Switch to the mobile version of this page.

Arkansas Times

Eat Arkansas

« A little bit of everything at Mr. C… | New eats planned for White Water Ta… »

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Reviews Wich Trials: The sandwiches of The Pantry

Posted by Daniel Walker on Thu, Jun 28, 2012 at 10:00 AM

Wich Trials features some of the greatest sandwiches in Arkansas. Got a favorite you'd like us to know about? Leave your suggestions in the comments.

When done right, a hot sandwich or panini can be one of the greatest triumphs in the world of sandwiches. The interplay of crusty and toasted bread, rich, melted cheese, and meats dripping with flavor can be a zen-like experience when crafted by the hands of a true sandwich artist. On a recent visit to The Pantry, I ventured to see if these guys were up to the task.

The first challenger to the arena was a roasted chicken panini, stuffed with tomato, olives, feta cheese and pesto. While chicken is not usually my choice of protein in this situation, as it can often be inherently bland, I found that the supporting cast of ingredients rescued this chicken from mediocrity. The marinated feta adds a tangy, salty note, while the pesto gives the sandwich an herbaceous and nutty flavor that compliments the chicken and olives well. The roll was nicely toasted as well, providing a crispy exterior without over-drying the interior.

Next up was the oft-seen “Cuban.” The Pantry’s version of this old classic involves the usual suspects: toasted French bread, roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickle, and yellow mustard. While this sandwich was also enjoyable overall, I found the flavors to be a little flat, with the pork and mustard being the only really noticeable elements, drowning out the accompanying ham and cheese. Were I to return, I’d probably choose something else, the smoked turkey, perhaps, which I’ve heard is delightful.

Each sandwich is paired with your choice of a side salad, soup-of the-day, or house-made potato chips. My advice, do not pass up the chips. They are perfect. Thin-cut, salty, and so crispy your head rings slightly with the sound of crunching potato after each one. Beautifully done, making for an all-together pleasant lunch experience at this popular Little Rock establishment.

Tags: Wich Trials, The Pantry, sandwiches

        
Tweet
Share

Speaking of...

Chew on this: Sensuous sandwiches from Vieux Carre

March 7, 2013

by Daniel Walker

Beautiful sandwiches await at this Southern bistro. Vieux Carre takes its place among the many great sandwich options in town. /more/
A frank conversation on hot dogs, brats, and sausages

February 19, 2013

by Daniel Walker

Our list of some of the finest sausages, brats, and dogs around central Arkansas. Get em' while their hot. /more/
More »

Comments (1)

Showing 1-1 of 1

Add a comment

Subscribe to this thread:

By Email

With RSS

Showing 1-1 of 1

More by Daniel Walker

Introducing The Little Rock Pie Cycle: Taking sweet to the street

The Pie Cycle is a truly wonderful addition to our mobile and street-side dining scene, and it’s certainly something worth tracking down. It’s an experience, and a real pleasure meeting young people with big dreams and the creativity to make them happen. The Pie Cycle is destined to brighten the day of anyone fortunate enough to get their paws on some of their lovely creations.
- by Daniel Walker
- May 16, 2013
The Governor's Culinary Challenge: Who made the grade?

At the Governor's Culinary Challenge, a few chefs really brought their proverbial A-game, doling out some truly spectacular bites, but it was clear that a few of these culinary heavy-weights should rethink their strategy for next year. Here’s our breakdown of who made the grade and who fell a bit flat.
- by Daniel Walker and Michael Roberts
- May 7, 2013
More »