The Anatomy of the Perfect Lunch Spot: the Square Onion

When I worked as the public relations intern for a company in Jacksonville, Fla. I always bitched lamented there wasn’t a better selection of perfect lunch spots nearby. The perfect lunch spot has three components: it’s fast, it’s good and it’s close to your office. Easy enough, right?

Most employees have between 30 minutes and an hour for lunch, so wherever you’re headed has to be close. The ideal lunch spot is within walking distance or is reachable by car within 5-7 minutes; otherwise you’re wasting your freedom time in transit. Bringing your lunch doesn’t count. You never left your desk, which makes you a loser.

Lunchtime is one of the best parts of the day! Wherever you’re headed to satiate your midday hunger should be delicious. A good lunch spot serves good food and has a menu that you won’t get tired of too quickly.

What’s the point in going to a good place that’s close to your office if the service is always slow? Exactly. Your boss will only accept the “The service took forever!” excuse so many times. Besides, rushing through your meal is not good for you and counterintuitive to going out to lunch in the first place.

Luckily, I don’t need to look much farther than the Square Onion in I’On for a perfect lunch spot—it’s fast, it’s close and it’s tasty.

My first time to this delectable and quaint lunch spot was fantastic. My friend, Mark, told me to order the Goose, a warm roast beef sandwich with melted mozzarella, fresh basil and tomatoes with a balsamic drizzle atop rosemary foccacia. The sandwich arrived within 5 minutes.

So often foccacia can be a heavy bread choice, but this wasn’t. It was sturdy enough to handle the heft of the lean roast beef and light enough that I didn’t return to work feeling like I’d consumed too much. The roast beef was, well, beefy—a good thing. The melted fresh mozzarella, basil and tomatoes ended each bite with a flavorful summertime zing that balanced what could have been an otherwise heavy sandwich. Delicious!

I ate the edamame salad in two seconds. With every bite I wondered, “I wonder if they’ll give me the recipe for this?”

In short, I plan on going back. You can follow the Square Onion on Twitter @SquareOnion

Do you know of any great local lunch spots?

The Best Sandwich in Charleston

Some of the best places to eat in Charleston, S.C. don’t have tables or chairs. Case in point: Street Hero, a food vendor that sells Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches and tacos downtown every Saturday at the Farmers’ Market in Marion Square from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Street Hero serves up sandwiches and tacos so good they will change your mind about what ‘street meat’ means.

I first tasted Street Hero’s fantastic fixings a few weekends ago with an out of town guest and I have been dreaming about their food ever since. I should have known that a line so long was a very good sign.

“I’m torn,” I said, “between the ginger lemongrass chicken banh mi and the traditional Vietnamese pork and pâté banh mi.”

“Well, I’d go with the ham and pâté,” said one of the owners. (Regrettably, I cannot remember his name.)

“Sold!” I said. My friend ordered the lemongrass chicken.

We stood to the side of Street Hero’s yellow tent. Plates of tacos and French baguettes brimming with Vietnamese fare flew into hungry hands rapidly. We watched as careful hands assembled each sandwich attentively and piled on refreshing pickled carrot-cucumber salad and fried shallots.

After a liberal squirt or two of sriracha, I bit into my monstrous baguette. My mouth waters, even now, out of both respect and jealousy for the memory of that first bite. Creamy-earthy pâté danced with the refreshing crunch of a pickled carrot-cucumber salad. The Vietnamese ham (not sweet like most American deli ham—much more subtle yet still distinctly porky protein) and the salty crispy fried shallots hit it all off. I can’t do the sandwich justice; you just have to taste it for yourself. It will be the best $8 you ever spend.

There’s something to be said for street food. Without the use of refrigerators your ingredients have to be fresh and they have to be the best; especially when you’re working in 85ºF heat! There are no fancy sauces or foams or complex preparations for street food to hide behind. If it’s good, you’ll know; there will be a line.

You can follow Street Hero on Twitter at @CharStreetHero

Mustard Seed: An Epic Sandwich

With a spice as it's namesake, it comes as no surprise that Mustard Seed is a restaurant dedicated to flavorful food. Located at 1036 Chuck Dawley Blvd. in Mt. Pleasant, this eatery is worth any wait and the limited parking.

One bite of Mustard Seed’s focaccia and I knew we were in good hands. I am surprised I had room left for the amazing sandwich I ordered: a Fried Green Tomato and Grilled Salmon BLT.

In college, I used to make a salmon BLT all the time. Mustard Seed’s version far outranks my creation. Crispy salty bacon, perfectly pan fried acidic green tomatoes, grilled salmon and pesto mayonnaise all atop bread that somehow never got soggy. Can you blame me for eating every single bite?

Everyone else at the table loved their meals. Mustard Seed has something for everyone. As a foodie with lots quirky friends (vegans, vegetarians and gluten-intolerants) it’s great to have a place where everyone can find something flavorful. In summation, do not hesitate to try Mustard Seed. I highly doubt you'll regret your visit.