The block of Wall Street between Pearl and Hanover streets has become a bit of a fast-casual hotspot. With a Sweetgreen, Cava and Upside Pizza on the block, most of the major lunchtime food groups are well covered. But one thing that was missing was a sandwich shop. Thankfully, local chain Counter Service (67 Wall St.) has filled the void with sandwiches truly worth writing home about.
Counter Service beckons to the lunch crowd with an inviting glow that emanates out onto the streetfront from its well-lit interior. Inside, there are several digital ordering stations that borrow their visual look from pay phone booths (RIP) (IYKYK). Sandwiches are available in two sizes: small and regular. So you have to ask yourself, “Am I hungry, or am I really hungry?”
The menu is extensive without feeling extravagant. Classics like the tuna melt, turkey club and the ham and cheese are represented as are more indulgent options like the Cortese (roast pork and broccoli rabe) and the Baron (slow roasted beef, watercress, aged cheddar). There are several tasty-looking vegetarian options as well, like the BVS (marinated broccoli rabe, charred mushrooms, onions and banana peppers, topped with horseradish vinaigrette).
The chain takes pride in their homemade ingredients. Sauces are made in house, meats are whole-roasted and the bread is made fresh. Behind the counter, a super-efficient assembly line of staff meticulously builds the sandwiches and keeps the line moving quickly. Sandwiches are finished in the toaster and offer the perfect amount of crisp. Counter Service also offers freshly baked cookies, so you’ll want to grab one to take back to your desk to fight the inevitable late-afternoon crash.
Lower Manhattan was hardly starving for great sandwiches, but a new contender just entered the ring and our taste buds are winning. Counter Service is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
