Al’s — South Street Cafe

Al’s South Street Cafe is at the corner of South and Essex streets, with an Essex Street address that can be confusing the first time you look it up. The shop builds hot and cold sandwiches on French baguettes baked daily, with wraps, salads and soups available alongside them.

Start with the South Street Cafe Special if you like prosciutto: it comes with fresh mozzarella, basil, plum tomatoes, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The branch’s namesake chicken sandwich adds portobello mushrooms and roasted plum tomatoes. There are also grilled vegetable and eggplant Parmesan options. A bag lunch combines a sandwich, chips and a drink, which keeps the ordering simple when you’re bringing lunch back to work.