There’s nothing in the world like waiting in huge, confusing lines to purchase overpriced soup and sandwiches. There’s nothing like opening up an overpriced sandwich shop and taking advantage of a captive audience with little to no choice outside of their corporate cafeteria or packed, sit-down joint. It’s like charging $47 for a large popcorn at the movies or $12 for a hot dog at a Yankees game–where else are you gonna go to get the stuff? So you end up paying $8 for a sandwich with enough meat to feed an eighteen-month baby, bread that you couldn’t slice with a hacksaw, and one piece of arugula that apparently makes the whole thing worth it. Despite the apparent lack of quantity and quality, desperate midtowners stand slack-jawed waiting for their fill of yellow squash soup, fancy lettuce salads, and French bread encrusted chicken sandwiches. We don’t necessarily recommend patronizing Devon & Blakely, but if you’re in the neighborhood, you’ll realize that your limited options may lead you down that very crowded road. [MF]
250 Park Avenue
212/661-0101