednesday.

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