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Posted

[posted on eGullet 2003-2004]

The Grill at Galileo gets a lot of attention here (justifiably so), but Breadline doesn't get enough. A "turkey sandwich" ($6.90) might sound unimaginative, but the one at Breadline reestablishes just how great and important a restaurant this is. The turkeys are roasted daily, and must surely be brined, because the meat is flavorful like Palena chicken is flavorful, and is offered up in thick, generous handcarved slices (a perfect mixture of white and dark meat) on the best focaccia roll in town. The sandwich is at its best topped simply with lettuce and mustard (tomatoes are not available off-season), and it stands as one of the truly great lunch items in all of Washington. And it's healthy, too!

Gobble one down and see for yourself,
Rocks.

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Posted

[posted on eGullet 2003-2004]

From The Washington Post, an excerpt from the article entitled "Humble Sandwich Often Tops the Menu - Chains Try to Gobble Up the Market for Gourmet Lunch Fare" by Candy Sagon:

Washington baker Mark Furstenberg, who owns BreadLine near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, has nervously watched in the past year as Potbelly, Quiznos and Corner Bakery have all opened within a block of his restaurant.

"It's hurt my business. We used to serve 975 customers a day, we are now serving 775," he said. Competing against the chains is difficult, he said, "because they have greater buying power [with suppliers], so they get better deals. They can also afford to operate at break-even, even at a loss sometimes, to increase their market power."

Never forget what just happened to Ann Amernick's bakery: AVOID THE BLOODSUCKING, EXANIMATE CORPORATE CHAINS.

Rocks.

Posted

I'm just thankful that my local grocer, Snider's always has a shopping cart full of Breadline breads just inside the front door.

J'adore les baguettes.

Posted

I had a very nice work lunch at Poste about a week ago. One of my companions kept going on and on about the bread. We asked about it and they get it from BreadLine.

Posted

Citronelle too, If My Memory Serves Me Correctly.

I. Love. Breadline.

The fried cod sandwich is compulsory for me (as well as for two of my underlings whom I got hooked on the things) on Friday, and I try to get there at least one other day during the week. If you have even a passing interest in fish sandwiches, get over there! These are the fish sandwiches of the gods. My fillet last week must have been creeping up on an inch thick in the middle. :lol:

Posted

[posted on eGullet 2003-2004]

From The Washington Post, an excerpt from the article entitled "Humble Sandwich Often Tops the Menu - Chains Try to Gobble Up the Market for Gourmet Lunch Fare" by Candy Sagon:

Washington baker Mark Furstenberg, who owns BreadLine near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, has nervously watched in the past year as Potbelly, Quiznos and Corner Bakery have all opened within a block of his restaurant.

"It's hurt my business. We used to serve 975 customers a day, we are now serving 775," he said. Competing against the chains is difficult, he said, "because they have greater buying power [with suppliers], so they get better deals. They can also afford to operate at break-even, even at a loss sometimes, to increase their market power."

Never forget what just happened to Ann Amernick's bakery: AVOID THE BLOODSUCKING, EXANIMATE CORPORATE CHAINS.

Rocks.

Posted

Please offer recs for what to order...my husband has gone twice now and said he doesn't see what all the hype is about for a $7 sandwich! I did ask what he ordered, but I can't recall at the moment. I'll follow up when I find out. I read Don's post to him, and asked if he'd tried the turkey-- not so, and he agreed he'll give it another shot.

While taste is subjective, I'd like to know if anyone thinks I should recommend a different sandwich to him? :lol:

Posted

Following the suggestion/direction of our forum host on my last visit I ordered the turkey sandwich. It was a huge disappointment. The turkey was watery and tasteless. It only had chunks of dark meat. It made the bread watery too. I ended up taking out the meat and eating a $7 lettuce sandwich. Needless to say I was quite unhappy.

Try the tuna.

Posted

I am a fan of both turkey (preferably in summer to have tomatos too) because of the combo of thick slices of carved white and dark meat turkey with spicy mustard that make it feel like a great Thanksgiving leftover sandwich and the pork bbq with coleslaw because of the great tangy zip the vinegar and crunch of the slaw add to the sandwich. I have not liked their gazpacho but that is personal preference and not poor execution. They serve a chunky style and I prefer a smooth puree with blended flavors.

Posted

* Fried cod (Friday special) see above. This is basically why I go to work Fridays, because I might as well be in the city since there is no Breadline in Arlington, and I'd just end up Metroing in anyway.

* The reuben (Tuesday special). Oooh, Reuben.

* Toast Tite (everyday). Made with a variety of Italian cheeses, it's the best $7.00 grilled cheese you're likely to have.

* Sausage sandwich (everyday). Good sausage sandwich. What's not to like? Also comes as a pizza or piadine.

* Tuna (everyday). I probably wouldn't have tried it except for Hillvalley's recommendation on eGullet. It's great!

* Spicy Chicken Dahlia (Wednesday or Thursday special): Little weird, but I like it. More sandwiches need peanuts and fried plantain.

* Salami!

Posted

Crusty's got a crunchy-looking stack of matzo in the display case with a big note saying Order NOW for the weekend.

And damn. The chicken dahlia was good on a wintery day, but when it's sunny and sweaty outside, it's _good_: Chicken with more taste than my napkin and onions carmelized into candy, both layered with peanuts and a sauce that has just just enough kick that you eat through your best intentions to save half for tomorrow, because the pleasure of the next bite anesthetizes the pain of the last one.....

Posted
Crusty's got a crunchy-looking stack of matzo in the display case with a big note saying Order NOW for the weekend.

Does he make his own? It takes serious baking mojo to turn cardboard into art. I would actually consider eating his matzah.

Posted
Does he make his own?  It takes serious baking mojo to turn cardboard into art.  I would actually consider eating his matzah.

yup.

and yup.

Posted

As Khart on eGullet mentioned, according to Breadline's blog, Breadline is going to be open 11-3 for lunch on Saturdays!

Furthermore: Po'boys and softshells are back! :lol:

Posted

I, and everyone who was at my Seder table, now bow down the master of all things matzah.

Furstenberg is a genius. This week of eating cardboard from a box will be that much harder because I now know what matzah can be. Crusty's matzah is what all others should strive to taste like. Crisp, flavorful (yes, matzah, full of flavor, who knew?) with beautiful air bubbles dotting the large round pieces. A hint of salt lingers after each bite.

Thank you babka

Posted

The Case for Mark Furstenberg as Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic

Mark Furstenberg is arguably the most influential chef in the history of Washington, DC. An impossible combination of Popeye, Alice Waters and The Soup Nazi, he betrays his gruff demeanor by letting his considerable charitable actions quietly resonate throughout the community. Several weeks ago, he rallied the most famous chefs in Washington together for a Tsunami-relief benefit held at his restaurant. He is almost single-handedly responsible for the introduction of world-class bread to the region, and his is the only name that affects each-and-every diner at Washington's two best restaurants, Citronelle and Maestro. Breadline is a bastion of strength near The White House, a last gasp of artisanal quality and craftsmanship in an area being overrun by faceless corporate chains completely devoid of any humanity or meaning. He will not serve tomatoes in the wintertime, and if you want a cola with your meal, your only choice will be one from a local microbrewery. Nowhere in all of Washington, DC will you find a better lunch than at Breadline - it isn't open for dinner, but many other nominated restaurants aren't open for breakfast or lunch. Walk into Breadline and you'll see a broad cross-section of America at work, all of whom are friendly, efficient and obviously motivated by this great pioneer who has been inexplicably overlooked for this award in the past, probably because nobody ever thought of him as a "chef." He defines the term, however, and would be a terrific choice for Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Cheers,
Rocks.

Posted

mmmhhh--had the prosciutto, gorgonzola and fig jam sandwich and it was a great choice! Then I bought some matzoh to take home, and proceeded to gnosh on that :lol: (somebody...take...it...away...before...I...eat...the...whole...thing...)

Everyone in my office who walked in the kitchen asked what it was, as it doesn't resemble any traditional matzoh. But boy did they like it. As hillvalley said, there is that hint of salt that lingers after every bite--but I also detected a hint of butter. For those of you who like to smather butter on the good ol' boxed matzoh, this stands on its own quite well.

Posted

Oh, and I found out one of the sandwiches my hubby had that was so disappointing--it was the same one I had! It seems he was given a very skimpy amount of the proscuitto, which in my mind would definitley throw off the balance of taste, and make me also wonder why I would be paying $7 for a few measly pieces of ham. Since it seems he's been burned twice, I'm still working on him to give it another try...guess I'll try to get over there again next week to sample some more so I can convince him to go get it for himself!

(He did approve of the matzoh--how couldn't he? That stuff is the best!)

Posted

I had the tuna w/ Moroccan spices for lunch today, and, unfortunately, it was really soggy - like so soggy I needed a fork to finish it because it was just falling all over the place. I think they sliced the olive bread too thin, but from the second I picked it up it was just sagging and dripping all over the place. Disappointing. :lol:

Posted
I had the tuna w/ Moroccan spices for lunch today, and, unfortunately, it was really soggy - like so soggy I needed a fork to finish it because it was just falling all over the place. I think they sliced the olive bread too thin, but from the second I picked it up it was just sagging and dripping all over the place. Disappointing.  ;)

Yeah, the olive bread seems to have issues supporting the tuna and egg salad sandwiches. They need to either slice it thicker for these or pack it well onto a sturdier baguette. But lordy, that prosciutto... :lol:

Posted

So I realized that I'm a food lover and craver of ethnic cheap eats when I held off breakfast and rushed over to Amsterdam Falafel in Adams Morgan this morning at 11am (right when they open) to get a taste of their great, fresh friend bites of chickpea bliss.

This place is great, haven't found any other place in DC with really fresh falafel made to order with a great fixins bar of sauces and salads like you find in the Mid East and apparently Amsterdam. As others have mentioned they have great fries too which go great with their killer garlic cream sauce (good on the falafel too).

In light of my mid-morning falafel hunt, I wanted to start this new topic to see what others people's great, ethnic sandwiches/cheap eats are? What is that unusual cheap ethnic delicacy that you could eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and still go out for at midnight?

The 'Spicy Chicken Dhalia' at Breadline* still consistantly rocks my world: The one yesterday was definitely spicier than examples past. ohmy.gif

* For the purposes of this thread, can one HAVE an 'ethnic' sandwich at an establishment like Breadline?

Posted

Anyone been on Thursday lately to see if they have the fried oyster po boy?

I was there maybe a month and a half ago. It was listed on their website, but when I got there, they had the soft shell crab in its place.

However, the next week they listed both the soft shell crab AND the po boy on their menu.

I really want to take an out of town guest there tomorrow for a po boy, and I'm hoping they'll have it.

Posted

Breadline's chocolate cupcake is rich, gooey, not too fluffy/not too dense, chocolatey perfection. Truely a noble cupcake.

Also, I'd like to give them a shout-out for having Boylan's soda. I love Black Cherry, and the only time I can ever seem to get it is when I go back home to Super Duper Weenie.

Posted
Also, I'd like to give them a shout-out for having Boylan's soda.  I love Black Cherry, and the only time I can ever seem to get it is when I go back home to Super Duper Weenie.

Sutton Place/Balduccis carries a lot of the Boylan's flavors including black cherry.

Posted (edited)
Yeah, sure it's around *somewhere*, just nowhere I'm at for lunch on a regular basis! :lol:

Bring one with you to work and enjoy with your sandwich du jour!

Edited by laniloa
Posted
Sutton Place/Balduccis carries a lot of the Boylan's flavors including black cherry.

Colorado Kitchen and Trader Joe's both carry Boylan. CK has a wider variety though.

Posted

Okay, so I love the idea of Breadline. I have been going at least once a week for the past few months. I am generally happiest when I get a smoothie and ciabata roll. When I order either a sandwich or salad I am 9 out of 10 times disappointed. Today's lunch was the last straw. Literally.

I ordered a grilled veggie piadine and a very berry smoothie. The veggies where not grilled, more like charred. Let's see, my office smells like something that survived a fire. Not even joking, someone just walked by and asked what I caught on fire.

I just threw out an $8 sandwich. I wish it were the first time I had not been able to eat something ordered at Breadline. The grilled cheese was a ridiculous combination of cheeses that only certain people would enjoy (especially on the semi-sweet brioche bread). The falafel was dry. The chicken with guac didn't have enough guac and the chicken was dry. The persian chicken salad had so much sauce the greens wilted/drowned.

Oh and I didn't even get my smoothie that I normally love because (1) the coffee area had not been stocked so the server had to go and get the juices required (2) since the juices were hot she had to add more ice and (3) when she tried to blend the smoothie with the additional ice the machine did not work. I told her not to worry about blending the extra ice. She tried to pour the concoction into a cup and it was a disaster. I told her not to worry about the smoothie (the line was out the door at this point) and just give me my money back. She asked for my receipt!!! Huh?

I want to love Breadline. I want to stand on the street corner and tell people they have to go and try the place. Why do I keep having such not great experiences at the place?

Sorry for the vent. It just had to get out

Posted (edited)

I've had the rare burnt sandwich at Breadline, too. I think the grill gets behind on days when it's particularly busy or a mistake is made and throws things off. For example, I had the hot dog last Tuesday*, and it seemed to be taking a lot longer than it should be. I think we were waiting on rolls, but in the meantime, I'm standing there going insane watching the hot dogs burning on the grill. They finally bring a few rolls over and toast them, and sure enough half of the dog, and part of the bun, is burnt to a crisp.

Other than that the dog was pretty good. I think the chili (the other option is saurkraut) needs a more prominent flavor component...for now, it's just kind of there. I also think they need to make larger buns to accomodate the rather large dogs, rather than take the bun they have now and slice it completely in half! Personally, I hate it when the bun splits of even it's own accord, but at this point, the battle is lost before it has begun! Other than that, the hot dog is a fine addition to the Tuesday line-up. Grab lots of napkins.

*Sorry, forgot to mention: The hot dog is out!

Edited by shogun
Posted

Looks like Breadline has added some new menu items featuring tomatoes:

TOMATO PIZZA

Our Delicious Pizza with these Delicious Tomatoes

(The tomatoes in question are pictured on the site)

BLT

Bacon, Lettucce and Tomatoes

TOMATO MOZZARELLA

Pesto Mayo, Fresh Mozzarella, Lettuce and Tomato

TOMATO CHEDDAR

W/ Lettuce and Veggie Mayo and White Crafton Cheddar

Posted

from today's Front Burner chat...

Washington, D.C.: A couple of weeks ago, you wrote about the bread "crisis" at Marvelous Market. The story made it sound like they had worked thing out. But the bread was still not great. Last week I noticed signs at the Conn.AVe store saying The Breadline baguettes were there. I tried one, and they're like the "good" Marvelous Market baguettes. Do you know or can you find out what happened? And if they'll be there for a while. Thanks.
Judith: It's confusing, I agree. Both Marvelous Market and the Breadline folks confirm that all the MM stores are now getting Breadline baguettes. But the quantities are limited. If my experience is any indication, that means it's a good idea to get there early to get one. So far, no explanation from MM about the permanence or not of this arrangement. I've put in a call to see if Uptown is still working on a baguette, or for that matter what the status of the other breads is, and will post their answer if I get it in time. In the meantime, MM will have the "real" MM baguettes that Mark Furstenburg developed. F., incidentally, describes them as neither sour not sweet. They're "mixed" he says, with a tiny bit of sour and a tiny bit of yeast. A completely sourdough baguette, he says, means a tough crust.
Posted

Tomato season has arrived at Breadline, and with the heat wave over and gone, I trekked over there for lunch today. I had the BLT, which was on wheat bread, and my friend had the Tomato and White Cheddar Grilled Cheese Sandwich. In structural composition, it was the same as any other, with the aforementioned ingredients of BLT and some nice creamy (but not overpowering) mayo. The bacon was just right with a little crispiness on the edges; the lettuce was just some chopped iceburg, and the wheat bread held it all together quite well. But the real standout of the sandwich is the tomatoes, piled on three deep and melding together almost into a chunky paste of ripe, salty goodness.

As for my friend's sandwich, it had less tomatoes but plenty of cheese between two giant, texas toast-sized pieces of white bread. He liked it, but the bread looked a little too thick for my tastes.

The frites are still great (and under two dollars), and the peanut butter cookie contraption I had for dessert was tops. They take two cookies and, a la chipwich, smear a nice gob of what I presume to be Furstenburg-crafted peanut butter between them.

All this for ten bones, and the people-watching at the tables outside is gratis. Look! David Gregory from MSNBC! "Hey! David! What did Scott McLellan deny and when did he deny it ?!"

Posted

I WANT to like Breadline as much as everyone else seems to like Breadline...I usually find praise on this site to be spot-on.

But my $7 BLT on wheat was BURNED, soggy with mayo, haphazardly slapped together, and not worth my time or my money!

Posted
I WANT to like Breadline as much as everyone else seems to like Breadline...I usually find praise on this site to be spot-on.

But my $7 BLT on wheat was BURNED, soggy with mayo, haphazardly slapped together, and not worth my time or my money!

I had this last Saturday and thought it was quite good, although that wheat bread is very absorbent and could be susceptible to sogginess from the tomatoes and mayo. (Also, a tomato and mozzerella sandwich was slathered with way too much pesto. Maybe they need to rein in their slathering a bit?)

Cheers,

Rocks.

Posted
I WANT to like Breadline as much as everyone else seems to like Breadline...I usually find praise on this site to be spot-on.

But my $7 BLT on wheat was BURNED, soggy with mayo, haphazardly slapped together, and not worth my time or my money!

How was it burned? You mean the bacon? The bread isn't usually toasted is it? I thought it was a pretty outstanding sandwich when I had it. To make a sandwich too much better at home wouldn't cost that much less...and you'd still have to buy the whole loaf of bread.

Posted

i am told by my wife that i can make much better sandwiches at home. she eats here frequently and reports wild inconsistencies and assembly line problems, including both burning and undercooking, though she keeps going back for more. i am going to have to check this place out. sounds like there's a lot worth trying to find.

Posted
i am told by my wife that i can make much better sandwiches at home. she eats here frequently and reports wild inconsistencies and assembly line problems, including both burning and undercooking, though she keeps going back for more. i am going to have to check this place out. sounds like there's a lot worth trying to find.

What did she get that was undercooked? Can you be more specific about "wild inconsistencies?" What gets burned? And if that's all true, why do you think "there's a lot there worth trying to find?"

I'm a pretty decent sandwich-maker myself, but I don't have the time to make bread like they do, find the freshest ingredients like they do, and get me through a line in less than ten minutes like they do. Breadline isn't for everyone, thank God, but i'm a regular and it's not the mess you describe here.

Posted
What did she get that was undercooked? Can you be more specific about "wild inconsistencies?" What gets burned? And if that's all true, why do you think "there's a lot there worth trying to find?"

I'm a pretty decent sandwich-maker myself, but I don't have the time to make bread like they do, find the freshest ingredients like they do, and get me through a line in less than ten minutes like they do. Breadline isn't for everyone, thank God, but i'm a regular and it's not the mess you describe here.

Capital Icebox,

Go back and read my posting. I went back once since my posting with a client (they chose) and all of our meals were fairly BAD. I refuse to patron a place that does not have quality control. And it is the mess the other post described. I even had a piece of chicken in the chicken salad that was not thoroughly cooked.

The bread is not consistently baked. Sometimes the crusts are overly thick and occassionally I have purchased loafs that did not stay fresh very long. I am not a fan of Breadline.

Nancy
Posted
How was it burned? You mean the bacon? The bread isn't usually toasted is it? I thought it was a pretty outstanding sandwich when I had it. To make a sandwich too much better at home wouldn't cost that much less...and you'd still have to buy the whole loaf of bread.

The bacon was burned (and trust me, I don't mind crispy bacon--I do mind charred bacon that masks the flavor) and--though it wasn't toasted--the bread was burned as well (as in black crust). I don't know how that happened. Overall, just wasn't a happy camper. And I was really excited to try this place! I think I'll give it another go in the fall.
Posted

I go to the Breadline almost every Friday for challah and the fried cod sandwich. I have never experienced anything other than pure yummy-ness with the cod sandwich. The cole slaw and remoulade sauce compliment the fried fish perfectly. Prior to eating this sandwich, I was not a cole slaw fan until I realized that what I had been eating before only posed as cole slaw...

I need to try to go to BreadLine on a day other than Friday, because otherwise, I can't bring myself to get anything else. Though, I did have the soft-shell crab sandwich once-- with the same remoulade sauce, I believe-- and it was also excellent.

The challah also makes for very good french toast for the weekend.

I also love the efficiency of the breadline. I've waited much longer for my food at Cosi, Corner Bakery, etc. ..and it doesn't hold a candle to the Breadline.

Posted (edited)
The bacon was burned (and trust me, I don't mind crispy bacon--I do mind charred bacon that masks the flavor) and--though it wasn't toasted--the bread was burned as well (as in black crust). I don't know how that happened. Overall,  just wasn't a happy camper. And I was really excited to try this place! I think I'll give it another go in the fall.

Now we're talking -- specifics! Which the post I initially responded to was sorely lacking.

Edited to add: I was reffering to the "i am told by my wife that i can make much better sandwiches at home" post. Now who's not being specific enough? Me, I know. Sorry.

Fortunately, for those who don't care for Breadline, there's a wealth of other options in the area" PotBelly, Baja Fresh, Cosi, that guy with the hot dog stand...

Edited by Capital Icebox
Posted
I go to the Breadline almost every Friday for challah and the fried cod sandwich.

The cod is the greatest sandwich ever.

As for this burnt question, I've only ever had one thing that was burnt out of a number of sandwiches so high I cannot even fathom : a hot-dog I discussed earlier. And I'm a fan of all manner of piadine, so it's not like I"m always getting 'raw' sandwiches. I'll agree that the BLT bread has a tendancy to get fairly soaked with sauce, though. Other than that, I can't say I've had anything there I didn't like, and by now, I've probably had just about everything. The pork BBQ didn't do much for me, but I'd give it at least another shot if it didn't coincide with Cod Day.

Posted

Generally the piadine are fairly underwhelming (too few ingredients with charred flatbread), but the daily specials are pretty good most of the time. I'd stay away from the Toast Tite, as the cheeses don't really go with the sweet bread, but the chicken dalliah on Wednesdays--spicy, with peanuts!--is delicious. On a semi-related note, I really enjoy the soda selection there.

Posted

I have an office just up the street from BreadLine so it is all I can do not to eat there every single day. I was there on Monday this week and had the BLT (I always get them to make it on ciabatta rather than whatever they normally use) and noticed that the bacon was rather on the well-done side. I thought about the bacon being so well done, and initially thought it was odd that it was done this way, but I came to realize that it was a good thing that it was, since it added a lot to the flavor (it did not actually taste "burnt", though it was quite dark) and of course enhanced its crispiness.

I also am not fond of their piadine, nor the sausage pizza thing they do. But the soft-shell crab sandwich (again, on ciabatta rather than brioche) is sublime.

Posted

Panda,

I love your name!

BUT, I don't get Breadline. As I wrote in my earlier post, I want to love it. However, I have never been able to get consistent food (yes service is consistent) at the place. Hmmmm...

Nancy

Posted

My experience of BreadLine is that some things are just the best they could possibly be, while others are pretty run of the mill. The breads, by and large, are among the best in town, so that's a plus right there. And he does some really good fillings for them. Some things, however, are just ho-hum. I guess you have to know what to order when you go there. And another thing, their air conditioning is just awful, so if it's really hot out when you go, plan to take your lunch back to your home/office.

Posted
My experience of BreadLine is that some things are just the best they could possibly be, while others are pretty run of the mill. The breads, by and large, are among the best in town, so that's a plus right there. And he does some really good fillings for them. Some things, however, are just ho-hum. I guess you have to know what to order when you go there. And another thing, their air conditioning is just awful, so if it's really hot out when you go, plan to take your lunch back to your home/office.

I have tried most of the items on the menu (except for red meat/pork dishes)... guess my luck isn't that good...

Oh, some of the breads are good but Randolphs does a much better job imho.
Posted
What did she get that was undercooked?  Can you be more specific about "wild inconsistencies?"  What gets burned?  And if that's all true, why do you think "there's a lot there worth trying to find?" 

I'm a pretty decent sandwich-maker myself, but I don't have the time to make bread like they do, find the freshest ingredients like they do, and get me through a line in less than ten minutes like they do.  Breadline isn't for everyone, thank God, but i'm a regular and it's not the mess you describe here.

last night i asked her what was wrong, so here are some specifics: a knish tasting of raw flour; a room temperature "pizza" constructed of worthy tomatoes and a sprinkling of cheese placed on top of an inedible tough and half-charred crust; a misconceived "rueben" with grisly meat that was incorrectly sliced, way too thick; italian sausage raw at the center; a bone-dry, rubbery smoked salmon sandwich that went straight into the trash after one bite; and the bread slices on the grilled cheese were too thick. there are other things she always has liked, including an artery-clogging steak and cheese, and soups are consistently top-notch. the french fries receive praise, except they are occasionally soggy and greasy. the line, i am told, is the height of efficiency; maybe more vigilance is required of the customer when their order is being cooked.

it sounds that there are a lot of things here i would like to try, although the location is not exactly in my neck of the woods.

and a short bread line story: last winter, on her way back to the office she was stopped by one of those friendly washingtonians and asked about the powder that had totally whitened the back of her black coat. it turned out to be flour from the undusted wood banquette where she was sitting, and she cleaned it off with snow. this may not be the best place for a blind day.

Posted

The few things I haven't enjoyed at BreadLine have been well prepared but just not to my preference. An example is the gazpacho. While very tasty, they serve a very chunky version and I prefer smooth. I have found that it is better to go before the lunch mobs or at the tail end of the mob. They do prep some sandwiches ahead of time (because of the mob factor) so there is the potential for sauces and stuff to absorb into the bread. If I go during the height of lunch traffic I get the prepped when ordered food. I like my bacon crispy so I think they do BLTs just right. The turkey and chicken dalliah are also favorites. I haven't tried most of the sandwiches people mentioned not liking so I can't comment on them. I agree that the air conditioning is not up to the task of battling ovens and cooling the space.

Posted

just finished the chicken dalliah, spicy (blazingly hot to my sensitive irish palate) chicken, caramelized onions, peanuts and plantains

great flavor/texture combination - everything worked together really well although the aforementioned spice did dominate a little more than I'd like - recommended

$8.25

Posted
just finished the chicken dalliah, spicy (blazingly hot to my sensitive irish palate) chicken, caramelized onions, peanuts and plantains

great flavor/texture combination - everything worked together really well although the aforementioned spice did dominate a little more than I'd like - recommended

$8.25

Did you notice how friendly everyone over there was today? It was crazy-busy, but the staff was extra nice. I just finished the good old standby -- grilled chicken & coleslaw sandwich (with fries, of course). Mmmm.

Posted
Did you notice how friendly everyone over there was today? It was crazy-busy, but the staff was extra nice.

it was extremely busy - I thought service was quick and efficient but was too absorbed in my little ipod universe to realize if it was friendly or not :P

Posted

Yeah, the chicken Dahlia runs from medium to blazing hot. It's like a box of chocolate-covered chile peppers: You never know what you're going to get.

Posted

checking this place out for the first time at 1:30 today, no lines but fairly steady business, lots of customers hanging out reading newspapers and chatting, a hive of activity with a nice buzz.

the food: sandwich overstuffed with italian sausage with fennel, pepper, tomato and onions on crisp bread was pretty fine by me. grilled cheese with tomatoes came on light, fluffy bread that was sliced extra thick on one side and thin on the other, a little dry but probably a bit healthier for not being smashed down in butter.

no complaints about over or undercooking; raw onion obligingly jumps out of the sandwich and onto the plate in case you've got a problem with eating it.

lemonade is ready to go by the checkout register. i would have added some ice, but didn't bother looking for any.

Posted (edited)

Just went to Breadline for the first time today and I have to say it was one of the best lunches that I have had in forever!

I had the smoked salmon, which is on the lightest of lights wheat bread and is covered with arugula, cream cheese with chives and a thick slice of smoked salmon. it was delightful.

Has anyone written about the fabulous pop and juice choices this joint has? And the flavored water for .50?

Awesome

edited for spellllingz

Edited by Woodleygrrl
Posted

Can anyone tell me if Breadline is open on the weekends? I've been dying to try it but can't make it down there during the week. My girlfriend and I tried to hit it up for an early Sunday lunch a few weeks ago but it was closed...so we went up to Ben's Chilli Bowl instead! Good lunch at either place. :P

Thanks in advance.

Posted
Can anyone tell me if Breadline is open on the weekends?  I've been dying to try it but can't make it down there during the week.  My girlfriend and I tried to hit it up for an early Sunday lunch a few weeks ago but it was closed...so we went up to Ben's Chilli Bowl instead!  Good lunch at either place.  :P

Thanks in advance.

They've recently begun to open on Saturdays. I was driving by in late July and stopped in. Unlike the regular weekeday lunch rush there, it was rather quiet and peaceful. Food was just as fantastic.

Posted

Forgive me if this has been posted, but I briefly looked back and could not find a link to a website. I thought I saw it before, but could be wrong.

I'd like to get the hours, what breads they make and what days etc....

Anyone have a link??

Thanks!

Posted

in case anybody's interested, my wife reports that she got back to the office today with her quesadilla and there was no cheese on it. sounded like a healthy choice to me, but she seems to think it should have been there.

Posted
You'd have done well to have tried a cookie, too.  I love their peanut butter filled cookies, and yet I'm not even a huge fan of that genre.

thanks for the suggestion. i doubt i would have discovered these peanut butter sandwiches on my own. they are the size of miniburgers. one of their secrets, i believe, is putting the sugar in the filling and holding back on sweetness in the batter, which works in some nice peanut chunks and a few oats. there's much more complexity of flavor and texture here than the traditional peanut butter cookie. this is some cookie.

Posted

I am planning to try Breadline for the first time today after my [painless] dentist appointment nearby. I was eyeing the quesadilla until I read the comment above re: lack of cheese. Hmm... :lol:

Today's menu

Posted
I am planning to try Breadline for the first time today after my [painless] dentist appointment nearby.  I was eyeing the quesadilla until I read the comment above re: lack of cheese.  Hmm... :lol:

Today's menu

but she says she did get more than her money's worth of hot guacamole. i am still trying to figure this place out myself. if there is any better bread in town, i would like to know about it.

Posted

I was really excited for my maiden voyage to Breadline. Blah, disappointed.

For some reason, I could not resist the call of guacamole and thus I got the quesadilla. My experience verifies the lack of cheese and I'm completely unimpressed with the guac itself which seems to feature three different kinds of onions - red, yellow and those green spring onions I see most frequently in Asian dishes. Huh?

The black beans have been messed around with too much - they've taken on the pasty consistency of re-refried beans. Blech.

The portion is huge and going to waste. Into the trash it goes.

I will attempt to console myself with the peanut butter cookie ($1.25).

Posted

One issue I have with breadline is the Cheesecake Factory-esque menu, with dozens of items from all sorts of traditions to choose from. Just today you have a Mexican Quesadilla, African Chicken sandwich, Italian Piadina, Empanadas, Falafael, and a seafood chowder on the menu. To me, this breadth of cuisine tends to work against Breadline, making the menu overwhelming (especially to the first-timer being pressured to order quickly) and resulting in less-than-stellar dishes themselves (I hear the empanadas are illustrative of this point). It's just not the place to go to for great guacamole (Where is, though? Oyamel, you have yet to excite me. Same goes for you, Pablano. I sense a new guac thread... ripening).

That said, at Breadline I tend to stick to choices where I know the bread is good (i.e. my current favorite, the BLT or anything on a baguette), the sandwich isn't something too exotic and usually buffer my order with one of the soups or fries and cookies. That way if the sandwich doesn't fully satisfy (though I've never been so satisfied I've thrown one away), you're covered.

Posted

I was at Breadline as well today. As I usually go on Fridays, and get the fish sandwich (which is awesome), I got to try something new today. After reading earlier raves about the tomatoes, I got the tomato, mozerella, pesto sandwich on a grain-y bread (can't remember exactly what it was). It had iceberg lettuce as well, which I hate and scraped it off. The sandwich was very tasty and fresh. Great pesto. The sandwich was messy (with the pesto and juicy tomatoes), but the excellent bread kept it all from soaking through.

The only sub-par sandwich I've had there is the chicken with goat cheese. The chicken was dry and flavorless and didn't mesh well with the hunks of cheese. (I liked the chicken guacomole sandwich OK, but I think the dryness of the chicken was overcome by the guac, and I probably wouldn't order it again). Other good sandwiches are anything with their cole slaw or remulade sauce (e.g. fish sandwich or soft shell crab sandwich).

Reading these posts makes me glad that I stick to my "usuals" and don't get tempted by the random sandwiches (e.g. the african chicken sandwich with plantains?).

Posted

I had my first ever BLT at Breadline today because during his chat Furstenburg mentioned that it was his favorite sandwich.

Despite the fact that half the sandwich was a bit soggy and I was hoping for tomatoes that were a little bit better I now understand why people love BLT's. That is an excellent sandwich, crunchy salty bacon with tender tomatoes. They add some kind of mayonnaise slaw thing that I liked but could have done without.

This place is going to be a great incentive to get out of the building during lunch when it starts getting cold and the kids get nutty :lol:

Posted

sandwich cookie #2, the chocolate mascarpone, will appeal to the cookie monster in everyone, but is a runner up to the more nutritious peanut butter version. Moist, crumbly and chocolate chunky, the cookie uses the cheese more to hold itself together than anything else; the mascarpone would have to be slathered on more thickly to hold its own against the chocolate, though its best attributes are not entirely lost.

in the battle of the sandwiches, the blt and toast tite were running neck and neck when we tasted them recently. the former really brings home the bacon, mayonnaised on one side, with good tomatoes that will be on their way out by the time the squirrels are gathering their acorns. cut on the diagonal, the ends of the sandwich are a bit floppy and the ingredients tend to hop around. does not toasting the bread for the sake of keeping the lines moving deprive this variation of classic stature? i don't know, but was fouled recently at home for the same purported infraction, as well as reaching too high with the variety of lettuce.

there are differences between the toast tite and the one grilled cheese i sampled weeks ago, but i'm unsure of exactly what they are so can't say why i prefer the toast tite, with tomato. they are both on the same fluffy bread. was there some emulsion going on to moisten things up in the toast tite, and a tang of bluish cheese amalgamation that's was missing in my earlier sandwich? technically speaking, this is not a toast tite from your youth, if you have lived that long. i still have the utensil to make them buried in a cabinet someplace. the bread is crimped by the round tool, sealing cheese wiz and butter inside the bread, and toasted over an open frame. you end up with a thick saucer with a hot ooze that will take off the top of your mouth when the contents are released. this is not what they are serving at breadline.

the water with orange peels and other things was fine, but the infusion provided only a hint of flavor so i still don't understand what all the excitement was about.

the french fries were a success. after saving boudu from drowning, i would recommend that he visit this establishment daily to fill up on them as a worthy investment of his alms. (a bit of nostalgia: that son of a sausage maker, michel simon, once deplored the demise of a reliable technique for indicating the ripeness of le fromage -- worms.)

again, our visit to breadline was late, when the operation was winding down, which seems to be a good time here.

Posted

I went with some former Foggy Bottom coworkers on Monday- something I haven't seen much mention of here is the salads.

I don't normally like lentils, but the lentil salad option over mixed greens is really good here. And you get one of those wonderful rolls to go with it.

The proscuitto sandwich used to be a favorite of mine when the Bread Line was in my neighborhood- I got one to go to eat later. It was different than I remember, but still good. The fig jam almost seemed more like a chutney to me, and the mascarpone was really much more gorgonzola-ey (I don't remember seeing any description of it being anything other than normal mascarpone). As for the comment in the previous post- yes, it's not a big sandwich ala Carnegie Deli, but for me, it works. I felt that there was enough proscuitto on it.

I was there around 12 and the lines were manageable, but when we left at 1 the place was a mob scene. Not that that should deter anyone.

Posted

I haven't had it, but lots of people seem to like their Cuban sandwiches (a Thurs. special). I'm partial to the soups, the salami-arugula-roasted peppers on baguette sandwich, the turkey sandwich (if you're eating it right away), and the sandwich-style cookies (peanutbutter or chocolate/marscapone).

Posted

Awesome lunch at Breadline today, by way of a sandwich I had not previously seen on the menu: Merguez sausage on brioche topped with Tunisian salad. I'm not entirely sure of what Tunisian Salad generally comprises, but approximately every foodstuff in the world was represented on top of my juicy grilled merguez this afternoon: carrots, potato, pepper, celery, chopped boiled egg, olives, and other, smaller sandwiches, and at least two kinds of cherry tomatoes, and probably some other stuff I can't recall or perhaps didn't notice in the overall topping. All in a zippy, possibily vinegar-based sauce. The only problem was that between the large size of these items, and the way they split their hot-dog buns in half, most of the toppings would fall out of the bun. Fortunately, these became good accompanyment to the side of fries that comes with the sandwich. Look for this one on Thursdays, assuming it is part of the regular rotation.

Posted

Breadline is no longer open on Saturdays. It seems that they discontinued this a couple months ago. Too bad. I walked all the way there for lunch and was terribly disappointed by this. Bummer!

Posted

Waiter, there's a moderate ammount of flavorful liquid in my Cup Of Turkey, Noodles, and Veggies. Fortunately, it is delicious.

Man, I need to pay more attention to these soups!

Though the noodles are pretty overdone

Posted
Waiter, there's a moderate ammount of flavorful liquid in my Cup Of Turkey, Noodles, and Veggies.  Fortunately, it is delicious.

Man, I need to pay more attention to these soups!

Though the noodles are pretty overdone

So why is the soup delicious if the noodles are overdone? This is what kills me about Breadline... nothing is consistent, not even in the same dish.
Posted
So why is the soup delicious if the noodles are overdone?  This is what kills me about Breadline... nothing is consistent, not even in the same dish.

They were a little overdone. They didn't taste bad. The soup was fine.
Posted

Had lunch with the wife here yesterday as she is lucky to work a couple blocks away. I had a roast turkey sandwich with russian dressing which was fantastic. The lady got the burrito special, though, which was absolutely terrible. I know that I'm spoiled for mexican food after living in California for 10 years, but this tasted like it came out of the freezer case at Safeway. Does anyone enjoy the burrito here?

Almost forgot, the french fries were awesome. And at only $1.95, quite a bargain.

Posted
Had lunch with the wife here yesterday as she is lucky to work a couple blocks away.  I had a roast turkey sandwich with russian dressing which was fantastic.  The lady got the burrito special, though, which was absolutely terrible.  I know that I'm spoiled for mexican food after living in California for 10 years, but this tasted like it came out of the freezer case at Safeway.  Does anyone enjoy the burrito here?

Almost forgot, the french fries were awesome.  And at only $1.95, quite a bargain.

Never had it, but I'm in no hurry. Whole 'burrito in a sandwich joint' thing. There are a dozen more plausable things to eat there on any given day. Thanks for taking one for the team, though....don't recall the burrito getting a mention here before :lol:

You're right about the fries. Where else are you going to get that many fries, of that delicious nature, for $1.95?

Posted (edited)

Poor Breadline.....

Looks like they've got a new sandwich going. Not sure how new, because I haven't been on Monday in a while. A 'Monte Cristo'. Turkey, bacon, and Grafton cheddar. I'll have to check with the ISO, but it's not fried (it's panini-pressed) so I'm not sure if it's taxonomically a 'Monte Cristo'. It's good, though. Even if through some oversight mine has but a square inch or so of bacon. :) (Edited to add: Yes, baconlessness greatly distracts from 'it's good', but...with a full complement of bacon it would be awesome)

So then I get to the beverage cooler. It seems as though all of the cool soda (and beer and wine, but not the homemade waters and juices) has through some certainly nefarious action been replaced with Coke products. Hopefully this is simply a case of a mis-directed delivery, and not something like an austerity measure or bending to the will of the be-fannypacked brigade. :o There WAS still Cricket, so maybe it was due for Potbelly. I don't know.

Edited by shogun
Posted

I had a great Italian sausage sambo there about 2 weeks ago.....was a tough call as they also had a Niman Ranch all-beef hotdog w/ fries on special that day that looked great

Posted

I also noticed that the beverage selection had degraded. They had a bunch of homemade juices (beet/orange, carrot/something, etc). I usually get a Cricket too, but had to grab a lemonade today.

Anyway, what I'm really writing about is the Oyster Po' Boy. Oh. My. God. It is SO good. It has some fantastic slaw (with some pickled cabbage!), a great relishy creamy sauce, and a TON of corn-meal fried oysters. The bread was fanastic as well, none of that cut your mouth kind, but a big, soft, roll that softly cradles the fried to order oysters. I hope its an every-Thursday thing, because it changed my whole day.

Oh, and the saffron tomato soup was good, too.

Posted
I also noticed that the beverage selection had degraded.  They had a bunch of homemade juices (beet/orange, carrot/something, etc).  I usually get a Cricket too, but had to grab a lemonade today.

Anyway, what I'm really writing about is the Oyster Po' Boy.  Oh. My. God.  It is SO good.  It has some fantastic slaw (with some pickled cabbage!),  a great relishy creamy sauce, and a TON of corn-meal fried oysters.  The bread was fanastic as well, none of that cut your mouth kind, but a big, soft, roll that softly cradles the fried to order oysters.  I hope its an every-Thursday thing, because it changed my whole day. 

Oh, and the saffron tomato soup was good, too.

OMB the Po'Boy is back on Thursdays? I will HAVE to go next week.

Posted

I got there early so I wouldn't have to wait in line for my po boy. Came back to work and was cursed by staff and students alike because it looked so good. It tasted even better. Tenunda summed it up so I won't bother repeating.

But if you are having a Terrible Thursday and need something to get you through to Fist Fight Friday, go get a po boy.

Posted
But if you are having a Terrible Thursday and need something to get you through to Fist Fight Friday, go get a po boy.
But but...Cuban Sandwich day!

Be there in about an hour!

Posted

Now before you guys become crestfallen, I've sifted through all of this, and I believe the sum total of news is going to be a net positive to the Washington, DC area. I heard from Mark Furstenburg today:

    The BreadLine has been bought by La Brioche Doree, a large French company owned by a single passionate, unique character, Louis LeDuff.  Its US operations are headed by Jean Pierre Lombard, former president of Vie de France. 

    They intend to change nothing at The BreadLine -- no staff, no recipes, no ingredients.  The Coke machine was a mistake and was never installed.  I realize that it was a big mistake because it was so visible; but it was removed.  (There is Coke in the case now but many people believe that I was excessive in not allowing it at The BreadLine.  I really do feel very strongly about empty calories, processed foods, and useless sugar.)

    La Brioche Doree is going to expand in Washington.  They have leased space at 18th and M.  They are going to lease other spaces.  I am going to help them expand.  I am going to develop foods for their menu and their menu will include many of the foods of The BreadLine.  I am also going to be responsible for the quality of the bread.

And there was also one more quoted paragraph I needed to delete which is great news, but alas, it's too soon to divulge the information....

Cheers,

Rocks

Posted (edited)

hmmm...the Cuban sandwich and Po' boy still kick ass, so I'm not upset. Unless, of course, this cancels our tour?! :lol:

Edited by B.A.R.

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