#5: A sandwich epiphany 🥪

New menu items at Room Service, Milkbread bagels (finally) & a trip to the movies

Feb 04, 2025

Late last night, I was snug in my bed channeling my inner Carrie Bradshaw and trying to craft this week’s newsletter. However, my camera roll from the past 7 days merely included an assortment of sandwiches I ate, which isn’t very Sex in the City.

I couldn’t help but wonder…can sandwiches even be sexy?

I’m leaning towards they can be sensuous but not sexy. I can’t really explain why, just a feeling. Something else struck me, though, as I was swiping through my sandwich pics—I have a type.

Almost every sandwich I ordered included the same basic components of turkey, bacon, cheese, lettuce and some sort of mayonnaise-based condiment.

My initial reaction to this was disgust. Why am I only ordering one combination?! There are so many sandwiches in the sea! I was overcome with the sudden urge to go out and broaden my horizons with hot, new sandwiches.

But like I said, it was late. So, instead, I decided to lean into my sandwiches proclivities and expertise and give you a definitive ranking of three of the sandwiches I consumed last week.

#3 - Smoked Turkey Bagel ($12) from Milkbread

smoked turkey, pepperjack cheese, avocado, black mustardaise, mayo, lettuce on an everything sourdough bagel

Reading the description of this bagel sandwich was like finding a perfect dating profile. On paper, it checked all the boxes. But in person…it wasn’t a match.

It saddens me to write this, but I did not enjoy this bagel sandwich. The biggest problem for me was the “black mustardaise”. There’s a spicy mustard in whatever this is that was SO overpowering I couldn’t taste anything else. I say that as a person who likes spicy mustard. Respectfully, I believe it only belongs on a brat or paired with a soft pretzel.

The bagel part of this sandwich was also a swing and a miss. Maybe I’m just not a sourdough bagel girlie but these are too damn soft. The second I took a bite the bagel started flattening out and that’s not acceptable! I’m not saying I need it to be thicc but I expect a certain level of density in a good bagel.

Milkbread is on thin ice with me.

#2 - Get Ranch or Die Trying ($15) from Room Service

shaved chicken, bacon, mixed greens, avocado, pickled red onion, ranch on toasted Verdant sourdough bread

This is one of the new items on the Room Service menu and I will say this…it’s a good sandwich. It’s not going to be a sandwich you go home and think about while you fall asleep (like we all do sometimes), but it’s solid.

In place of turkey, they serve it with shaved chicken. The bacon is crispy and the bread is lovely, toasted verdant sourdough. What I appreciated the most about this sandwich is that they tossed the lettuce in the ranch dressing instead of just spreading it on the bread. This move kept it from being too dry and really made the whole thing more flavorful.

Pro tip: Opt for their fries on the side instead of their house chips.

#1 - Muenster Mash ($15) from Culture Shop

cracked pepper turkey, bacon, arugula, pickled onion, muenster cheese, and toasted garlic aioli on herbed focaccia

I tend to love every sandwich creation from Culture Shop (they’re true sandwich artists) but this one really slapped. It combines almost the same ingredients as the other two but it doesn’t even compare.

Here’s what set it apart—the herbed focaccia and the toasted garlic aioli.

It cannot be overstated how much bread matters and this bread was heavenly. It was crispy on the outside and soft, and airy on the inside. The toasted garlic aioli complemented everything perfectly and didn’t overpower.

I have absolutely no notes on this sandwich, except that it should be on their menu all the time. It’s sadly a weekly special, but keep an eye out on their IG and it might come back again.

4 things I consumed in Charlotte last week

“Seeking Clarity” ($15) from Room Service. This clarified milk punch is another new menu item. It tastes like if apple pie was a cocktail but not in an overly sweet way.
“Even Fancier Caviar Service” ($39) from Bar à Vins. Served with Lay’s and crème fraîche, it’s the perfect bougie bar snack. They do offer simply “Fancy Caviar Service” but once you go even fancier, you can’t go back.
“The Capo” Italian ($13) from Culture Shop. Bonus sandwich content! Just as proof that I do order other sandwich types, my partner and I actually split both this one and the Muenster Mash over the weekend. The Capo is my go-to order along with a side of white bean salad and a glass of sparkling wine.
A small popcorn ($4) and canned wine ($9) at Independent Picture House. We saw The Last Showgirl on Sunday night and it was great. I love movie theater popcorn so much and I love IPH so much.