320 Market Cafe

713 South Chester Road
Swarthmore, PA 19081
(610) 328-7211
Website

This is a great little HEALTHY spot in Delaware County that offers made to order sandwiches, as well as gourmet packaged goods. They actually have two stores: one in Media, one in Swarthmore.

The selection of fresh produce is great, and perfect for a quick stop on your way home (if you worked out this way). In a land of hoagies and cheesesteaks, 320 Market offers something a bit more unique, and a bit more health-oriented.

I went with the turkey and cheese "Caldo," a combination that included homemade turkey, lettuce, tomato, spicy balsamic roasted vegetables, sharp provolone, local goat cheese and extra virgin olive oil on a baguette. This was a more thoughtful approach to the type of pre-made sandwiches offered at some of the bigger health-oriented stores.

 

I have to be honest, I was not expecting there to be so many vegetables on this thing. It was like a roasted veggie salad on top of my turkey sandwich. However, I was looking for an alternative to my usual hoagie or cheesesteak binge when I am in the area, and this fit the bill quite nicely. It probably helped that the veggies were roasted with balsamic vinegar and red pepper flakes. This gave them a surprising amount of heat and a nice tang, which kicked the flavor of the sandwich up. Extra tang was provided by the combination of local goat cheese and the pungent bite of sharp provolone. This is a pretty great variation on the usual turkey sandwich, all held together with crusty seeded bread.

The turkey and fontinella panini was another winner. Boasting avocado, bacon, lettuce and tomato, this grilled sandwich was an interesting take on the classic panini. Mostly notably, the crustless bread was something you don't see on every panini. The fresh, ripe tomato and perfectly ripe avocado were the biggest surprises. It's early in the season, and most places just throw down whatever is in the cooler. These must have been kept in the rotation until they were just ripe. Well played.

The cumin chicken wrap was less of a star. Lacking the "pop" of the other two items, this one touted grilled chicken, cumin black bean spread, lettuce, tomato, and avocado. Not bad, just more ordinary.

In the land of the Italian delis, 320 Market Cafe puts out some interesting and fresh combinations. Certainly a solid lunch spot, and given the dearth of healthy options, coupled with the 'under $10 price-point' selections in this area, it is worth seeking out.