Roasted Eggplant ($9.95)
@ Cooked & Co.
Eggplant is the star in this warm and gooey creation. One half of a house-roasted eggplant sits beneath layers of creamy tomato fondue—a slow-cooked mixture of diced tomatoes, sautéed onions, garlic, and fresh herbs—smoked Gouda, arugula, and a smells-like-a-garden red-pepper pesto, all on a warm, crispy panino. (Not an eggplant lover? Try the skirt-steak sandwich with caramelized onions and Gruyère—a worthy runner-up.)
128 Garth Rd, Scarsdale (914) 205-3939 cookedandco.com
Veggie Reuben ($13.50)
@ Pumpernickel
Skeptical of a meatless Reuben? So were we. But then we bit into this colorful and creative open-face sandwich stuffed with roasted zucchini, squash, and red peppers; house-made cool and crunchy jicama and sweet Bosc pear slaw; and Swiss cheese on sturdy (what else?) pumpernickel—and we are now bona-fide converts.
925 Saw Mill River Rd, Ardsley (914) 479-5370 pumpernickelrestaurantardsley.com
The Devil ($8.49)
@ Lange’s of Scarsdale
Indulgent as it is delicious, The Devil is creamy, salty, chewy, crunchy, and smoky—a chicken cutlet on a kaiser roll with turkey bacon, pepper Jack cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato, hot sauce, hot cherry peppers, and mayo. Yum.
57 Spencer Pl, Scarsdale (914) 472-0330 langesdeli.com
The Focaccia ($9.99/lb)
@ Dantes Gourmet Deli Italian Specialties
You can have your focaccia at this Italian deli any which way, but our favorite is loaded with imported speck (a smoked variation on prosciutto), zucchini flowers, burrata, Asiago, fresh figs (in season), store-made pesto, and balsamic vinegar.
429 Central Ave, White Plains (914) 946-3609 dantesitalianspecialties.com
Cheesesteak Sandwich ($19.95)
@ Benjamin Steakhouse
Your search for a top steak sandwich should begin at—where else?—a steakhouse. Benjamin’s thinly sliced, USDA prime, dry-aged steak topped with subtly sweet sautéed onions and melted American cheese on lightly toasted ciabatta bread is a winner—though it’s available at dinner only.
610 W Hartsdale Ave, White Plains (914) 428-6868; benjaminsteakhouse.com
Shrimp and Pear Wrap ($14)
@ Blackboard Gourmet Pizza Shop Kitchen & Caterer
Owner/Executive Chef Vincent Gentile, an International Culinary Center (formerly The French Culinary Institute) alum, mixes brown-butter-poached shrimp, sautéed shallots, and arugula with pears that have been seared in a balsamic reduction, and the whole unusual yet gloriously delicious lot is placed in a charred house-made wrap. (If you’re in a particularly indulgent mood, order a side of Parmesan fries.)
628 North Ave, New Rochelle (914) 654-8400 blackboardpizzashop.com
