Park Slope Artisanal Sandwich Shop is a Must-Try

Is there anything more enticing than a hot, hefty sandwich wrapped up nice and snug in foil and white paper? If you’re hankering for something like that, run, don’t walk, to Prospect Provisions, the new artisanal sandwich shop on Fourth Avenue between Prospect Avenue and 17th Street. The shop features freshly made (with a big accent on fresh) breakfast and lunch/dinner selections. Co-owners Mark Mellinger and Kevin Porthouse are friendly, gracious shopkeepers at this little place, which serves big, quality sandwiches and has been receiving rave reviews since its late July opening.

Mark, who has an extensive background in fine dining and hospitality, told me that everything is prepared fresh daily. Breakfast, which is served until 10:30 AM, includes a selection of sandwiches such as smashed avocado with NY State white cheddar, scrambled eggs with applewood smoked bacon, cacio e pepe, taylor ham, or pulled short ribs, as well as bagels with assorted cream cheeses, Greek yogurt, and breakfast pastries. Lunch/dinner includes an even wider variety of delectable hot and cold sandwiches, filled with roast pork, organic turkey, corned beef, beef top round (all freshly roasted; no cold cuts), tuna, salmon, gravlax, and the vegetarian (or vegan) option of chickpea panelle with house-made mozzarella and caponata, all served on a variety of breads, including ciabatta, seeded Italian, everything brioche, wholegrain sourdough, and bagels.

The sandwich combinations are creative and full of flavor, each one named for local streets and Park Slope locations. My husband and I shared the “Sackett Street,” which is warm garlic and rosemary roast pork with pecorino cheese and broccoli rabe on seeded Italian, and the “Eighth Avenue,” which is warm corned beef, spicy mustard, and swiss cheese on an everything brioche roll; both were equally delicious. We also shared a “DeGraw Street” salad of arugula, roasted peppers, and pickled red onion, topped with shaved pecorino, simply because that’s the name of the street where I grew up. We will be back soon to sample a few more sandwiches, including the two most popular items: the “Grand Army Plaza” (roast beef top round with house-made mozzarella and gravy on garlic bread) and the “Flatbush Avenue” (chicken cutlet with mozzarella, applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, and garlic aioli on an everything brioche roll). And I have my heart set on the “Windsor Place,” which sounds pretty much like Thanksgiving dinner on a hero, and the “Montgomery Place,” which consists of a chicken cutlet topped with white cheddar fondue, bread-and-butter pickles, and bacon.

If you think you might possibly have a little room after enjoying these generously packed sandwiches, be sure to pick up one of their scrumptious blueberry ricotta muffins, which are, of course, made fresh every morning by Mark. You can wash it all down with beverages, ranging from a nice cold brew coffee and a seasonal watermelon juice to a San Pellegrino blood orange drink or Boylan’s soda.

Prospect Provisions also offers an extensive catering menu of salads, appetizers, and hot entrees, including penne alla vodka made with Faicco’s sausage, seared Faroe Island salmon, slow braised short ribs, and whole roasted top round of Angus beef, and sides such as curry scented rice pilaf, herb-roasted fingerling potatoes, and roasted asparagus with crispy Parmigiano-Reggiano, available in half or full trays.

Prospect Provisions has limited counter space and a few stools. It is located very conveniently next to the Prospect Avenue subway stop on the R, N and D lines. You can check out their complete menus at www.prospectprovisions.net.

Prospect Provisions

597A 4th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11215

Telephone: 347-763-2777

Hours: Monday to Friday, 7 AM — 9 PM

Saturday, 8 AM — 6 PM