Le Sandwich brings in fresh vegetables, high quality meats, and artisanal breads packaged into a sandwich that is as tasty as it is pretty.
Le Sandwich is not your typical Prishtina sandwich spot. It has only six seats and as part of their open kitchen concept you can watch Emanuel Gjokaj as he prepares the food that you will be eating.
And that is exactly what I did. I ordered the latest addition to the menu, Le Steak Sandwich, and reminiscent of a movie scene from “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” I watched what exactly went into my food as it was prepared by Gjokaj.
Le Steak is inspired by an American classic, the Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich, but of course it is still Gjokaj’s own take on it. The rump cut in combination with caramelized onions results in a first bite in which you will taste umami and enjoy the gooeyness of the melted Edamer cheese. This is in perfect contrast to the crunchiness of the sourdough baguette; Le Sandwich exclusively uses breads from Artizan Bakery.
The umami is counterbalanced by the arugula and its mild bitterness will reset your palate. On your second bite you will taste a touch of spiciness from the chipotle aioli. If you prefer your sandwich extra spicy, make your wishes known, and Gjokaj will pick up one of the dried chilli peppers that hangs over the kitchen area and crush it over the steaming steak and onions as they cook.
I can confidently say that this was the best sandwich I have eaten in Kosovo. And believe me, at 3.9 euros it’s a deal — for a similar or equivalent price I have eaten my fair share of dry sandwiches that taste like toasted desert sand. While in other places one must salvage the papery texture of the sandwiches with mass-produced ketchup and mayo, at Le Sandwich, you will not find bottles of these condiments — adding anything else to these works of art would be a blasphemy.
Le Sandwich also offers soups. They are made from scratch and the are available until supplies last. There is a different selection every day such as creamy mushroom, chicken and wild rice, and vegetable puree.
I got to try the roasted tomato soup and I could taste slight smokiness and possibly a hint of cayenne pepper in each spoon of creamy bright red soup. It is served with shaved parmigiano cheese, a pinch of pepper, and chopped parsley on top. Once I learned the secret of how the soup was made I could better discern all the complex tastes. It being an open kitchen you might chance upon Gjokaj as he is arranging tomatoes and garlic on a sheet pan, sprinkling them with copious amounts of olive oil and spices, before roasting them to a crisp.
There are many other sandwich options: Le Chicken comes with chicken breast breaded with herbs, Edamer cheese, arugula, pickled cherry peppers for spiciness, and olive tapenade to cool it down a bit. Le Vegetariane comes with fresh mozzarella cheese, olive tapenade, arugula, tomatoes, and avocado.
The decor of Le Sandwich brings to mind the hip little places of Brooklyn and the Lower East Side. Gjokaj designed and built it all by himself. It took him about three months. The table tops are covered with vintage tiles produced in Kosovo in the 1960s and the herb garden is a hands reach from where you are eating. You can literally stretch your hand to pick up some extra rosemary to add to your soup or sandwich.
I found Le Sandwich amazingly cheap for its quality and taste. With most of the Sandwitches priced at around 2.5 euros — Le Steak is the most expensive menu item at 3.9 euros — this is the best place in town to get a gourmet sandwich. It is definitely worth the mini hike off the trodden path (for Prishtina’s standards) and walking an additional five or ten minutes from the city center. It is a perfect place for a hip lunch date, to meet friends over some creamy mushroom soup, or grab a bite with one of your business associates. Since it has limited seating, you can also phone them and order for a pickup.
04 January 2018 - 11:03
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