Order up! – Don’t miss these great local sandwiches

Perfect for family picnics, summer campers’ backpacks and lazy road trips, the sandwich is the official food of summer. Hunting down interesting renditions is one of my favorite pastimes. There are a lot of noteworthy sandwiches in Baton Rouge—from Anthony’s Italian Deli’s famed muffoletto to The Chimes’ oyster po-boy. Here are three under-the-radar standouts that are worth trying.

Saigon Hong Kong Seafood Market’s (Map it!) cheap and tasty bánh mě is a sultry sub sandwich that features pork prepared four ways, pickled, cured, roasted and as pâté, stuffed inside a dense, French bread-like roll. The sandwich, which has roots in French Colonial Vietnam, is simultaneously earthy and tangy, especially when set off by cilantro and an assortment of pickled vegetables. At Saigon Hong Kong Seafood, the sandwich includes punchy Jicama, carrot, cucumber and Anaheim chilis. The Asian grocer’s bánh mě is sold in to-go bags for about $5 and includes herbs and veggies packaged separately to avoid sogginess. Assemble when ready, and enjoy.

A former downtown fish market, Beauregard Gallery and Café (Map it!) is a charming place to have lunch. Its walls are decked in colorful local art, and the sandwiches, soups and salads are made with enthusiasm and care. My favorite menu item here is the riverboat roast beef sandwich not only because it’s packed with flavor, but because every element is complementary. The thick white sandwich bread is the right size and is toasted to the right degree. The roast beef is the right texture. It’s got the right amount of lettuce, tomato and cheese, and the chipotle mayo has a nice amount of kick. It’s not a huge sandwich, another reason I like it. It’s the kind of well-portioned, mouthwatering lunch you’d make at home.

The area around Highland Road and West State Street has become dominated by chain eateries over the last few years—a vote of confidence for the neighborhood, but a challenge for local treasures. Inga’s Subs and Salads (Map it! 254 W. Chimes and 1750 Brightside Dr.) is an authentic hole in the wall on Chimes Street (it was once located in the strip mall that predated CVS). Inga’s #11, “the Best,” is hard to beat. Made with ham, capicola, salami and pepperoni cheese, the sandwich is dressed with lettuce, tomato, oregano, oil and vinegar and pressed thin if you like. You should. There’s something about the just-crisp bread melding with crunchy lettuce, gooey cheese and tangy oil and vinegar.