It Brings All the Boys to the Yard: The Milk Bar

One of the neighborhood joints I’ve been meaning to sink my teeth into for a quick bite is The Milk Bar on Prytania. I’d heard nothing but good things about their sandwiches, not to mention the whispers of the wonders of their milkshakes.

[Cue awful outdated pop-joke about milkshakes]

The Milk Bar keep a cute, quirky little space, with Pepto-Bismol pink walls, kitschy coffee signs reminding you that you can sleep when you’re dead, and a bulletin board adorned with customers’ cow drawings on napkins. Service was quick and friendly.

It took me a couple of moments to come to a final sandwich decision, but I inevitably went with the Wolf Me Down. If 1) they’re putting roast lamb and hummus--along with spinach, mozzarella, tomato, and red onion--on ciabatta and 2) naming it that, then I’m sold.

In an attempt to steer myself away from afternoon hibernation, I had to make the heartbreaking call to skip the milkshake this visit. Even though I sat with my back to the blackboard listing the extensive, delectable milkshake options, I could hear it calling me the entire time I was waiting for my sandwich. Which, thankfully, was not long, because I would have given in sooner rather than later.

Fear not though, milkshakes, for I will return for you.

Since it was another beautiful day outside, I ate at one of the sidewalk tables in a dapple of sunlight. It was a good call, even though I panicked a little when a passing meter cop jokingly tried to confiscate half of my sandwich. Needless to say, he did not succeed.

The sandwich itself was fantastic. In deference to its name (and my hunger), I consumed both halves instead of the one I’d originally intended. The lamb was tender, and the smoky spices of the  hummus added just the right zap of flavor. The ciabatta was so fresh and of such the perfect consistency that attempting leftovers would have been a crime anyway.

                                        

And they gave me a freaking Chupa-Chup lollipop in the bag with the sandwich. It was no milkshake, but I’m pretty sure it was strawberries and cream, which is fantastic. Definitely made the walk home a little sweeter.

At $8.50, the sandwich was a bit pricier than I had expected, but that’s the average range for a Nice Sandwich here, and I definitely won’t protest if I’m getting lamb on it. Overall, definitely a venue worth revisiting to check out other menu options—I hear their salads are quite worthwhile too. Oh, and no one is forgetting the milkshakes.