The Sandwich: The Touchdown

Where: Little Pearl, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE

Price: $12

Stuffings: Corned beef, provolone cheese, Thousand Island dressing, gem lettuce

Bread: House-made white sandwich roll

Thickness: 3 inches

Pros: The combination of Thousand Island dressing, melted cheese, and corned beef is reminiscent of a Reuben, but a whole lot lighter and with less cabbage. Find it at the new cafe and wine bar from Rose’s Luxury and Pineapple & Pearls Chef Aaron Silverman. Gem lettuce replaces sauerkraut, giving the sandwich some freshness and making room for the tangy Thousand Island dressing, which subtly flirts with the salty meat.

Cons: Despite being toasted, the roll gets a little soggy if the sandwich sits for too long. Resist the urge to get your sandwich packed in one of Little Pearl’s oh-so-chic to-go boxes and enjoy your lunch on site.

Sloppiness level (1 to 5): 3. Thousand Island dressing is applied plentifully and will leak from this sandwich. The soft roll also allows ingredients to spill out, so prepare to rebuild your sandwich as you eat it.

Overall score (1 to 5): 4. The fillings taste great and hit sweetness, saltiness, and tartness in equal measure. Were it a little more structurally sound, it would receive full marks, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying Silverman’s food at affordable prices.