January 24th, 2006
Darwin’s Ltd.
There's actually a lot to be said about yuppie sandwich shops. Take Darwin's Ltd., for example. Today, I visited the newest location of this Cambridge institution to see if their sandwiches still are worth the $7 prices.
Happily I report they still are. Those who aver "A sandwich is a sandwich" haven't been to Darwin's. The first tipoff that you're in for something special is the large selection of fresh breads, from tried-and-true wheat to sourdough, ciabatta, and rosemary-garlic. The sandwiches themselves, named after local cross-streets, are overstuffed concoctions of turkey, pastrami, roast beef, chicken salad with a variety of cheeses and spreads like sun-dried tomato-pesto mayonnaise. After much debating between the The Crawford (smoked turkey, avacado, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, vinaigrette) or The Irving (hot pastrami with russian dressing, swiss, coleslaw), I chose the former and added a slice of dill havarti cheese for good measure.
My sandwich was messy, dripping, and absolutely delicious. The avocado and vinaigrette complemented the turkey perfectly, and the soft, chewy wheat bread absorbed the extra juices. Because I was flying solo today I took my order to go, but next time I'm savoring every bite with some company at one of the comfy tables and chairs.
Darwin's also sells fresh produce, gourmet beverages, snacks, and desserts, making it the perfect place to fill your picnic basket. There's always a special sandwich stretched out across the counter, from which customers can buy large or small portions. The new location also sells burritos and though I wonder if the proprietors are trying to do too much at once, if as much care is put into the burritos as the sandwiches, they're guaranteed to be delicious.
Darwin's is certainly more expensive than Subway and far less ubiquitous, but the sandwiches warrant the extra dollars and the trek. If you work in Cambridge, hit up one of their two locations during lunch hour or save your visit for Saturday and bring the entire urban family.
The Info
Darwin's Ltd.
1629 Cambridge St. AND 148 Mt. Auburn St.
Cambridge, MA
617-491-2999
www.darwinsltd.com