Since word got out that Ipanema’s owner, Kendra Feather, was opening another restaurant, the most common question I heard has been, “what kind of food will they serve?” Sometimes a smirk is added to imply, “Not another vegetarian place!” (a little dig at my pesky vegetarianism – and no, Garnett’s is not even close to vegetarian – now let’s move on)
The answer: Garnett’s will serve sandwiches, primarily, a fact partially dictated by the limited kitchen space and code requirements at the Fan location of Meadow and Park. (scroll down to see the menu, if you wanna skip my pontification – and pay a visit, cuz GARNETT’S IS OPEN NOW)
The space constraints haven’t limited Kendra’s creativity, however. As the little corner spot is brimming with personal touches and thoughtful design. And, I’m not just saying that because my wife did the logo and menu. The level of care is evident down to the details of the plates and chairs and… most importantly, the menu options.
A sandwich shop may not bring haut cuisine to mind, but that’s not the aim of Garnett’s obviously intentional simplicity. A quick survey of the menu reminds me of wichCraft, Tom Coliccio’s NYC sandwich shop franchise. Garnett’s choices are much more down-home and comforting than the stylish wichCraft, but the common thread is the art of the sandwich. What serves as an old standby snack for some is made that much more noteworthy with the right flavor combinations and choices of bread.
You don’t have to look further for an illustration of this than Ipanema’s reliable slate of sammies that has kept Grace Street well nourished for over a decade. Maybe I’m a cheapskate, but I rarely strayed from the sandwiches on Ipanema’s impressive menu. In 1998, it wasn’t obvious to me that Ipanema’s hummus sandwich and sweet potato fries (aka: the happy meal) was perfection on a plate, but I kept ordering it, and it never left the menu. That’s a pretty thoroughly tested product, right? I think Garnett’s will be defined by a similar discernment process: the steadily earned loyalty of it’s community of customers.
Hey! Who doesn’t love to read a new restaurant’s menu? (straight off of Darling Octopus’ Mac desktop) So, whet your appetite here and pay a visit to Meadow and Park.
