Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

Open face sandwiches are nothing new: there are few in American cuisine, like the Kentucky Hot Brown (that you can have at Bar Americain, the Midtown joint of Chef Bobby Flay - I recommend a nap after that), or the tartines served at Le Pain Quotidien or Maison Kayser. But I have never see anything like what Duran Sandwiches proposes: small open face sandwiches with a wide variety of combination, probably 30 different kinds, made daily.

Duran Sandwiches was established in 1969 in Austria, by two brothers, Vladimir and Tomas Duran who came from Hungary after the World War II. The location in New York being their first outpost in the US, opened two years ago and offering the same kind of sandwiches offered elsewhere. Each sandwich is priced $2.50 to $3.50 and can be on white, whole wheat, pumpernickel or gluten free bread. And if you are vegetarian or vegan, they have several options on their menu that would satisfy your appetite. Size wise, Jodi was fine with 2 sandwiches; for me, 5 would be enough. They package the sandwiches well in boxes that allow for their easy transport.

Box of Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Here is what we tried:

Egg salad:

Sundried tomato: vegan, it had a bit of sweetness coming from dates.

Sundried Tomatoes Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Maine Lobter salad (one of my favorites and their best sellers):

Maine Lobster salad at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Jalapeno salad (my least favorite):

Jalapeno Salad Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Tuna salad:

Smoked Salmon:

Farmer cheese:

Shrimp:

Salmon caviar:

Spicy Hungarian salami (my number one: that salami is fantastic):

Salami:

Traditional Hungarian sausage sandwich:

Sheep cheese:

Roast beef:

Turkey:

Tomato and mozzarella:

Vegetable chutney (made with pumpkin and carrots as well as other ingredients I cannot remember):

Vegetable Chutney Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Camembert (for a French touch):

Camembert Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Goat cheese:

Paprika Farmer's Cheese:

These sandwiches were good, my favorite being the spicy Hungarian salami, Hungarian sausage and Maine lobster salad. I should also add the sun dried tomato one that was really surprising. What is great with Duran Sandwiches is the variety their offer, allowing to change every single day your order and not having to stick to the same sandwich again and again. It is an interesting concept that also extends to catering with even smaller sandwiches, the size of an amuse-bouche, all looking exactly the same, showcasing the precision of these handmade sandwiches.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Duran Sandwiches

I Just Want To Eat!