In our quest for the perfect sandwich, we recently ventured to Ombretta, a highly-rated sandwich store in Utrecht. Intrigued by the glowing reviews on Google, we decided to give this spot a try. Our visit was a blend of anticipation, minor disappointments, and a final verdict that left us contemplating our next culinary adventure.
The Arrival
When we arrived at Ombretta just before noon, to our surprise, we already saw a number of people waiting in front of the store. Despite the enthusiasm of the waiting customers, the store remained closed a few minutes longer than the advertised opening time. Eventually an employee showed up and told us that they would be ready soon, but no excuses were made.
The Ordering Process
At Ombretta, the concept is straightforward: you pay a fixed price for the sandwich bread and additional costs for the ingredients. This allows for a customizable sandwich experience. Initially, we had our hearts set on the porchetta sandwich, a specialty that we were eager to try. However, we were informed that it had already been ordered twice that day, and there wasn’t enough left to make another sandwich. This explanation seemed a bit odd, especially since they showed us a sizeable piece of porchetta that appeared more than sufficient for a few more sandwiches.
The Mortadella and Gorgonzola Sandwich
We chose the mortadella and gorgonzola sandwich and were treated to a combination of mortadella, gorgonzola, lettuce and sun-dried tomatoes. The amount of meat on the sandwich was generous, but it still fell short of the amount of porchetta we had seen moments before. Although the quality of the ingredients was good, they did not stand out as exceptional. The bread, an essential part of any great sandwich, was acceptable but not on the same level as the fantastic bread we saw at various Italian sandwich shops in Amsterdam.
The Wait
Despite being third in line, we had a remarkable wait for our sandwiches. This was somewhat surprising given the relatively small number of customers in front of us. The reviews we had read mentioned wait times from 30 minutes to an hour, and although we did not have to wait that long, it was long enough to notice and question the efficiency of the staff.
Final Thoughts
Overall, our experience at Ombretta was just okay. The sandwiches were reasonable, but did not live up to the high expectations of the rave reviews. The inconsistency regarding the availability of porchetta and the lower quality bread than usual were notable setbacks. Had we waited longer, we would have been even more disappointed given the outcome.
In conclusion, Ombretta offers a solid sandwich, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights of some of the exceptional sandwich stores we found in Amsterdam. Certainly not for the price you pay for it. If you’re in Utrecht and want to try it, be prepared for a possible wait and manage your expectations accordingly. While it may not have overwhelmed us this time, every dining adventure has its ups and downs. Perhaps it was just a bad day, but we unfortunately would not return again.
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Review: 7.2/10
Price / Quality: 7 | Service: 6 | Originality: 7 | Freshness: 8 | Choice: 8
