Fit to Eat

The menu at Fit to Eat in the Old Port lists a BLT.

Not a huge stretch for a lunch place, one would think. Bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches are lunch place staples, like ham and cheese and hot dogs.

But the description of the BLT at Fit to Eat gives you a strong indication that this is not your average lunch place. For starters, the bacon is thick-cut and applewood-smoked. The lettuce is romaine. Instead of mayonnaise, you can have hummus, avocado and cheddar cheese.

And it's all served on fresh-baked rolls. The day I sampled a BLT ($6.99), my bread choices were Tuscan and focaccia. I chose Tuscan.

It turned out to be one of the best sandwiches I've had in some time.

The bread was chewy and flavorful, but not hard. The bacon was crisp, thick and extremely tasty. The hummus and avocado lent a creaminess that seemed healthier than mayonnaise, and more interesting.

I also sampled the restaurant's pesto sandwich ($6.99) on focaccia. The filling was chicken, spinach, cucumber, sun-dried tomatoes and cheddar cheese. Again, the bread was great, the chicken was tender and the pesto sauce did not overwhelm anything.

Fit to Eat had been known for wraps and smoothies when it first opened about five years ago. In July, it re-opened under new management, with an emphasis on sandwiches on homemade bread and salads.

Some of the other sandwiches on the menu include: the Old Port ($6.99), featuring roast beef, avocado, romaine lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese and cucumber wasabi mayonnaise; tuna ($6.75) with banana peppers, romaine lettuce, tomato and cheddar cheese; the California ($7.50), with salmon, avocado, carrots, cucumbers, romaine lettuce and cucumber wasabi mayonnaise; the Grecian ($6.99), with chicken, spinach, cucumber, red peppers, feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and hummus; the Vazzano ($7.25), with salami, ham, roasted red peppers, provolone cheese, olive tapenade and arugula; a portobello mushroom sandwich ($6.75) with arugula, roasted red peppers, cheddar cheese and horseradish mayonnaise; and the Santa Fe ($6.99) with chicken, romaine lettuce, red peppers, banana peppers, salsa and chedder cheese.

There's also a pastrami sandwich ($6.99) with red peppers, onions, pickles, cheddar cheese and dijon mustard, and a chicken salad sandwich ($6.75) with lettuce, tomato, red grapes and tarragon mayonnaise.

Before 11 a.m., the menu includes three breakfast sandwiches on the restaurant's own English muffins: Applewood-smoked bacon, egg and cheese for $5; apple sage sausage, egg and cheese for $5; and spinach, goat cheese, egg and caramelized onions for $6.

Salads include a cobb salad ($6.99), a caesar ($6.50) and one featuring arugula ($6). You can add chicken to any salad for $1.69 more, or salmon for $2 more.

Fit to Eat is near Sebago Brewing Co. in the heart of the Old Port. The menu is perfect for takeout, but there is ample seating if you want to eat in. There is also plenty of reading material – free weekly newspapers and the like – to keep you busy between bites.

The Features staff of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram anonymously samples meals for about $7.

Fit to Eat