CARTE415
In the Atrium at 101 2nd St, at Mission; SOMA
When designing a populist offering, there's a tendency to skimp on quality: for proof, look down at your toes, because they're poking out of your Starburys. Doing the masses right, CARTE415.
From a guy who's exec chef'd at both Chez TJ and Michael Mina's Stonehill Tavern (in SoCal), 415's an unassuming SOMA food cart that slings simple-yet-imaginative sandwiches n' more composed of fine-dining-quality, market-fresh ingredients -- all under the banner of "everyone should have access to high quality food", which translates to it all going for an everymanish sub-ten greenbacks. While the menu'll always be happily in flux, 415's kickin' off with hearty sandos like the bacon-jam BLT w/ mozzarella burrata on ficelle bread, the vandouvan spiced roasted lamb w/ chicories & yogurt dressing on a sweet baguette, and the Bahn Mi-esque Sonoma chicken terrine (also on a baguette) w/ jalapenos & pickled veggies -- making it the only thing Sonoma has in common with Saigon, besides that one lonely hooker. If you're not quite famished but still craving flavor, opt for the smaller cava-cured salmon sando on ficelle w/ fennel/red onion/dill, or a vegetable crudite salad w/ creme fraiche & bagna cauda (a fondue-type sauce), or munch on homemade snacks like bbq chips, granola, or a grain-/fruit-/nut-loaded 415 energy bar, for when you're maxed out on Hyphy Juice, and we've all been there.
To wash it all it down there's organic sodas, mint-spiked ice teas, and Meyer lemonade. Later on this year, 415'll add more carts around the city, and also begin delivering the goodness -- which should be useful, since you're not going anywhere in those shoes.
