Restaurant Information:

Hours

Mon 6am-6pm Tue-Sat 6am-8pm Sun 7am-6pm

Creative sandwiches, savory soups and handcrafted desserts help this neighborhood favorite achieve the promise of its name.

The Scene
Its aromatic artisanal breads have lined the shelves of high-end local grocers for years, and now Essential has expanded its primary bakery to include a warmly charming cafe and lunch counter. Exposed-brick walls, high beamed ceilings and broad, sunny windows contribute to the casual, airy atmosphere. Sit at the knotty-pine lunch counters or soak up the sun on the front patio.

The Food
The seasonally driven menu focuses on European sandwiches with ingenious twists: Kalamata olive bread is slathered with cool feta-cucumber spread and freshly snipped oregano leaves, while a sophisticated white cheddar and Camembert grilled cheese is dressed up with pan-roasted Granny Smith apples, caramelized onions and crisp watercress. The Spanish-style hearth oven turns out robust slices of pizza bianca, a house specialty occasionally augmented with shards of prosciutto. Pastries and desserts are beautifully executed: Croissants burst with fresh raspberries, pears and apricots; decadent chocolate mousse is sweetly amplified with a buttery layer of creme brulee.