On a warm, sunny autumn afternoon this weekend, I made my way through downtown Santa Barbara towards my long-awaited destination. I had heard stories from some friends that around this area exists a sandwich shop by the name of Panino, serving up delicious sandwiches that rival any others you may have ever tried.

Panino is located in a charming Victorian house and offers plenty of outdoor seating.

Upon reaching the intersection at which Panino was located, I was surprised to see a free-standing bungalow, rather than a shop squished between other larger businesses. Residing in a white Victorian house adorned with columns and planters, simply the building in which Panino is located already made me see why this spot is special to visitors.

Upon entering, the cozy, tightly spaced interior stuck a contrast to the building’s clean, minimal exterior aesthetic. Containing just a fridge featuring drinks, a couple tables and chairs, a small stand offering water and the ordering counter, this space truly contains just the necessary components without overwhelming decoration, giving a feeling of simplicity without any clutter.

Panino’s menu, on the other other hand, is quite populated with options. The menu is split into four categories:regular sandwiches, vegetarian sandwiches, soups and salads, allowing customers to mix and match with half-and-half combos or get full versions of each dish. Diners can customize their sandwiches with freshly-made bread options: sourdough, focaccia, whole wheat and baguette. 

It was very difficult to finally land on just one option during my visit, but I decided to order the roast chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil and provolone. Other menu highlights include the curried chicken salad sandwich, the vegetarian English stilton with bartlett pear sandwich and the genoa salami, kalamata olive tapenade with roasted red peppers & goat cheese sandwich.

Roast chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil and provolone on whole wheat.

Taking a seat in the sun at one of the outdoor tables, I settled in and waited for my order. Very quickly, my sandwich was brought out on a large ceramic plate. The portion was the first aspect of my satisfaction with my meal. The overall size of the bread was perfectly encompassing of all the fillings, without letting anything fall out — a true feat of construction for me! The chicken was not dry, as I am often afraid to expect, the sun-dried tomatoes were incredibly flavorful and juicy and the cheese rounded it out with a salty smoothness. But what impressed me the most was the honey mustard and mayo combination. For a moment, I was certain that I was eating pure honey in my sandwich, its sweetness balancing wonderfully with the salty, savory flavors of the other fillings. Overall, this truly was a quality sandwich, and I was just left wishing I had the stomach space to order another.

After such a pleasant and relaxing experience, I am sure to come back and try all of their other options. I am also very excited to enjoy a to-go Panino sandwich on a weekend hike, looking over the landscapes of Santa Barbara. So next time when you’re looking for a no-fuss, tasty meal, visit Panino and try one of their many incredible sandwich creations.

A version of this article appeared on p. 12 of the Nov. 14, 2024 edition of the Daily Nexus.