Another spot closed during my first visit to Seattle was Paseo; their legendary sandwiches attracting such large crowds that the team constructed a second location which, according to the man behind me in a line of five that had already formed before the restaurant unlocked its doors, had done little to stem the hour long waits I’d arrived fifteen minutes earlier to avoid.
Locally owned and operated but focused on Carribean themed sandwiches from three thousand miles away there is little to be said about Paseo that has not already been said and although the space is small while service is hurried everything in the space, from the line to the servers to the décor, works in controlled chaos…a theme that carries right over to the sandwiches which seem unnecessarily complicated but, at least in my limited experience with the “Caribbean Roast,” are actually harmonious in execution with a crispy baguette more than adequately holding up to supple marinaded pork shoulder, pickled jalapenos, crisp lettuce, sweet caramelized onions, and a slathering of cilantro tinged garlic aioli.
More than enough to share and on par with other legendary sandwiches across the United States including Roli Roti, Paesano’s, Hodad’s, Central Grocery, and Seattle’s own Salumi I cannot say that I’d wait a full hour for this sandwich (or any…though this is debatable for Roli or Paesano’s) I can say I’d get up and get in line early on any future visit to Seattle; ideally with more people in order to more widely sample the menu.