Roly Poly Rolled Sandwiches
Fri., April 2, 1999
The name sounds like a lunch place for kids, and little tykes would no doubt find the restaurant's rolled sandwiches tons of fun. However, the cheery new Roly Poly restaurant on 38th Street just off MoPac draws a crowd of mostly businessfolk and area hospital staff eager to partake of a midday meal that is one part sandwich, one part wrap. Take, for instance, the franchise's Basil Cashew Chicken ($5.75), a plump log of white meat chicken salad, fresh basil leaves, cashews, avocado, leaf lettuce, tomato, and alfalfa sprouts, seasoned with spicy Thai sauce. Something about the cylindrical shape, and of course the Thai condiment, makes the mix much more fun to eat than the average chicken salad sandwich. Then there's the new take on the Spinach Salad ($5).
At Roly Poly, the usual spinach, sliced mushrooms, and Swiss cheese are rolled up with sun-dried tomatoes and avocado slices, and doused with a rich honey mustard dressing. Again, much more fun than spearing spinach out of a bowl. In the general seafood sandwich category -- Roly Poly's extensive menu features eight distinct sandwich categories: Veggie & Cheese, Turkey & Smoked Turkey, Combinations, Chicken, Seafood, Some Like It Hot, Eat Your Veggies, and a miscellaneous Last, But Not Least section -- Smoked Salmon ($6.75) snuggles up with cream cheese, capers, cucumber, onion, lettuce, tomato, and sprouts under a cover of fresh dill dressing. The roll tastes like dressed down cocktail food and offers a nice change of pace. Perhaps the most original roll Roly Poly advertises is the Nut & Honey ($5). It includes cream cheese studded with raisins, sunflower seeds, and cashews, then layered with lettuce, spinach, carrot, avocado, sprouts, and tomato. I haven't tasted it yet, but the crunchy, healthy combination has piqued my interest for sure.
To add variety, the franchise grills some of its selections, and a tasty, filling Hickory Cristo ($5.75) pairs smoked turkey breast with melted brie and Swiss cheeses, spinach, mushrooms, and tomato, and a side of fiesty fresh dill horseradish sauce. There are at least seven other grilled sandwich possibilities in addition to the creations in the "Some Like It Hot" category. As an encore, your sweet tooth will appreciate the "Danish"-styled dessert "rolys" that come toasted and dusted with powdered sugar, among them an apple strudel, peach granola, chocolate cheesecake, and strawberry-cream cheese version. -- Rebecca Chastenet de Géry
