Inside: Presto Sandwiches

Eating a good, hearty sandwich is an experience steeped in American tradition. We’re a nation born and bred on them. From picking at PB&Js in grade school to devouring a foot-long sub on game day, the sandwich does more than fill us up; it evokes a time, a place, and, obviously, a taste.

At Presto Sandwiches in Fairview Park, that time and place is the kitsch era of the late '50s. The joint, which sits in an old service garage, houses funky chairs and large patterned murals to mirror the essence of the good ol’ days. But while the setting is definitely retro, the tastes are a bit more forward-thinking. Each pressed sub combines a few select ingredients in fresh new ways for a flavorful sensation that is leaps above a typical cold-cut combo. The result is both filling and satisfying, leaving you with that same, warm gastronomical sensation you used to get after a home-cooked meal at Mom’s kitchen table.

Food: Wondering what you’ll find at Presto Sandwiches? The answer’s in the name. While the place does feature a handful of intriguing salads and baked goods, its bread and butter comes in the form of the seven-inch pressed stacks of soft bread, savory meat and all the fixins. These aren’t the same subs you’ll find in any of the big-house chains throughout Northeast Ohio. Each combines fresh ingredients for tastes that are at once familiar and altogether unique. Take the Smokin’ Turkey: What would otherwise be a tired turkey sandwich adds smoked gouda and chipotle mayo for a fresh kick in the taste buds. The Chicken Lorain, another intriguing option, combines grilled chicken, artichoke hearts, goat cheese, pesto mayo and tomato. Each of the sandwiches is served hot and pressed, combining all the ingredients in a state of warm, melted bliss.

Libations: To quench your thirst, Presto serves up what you might expect at a specialty sandwich shop. Feel free to fill up with fountain pop, or grab a 20-ounce bottle from the self-service cooler. You can also grab a hot cup of locally-owned Phoenix Coffee to warm up on those cold winter nights, or enjoy a fresh iced tea for those hot summer days. If you prefer your drink with a bit more substance, Presto also features a very solid selection of smoothies. Ranging from Strawberry Fields to Havana Banana, these blended concoctions are just filling enough to be enjoyed as a meal in and of itself, but are better left to whet the whistle of big eaters enjoying one of restaurant’s impressive subs.

Décor: As the retro lettering in its logo suggests, Presto Sandwiches features an interior that evokes the essence the quirky kitsch '50s. You’re not going to find a cluttered interior with thick carpeting, garish porcelain knick-knacks or cheesy patterned curtains. But you will find a clean space dotted with funky throwback chairs, polka dot light fixtures and large murals patterned with a funky food and drink motif. The result is a setting that’s fun, and, more importantly, sets this sandwich shop off from the cookie-cutter sub chains you’ll find up and down Lorain.

Service: Service at Presto is fast and efficient, if not impersonal. You walk up to the counter, place your order and then move down to the pick-up station while you wait for your sub to be pressed. You won’t find anything too unusual if you’ve been to any number of like food establishments throughout the country. Yet for a place that features such great sandwiches and a fun décor, the somewhat grumpy sandwich engineers seem out of place. What ever happened to service with a smile?

Crowd: Presto fills up with white-collar lunch-breakers around noon, and then starts to pick back up again around dinner. The middle-aged lunch crowd seems far more inclined to stick around and eat in-house, while the dinner rush is dominated by hungry diners more inclined to take their meals on the go. It’s generally a friendly bunch, almost exclusively who claim residence in Fairview Park or nearby Rocky River and Westlake.

Bottom line: Whether you’re a diehard fan of the national chains or someone looking for a new take on the tired sub experience, Presto Sandwiches is worth a look. The fresh ingredients pressed within these seven-inch subs make for a sandwich experience that makes you realize why you fell in love with these staples of the American diet in the first place.

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