Kate NG Sommers / Heavy Table

Most sandwich shops aren’t anything special; they fill you up without draining the wallet. Of course, some try to outshine the competition by going “gourmet” — fancy meats, fancy cheeses, fancy veggies, and fancy condiments served on fancy bread (all for a fancy price). Others attempt to rise above through shock and awe: pounds of meat piled between super-sized slices of bread (think Carnegie Deli). It’s rare to find a place that distinguishes itself through restraint and superb ingredients — so praise be for Nuff Sandwiches in Northeast Minneapolis.

Kate NG Sommers / Heavy Table

Take Nuff’s Whole Roasted Beef Sirloin ($5.50 for a half, $9.50 for a whole). The main features are thin, luscious slices of meat and a lightly toasted rustic roll. Cheddar, caramelized onions, and horseradish aioli shine in supporting roles; they complement and highlight the beef without overshadowing it. This relatively simple, extraordinarily tasty sandwich sets a high bar.

Kate NG Sommers / Heavy Table

Two other sandwiches fall just short of the standard set by the Sirloin sub. The Smoked Pulled Pork ($5 for a half, $8 for a whole) is a definite winner — ample, moist meat, cheddar, tangy barbecue sauce, and slaw on a French roll. The cabbage salad adds freshness and texture, but there’s not enough of it to balance the sandwich’s intense richness. Another creation (above) stars sublime slices of Virginia ham, cheddar, and honey Dijon on a toasted multigrain roll ($4.50 for a half, $8.50 for a whole). Where the kitchen is skimpy with the slaw on the Pulled Pork sub, it is way too generous with the Dijon on the Ham sandwich. With the mustard stealing the show, a potentially outstanding sandwich is merely really good.

Along with the three subs, we tried two of Nuff’s pressed sandwiches. The turkey, bacon, cheddar, provolone, and tomato concoction ($7.60, top) is tasty, but the Southwest sauce is a touch too sweet and the tomato slices don’t add anything except slippery texture. The Three Cheese Panini ($6) is less appetizing; the combination of warm pesto with melted provolone, cheddar, and jack cheeses give this decent-tasting sandwich an unpleasant oiliness, taking the usual buttery exterior of a grilled cheese and dumping it all inside.

Kate NG Sommers / Heavy Table

Although a couple of Nuff’s sandwiches miss the mark, several others are crave-inducing (and the Whole Sirloin should win awards). Open less than three months, this place is building its reputation as the go-to place for straightforward, scrumptious subs. Its clear vision of restraint and quality is a recipe for success that should make Nuff a staple.

Nuff Sandwiches
2851 Johnson St
Minneapolis, MN 55418
612.788.4144
OWNER: Gary Carlson
HOURS: 7am-8pm, 8am-8pm Sunday
ENTREE RANGE: $4-$9.50

Kate NG Sommers / Heavy Table

Facebook Comments

comments