Credit: Photo by John Anderson

Spicy Pickle

404 W. 26th, 473-8441
Daily, 11am-9pm
www.spicypickle.com

Spicy Pickle is a chain involved in 16 states, featuring hot focaccia panini, subs, thin-crust 11-inch pizzas, salads, and soups, with veggie options in each category, using high quality meats, cheeses, toppings, and spreads on fresh Italian breads. You order at the counter and, with all but the pizzas, are encouraged to customize your desired dish. Every sandwich gets a crisp, zesty, spicy pickle with a kick.

Salads are great if slightly overdressed; our spinach ($3.45/6.45) with apples, walnuts, blue cheese, and cider vinaigrette was crisp and flavorful. As for the panini, we tried the delicious Gobbler ($6.95, turkey, artichoke hearts, feta, and sun-dried tomato mayo) and the Bronx ($6.95, a damn good Reuben). Our Englishman sub ($6.95, roast beef, horseradish coleslaw, cheddar, and thousand island dressing) was exceptional.

This article appears in June 6 • 2008.

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Mick Vann is a retired Austin chef who is a food writer and restaurant critic, cookbook author, restaurant consultant, and recipe developer. He moonlights as a University of Texas horticulturist with a propensity for ethnic eats and international food, particularly of the Asian persuasion, but he also knows his way around a plate of soul food or barbecue.