A fresh take on sandwiches at Toscana Café

Toscana Café, a new Italian eatery a block east of Union Station, is the Capitol Hill staffer’s answer to Oscar Mayer or fast-casual lunch fatigue. Its sandwiches come on homemade ciabatta rolls and feature toppings that no brown-bagger or Così employee has in his arsenal: raisin mustard, roasted eggplant and broccoli rabe, to name a few.

Toscana sits at the corner of 2nd and F streets NE (its address is 601 2nd St. NE), a straight shot from the Hart Senate Office Building and a 10-minute walk from the House side of the Capitol. It’s worlds away, though, from the tired midday meal options surrounding the Capitol.

Upon entering the plain-looking building, guests immediately see a chalkboard menu that describes Toscana’s 14 ciabatta-sandwich options. While an Italian theme runs throughout many of the choices, sandwiches like the roast beef-anchored Senatore and the lamb-stuffed Greco draw on other worldly cuisines.

Speaking of the Greco, it might be the menu’s standout. The soft yet chewy ciabatta holds a generous hunk of sliced marinated lamb, which sits on top of a thin and juicy layer of grilled eggplant. The yogurt and cumin dressing play off each other for a noticeable tang that ties all the ingredients together.

Another unique offering, the Veneziano sandwich, pairs house-smoked turkey with lettuce, tomato and raisin mustard. The meat is tender, more than most sandwich turkey, and the subtle sweetness of the raisins nicely offsets the mustard’s strong vinegar taste.

The sandwiches overshadow the rest of the lunch menu, but Toscana also offers pizza by the slice — with nice, sharp cheese and flaky crust — and heaping salads with roasted vegetables. Fresh-squeezed lemonade and bottomless iced tea top the beverage options.

Sandwiches range from $8 to $9 but are hearty, standalone meals, and the pizza is between $3 and $3.50 per slice. The counter service moves quickly, leaving customers time to enjoy their meals in the small dining room upstairs or outside on the spacious patio.

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