Midtown Lunch

This week,  Luncher John is trying Capriccio’s sandwiches.

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway runs about a mile long and was designed to be Philadelphia’s own version of the Champs-Élysées. Anyone who has ever been to Paris can confirm the Parkway is not quite like the original. For one, the Champs-Élysées is lined with cafés, restaurants, and shops. Meanwhile, our Parkway features a stretch of museums and apartment buildings but is largely bereft of restaurants and food establishments.

One notable exception is the Capriccio at Café Cret, which opened up on the island plot bordered by 16th Street, Cherry Street, and the Parkway. Since 2008, Capriccio has infused a much needed lunch alternative on the Parkway to the Subway and T.G.I. Fridays, which were among the few other options, a couple of blocks away. It turns out that Capriccio offers some pretty sensible breakfast and lunch offerings.

Just like any good modern café, Capriccio serves up different coffee blends each day as well as iced drinks and tea. For breakfast, you can pick up bagels, muffins, and croissants.

For lunch, Capriccio has ten different sandwich options. Though all are premade, they can be heated up when you order them. On my first visit, I selected the fresh mozzarella with tomato spring mix and pesto ($7.95). Served on focaccia, the sandwich bread had good flavor, and the cheese was real tasty. At the same time, the sandwich was a little small for the price.

Hoping to find more substance on a meat sandwich, I ordered up the Cubano Clasico, which featured roast turkey, roast pork, sharp cheddar, pickles, spring mix, and whole grain mustard on a French baguette ($7.95). This sandwich was pretty solid. The cheese was melted well on the Panini press, and there was a nice mix of ice mix of turkey and pork. The sandwich certainly could have been a little bigger, but the taste made up for it.

Another bonus of Capriccio: dessert. There’s ice cream as well as Hope’s Cookies ($1.00), which are among my favorite cookies around and only available at a couple of places in Center City (the Pennsylvania General Store at Reading Terminal Market is the only other place that I know of).

On a nice day in the spring and summer, Capriccio definitely offers that French café feel. While the sandwiches are not the biggest for the price you pay, you’re essentially paying for the taste, location and ambience of enjoying a meal and a great view on the Parkway.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• Great location and views
• Good selection of vegetarian and meat sandwiches
• Hope’s Cookies

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

• The sandwiches are premade and not large considering the price

Capriccio at Café Cret, 110 North 16th Street, 215-735-9797