Paseo Is Summer

I’ve been enjoying Paseo, the tiny Cuban sandwich shop that has become a Fremont mainstay, for years but now that I’ve moved to the neighborhood and am just a quick walk away I’ve developed a feeling of ownership over the place. This is now my neighborhood sandwich shop and I can jog on over whenever I need a fix. And just in time, too–there’s something about Paseo’s tiny corrugated metal storefront and plastic tables and chairs that perfectly compliment the long, hot days of Summer, and as Summer draws to a close and the days get cooler a trip to Paseo will make you forget that Fall is just around the corner. Sitting outside, people watching as juices from your sandwich run down your arm, you feel transported somewhere else, somewhere tropical and relaxed, far from cold, uptight Seattle. Paseo is just what this city needs.

The menu at Paseo was revamped earlier this year and now features several new options, but the sandwiches remain just about everyone’s favorite and really should not be missed. They come on a baguette, wonderfully chewy and sturdy enough to hold the abundance of toppings, which include homemade mayo, cilantro, pickled jalapeños, romaine lettuce (for a bit of crunch), and a heaping mess of the best goddamn caramelized onions you will ever eat. These onions are so popular that Paseo now offers a sandwich where they are the main attraction. I prefer the grilled chicken breast and the fish, however. The meat is light enough to offset the heavier flavors of the sauce and onions, and tender and juicy to boot. The chicken thigh and pork are a bit rich but also delicious. The scallop, a new edition to the sandwich menu, is excellent; big, meaty scallops are sautéed in extra virgin olive oil and packed (cheek to jowl?) on the bread. Keep in mind when ordering the sandwiches that these suckers are messy and you should have several napkins at the ready to sop up the juicy mess they will leave all over your hands, arms and lap.

The rest of the menu is just as good as the sandwich portion. The West Caribbean Bowl comes with two scoops of sticky jasmine rice, soft as rice pudding, soupy black beans, tangy and with a touch of spice, and a chicken thigh that, like all of the meat at Paseo, has been marinated to perfection. The flavor of tomato infuses everything. The Fresh Fish in Rojo I liked but didn’t fall in love with. The tomato sauce with peas and onion was spicy and a little sweet but the fish was nothing to write home about. Other entrees include a half chicken dinner, grilled pork, prawns, and a tofu dinner I hear tell is one of the best vegetarian meals in town.

So head on down to Paseo while the weather is still nice and treat yourself to a mini vacation.

Paseo

4225 Fremont Ave N

Seattle, WA 98103

(206) 545-7440