The Sandwich: The Juniper
Where: Taylor Gourmet, multiple locations
Price: $7.49 for a regular, $10.99 for a large
Bread: Choice of original Italian, whole cracked wheat, or soft roll
Stuffings: Curried chicken salad, red grapes, seasonal slaw, fresh cilantro, honey sriracha
Thickness: 3 inches
Pros: Chicken salad sandwiches usually taste more like mayonnaise than chicken, but the addition of curry and the sweet seasonal slaw brightens this sandwich’s flavor profile without adding any bitterness from the celery. Sriracha brings out the heat in the curry, but what really makes the sandwich interesting is the addition of cilantro. It adds the crunch of lettuce, but its sourness transforms the sandwich into something more fully developed than your typical deli offering.
Cons: There’s a lot of mayo binding it together, making the Juniper a little slimy. The tough bread usually softens when it supports Taylor’s wetter sandwiches, but tearing through it with your teeth sends the ingredients flying out the other end.
Sloppiness level (1 to 5): 3. Sandwiches of the salad variety are messy as a rule and this one faces the added challenge of having grapes slip out every time you take a bite. Keep a fork handy to poke the escapees back into the bun.
Overall score (1 to 5): 3.5. The added touches from the cilantro and sriracha make this sandwich interesting, but it makes such a mess that you have to make sure not to eat it while wearing white. If you’re trying to beat the lunch rush at Taylor, however, this can’t be beat: The cold sandwiches come out at least five minutes before the hot ones.