Tucked inside the tidy Beverly neighborhood, in the string of shops that includes coffee shop Plate 21 and screen printer Printed on a Lark where Rugby Drive meets Detroit Avenue in South Toledo, Smokin’ Olive Deli provides quality flavors in a quaint, green-painted package.
Being a deli, the sandwiches are tops on the menu, though the place’s soups and salads are also worth mentioning. The sandwiches are mostly paninis though there is the option to build your own or pull from the menu.
Smokin’ Olive Deli★★★★Address: 3726 S. Detroit Ave., ToledoPhone: (419) 764-4767Category: DeliMenu: Sandwiches, paninis, salads, and dessertsHours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-SaturdayAverage price: $-$$Credit cards: MC, V, D, AEWebsite: smokinolive.com
On our first visit, we tried the muffuletta ($14) from the panini side of the menu. In general, I love any kind of version of this Sicilian-American sandwich that comes to us by way of New Orleans and the Smokin’ Olive’s version was something of an interesting spin, given that it was served hot off the (panini) press, rather than cold. In its best versions, the muffuletta is know for its tightly packed, layered appearance. The fact that the Smokin’ Olive version was pressed made the contents even more tightly packed than it would normally be which worked to the sandwich’s advantage as it kind of melded the flavors to perfection. It also achieved a good sear, even on the open sandwich side, which lent a nice dimension to the overall taste, which was still heavier on the olive salad, in my opinion, as it should be. (The olive salad is also one of the bulk deli salads that are available by the pound, in this case for $9.99/lb)
The muffuletta also came with a homemade vinaigrette which stood out for its graininess and little bit of heat it provided…