Lunch at Pom Pom's

By Paul Hiebing
Orlando CityBeat

September 26 2006

The Down Low: When you go to a sandwich shop and you can't keep a conversation because every other word is "yum," you know you've found some place special. Case in point: Pom Pom's Teahouse and Sandwicheria, located at 67 N. Bumby Avenue in Orlando. Be sure to pack an extra stomach, as you'll not want to miss out on all the fantastic options.

The Digs: Pom Pom's is a small sandwich joint with Asian sensibilities (both food and decor), located in the Bumby Plaza strip mall. They manage to pack in plenty of tables and seats, plus there's a rotating collection of art. But never mind all the fancy schmancy decoration: on to the food.

The Dish: Sandwiches are the main offering, each available on white, pumpernickel, or rye, and none of them lacking in adventure. I made a couple trips to Pom Pom's recently, and guests and I tried the turkey sandwich with ginger cranberry chutney, onion, and cream and gruyere cheese; the massive triple-decker with turkey, ham, roast beef, southern slaw, and muenster; the yellow curry chicken salad sandwich with toasted almonds, red apple, and onions; the Asian BBQ, which is pulled pork with scallions, hoisin sauce, and Asian slaw; the kiwi tea-infused crème brulee, and a whole lot of tea. I didn't eat much the following few days.

The turkey/cranberry/cheese sandwich is probably my favorite, as the sweet cranberry really sets off the creamy mildness of the cheeses, making a sandwich that is delicious to eat from start to finish. Next would be the triple-decker, which with its many layers is like two sandwiches in one (for the same price!). This selection, along with the fantastic Asian BBQ sandwich, proves that adding slaw to anything is probably a good move. The yellow curry chicken, while a fan favorite, was a little too dry for me, but still full of flavor, and the crunchy apple and nuts were pleasant little surprises. The kiwi crème brulee was sweet and tasty, but perhaps a little too weird for my palette.

The Damage: Most sandwiches are $6.95, but the best deal is the additional $1.50 for a combo, which gives you a house tea and a side (pasta salad, noodles with peanut sauce, potato salad, and two slaws), making a full lunch for two around $18.00.

The Deduction: Pom Pom's has one of the tastiest lunch menus in town, and for a price that'll leave your wallet as full as your belly.

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