Breadsoda is an establishment with a split personality. By day it looks and sounds like a hipster coffee shop, with rich amber walls, dim dangling lantern lights, free WiFi and soulful indie music emanating from the speakers. But every day at 4 p.m., Breadsoda’s happy hour begins and it transforms into a modern take on the bar in Cheers, a friendly neighborhood establishment complete with a jukebox, shuffleboard, pool tables, and even a Wii.
But neither its daytime nor its nighttime atmosphere showcases Breadsoda’s best kept secret-the sandwiches.
Despite their conventional names, Breadsoda’s sandwiches are full of flavorful twists. Whether it is the addition of balsamic vinaigrette and white truffle oil to the typical mozzarella, basil and tomato sandwich, or making a chicken salad sandwich “Morrocan” with house-made Khalid’s harissa (a paste made from chili peppers and garlic), Breadsoda transforms its sandwiches into culinary creations.
In the egg salad sandwich, chives and capers add a hint of sour relish, counterbalanced by fresh field greens and tomatoes. The biggest issue with the egg salad sandwich is one of mere semantics: instead of actual egg salad, halves of deviled eggs were used, which made for more difficult eating, but a less mayonnaise-soaked concoction.
The turkey sandwich, meanwhile, was a surprising revelation. The chipotle mayonnaise avoided the typical mistakes of being too thick and concentrated, coating the ingredients with oil, or being too liquid and soaking up the bread. Instead, it almost had the consistency of a salad dressing, and was a light and zesty delight. Combined with the pepper jack cheese, typical turkey became enticingly spicy and impossible to resist.
One of Breadsoda’s biggest strengths is its bread. Thick enough so that no amount of any type of dressing will turn sandwiches soggy, yet still soft enough to make for easy eating. A highlight is the olive bread with sun-dried tomatoes baked into it, a sweet complement to the egg salad.
In the side dishes, the light mayonnaise worked its magic again, this time in a spiceless version, giving the potato salad and cole slaw’s fresh and crunchy ingredients a tangy bite. Avoid the pasta salad, though; the liberal use of red and green peppers can’t conceal the grainy texture, due to the overuse of spices and the lack of oil.
While the diverse array of drinks, games, and specials (Taco and Ping Pong Tuesday anyone?) makes Breadsoda an ideal after hours hangout for young Washingtonians, the food should not be overlooked. In the empty early afternoon hours, Breadsoda can become the sandwich place where everyone knows your name.
Breadsoda is located at 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW. It is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. For take out orders call 202-333-7445.
