Le Petit Vendôme — Review by Jack's Dining Room
Paris, France — French / Sandwiches
The reviewers sampled what was voted the best sandwich in the world, a simple ham and butter sandwich on fresh baguette at Le Petit Vendôme in Paris. While they appreciated the quality ingredients and excellent baguette, they felt the sandwich, though very good, doesn't quite live up to the world's best claim. Ultimately, they enjoyed the experience as much for the Parisian atmosphere and vibes as for the sandwich itself.
What was great: Excellent baguette with a nice bite, fantastic butter quality, pickles adding good crunch, and the overall Parisian experience of enjoying it while walking around
What could improve: While good, it doesn't quite deserve the 'best sandwich in the world' title - there's a natural ceiling to what a ham and butter sandwich can achieve
The Dishes
The sandwich features just four ingredients: fresh baguette, butter, ham, and pickles. The baguette itself stood out for having a pleasant bite and structural integrity that didn't require a battle to eat. The butter was described as fantastic, so good one reviewer joked they could eat it by the spoonful alone. The pickles provided a welcome crunch that complemented the richness of the butter and ham nicely.
The Experience
The reviewers emphasized that dining on this sandwich in Paris, walking around with a fresh baguette in hand, created an experience greater than the sum of its parts. The location and atmosphere of enjoying it in the City of Light added significantly to their overall satisfaction.
Value and Pricing
No specific pricing information was mentioned in the review.
Notable Moments
The butter itself is fantastic. I'd probably go in there and take a spoonful and just eat the butter alone.
Food's not just like what you're eating. It's where you're eating. It's how you're eating it. That adds to the taste and adds to the energy of the meal.
The Verdict
While acknowledging this is probably as far as a simple ham and butter sandwich could go in terms of quality, the reviewers felt it doesn't quite deserve the title of best sandwich in the world. However, they genuinely enjoyed it, especially within the context of the Parisian experience. This restaurant is perfect for those seeking a quintessential Parisian moment with quality ingredients, though expectations about it being the world's best should be tempered.