There are times in life when you just want a sandwich. Since the selection in the convenience stores is both predictable and subpar, your cravings will need to be fulfilled elsewhere. Luckily, not far from Kitayobancho subway station is Billy's.
If the promise of sandwiches wasn't enough, the interior was more than sufficient to get me interested. The individuality of the store was everywhere, from decorations like a “Darth Vader and Son” book to toy cars to the eclectic mix of seats that included a rocking chair.
It's a small store, so opening times are limited and occasionally variable, but they still offer lunch delivery for workplaces. There's an impressive menu, too – you can mix and match 4 types of bread (some cost extra) and 6 different sauces, including sesame, Japanese onion, Caesar and thousand island. For the filling, there's bacon, ham, chicken, cheese, cream cheese, tuna mayo, salami, avocado and more. If you're indecisive, you can choose from the sandwich menu – omelet, coleslaw, meatloaf, clubhouse, BLT, pork katsu...it's enough to make your mouth water!
For a satisfying lunch, get a sandwich set with soup and dessert for ¥700. Mine was a clubhouse sandwich, bursting with lettuce, chicken, ham, tomato, egg and mayo. At first, the amount of lettuce looks overwhelming, but it sits nicely among the other flavors and textures. All of the bread is toasted first, but it doesn't help the standard bread escape being basic, so it's worth upgrading. I made very short work of it – it was delicious! The soup was less interesting. The pumpkin flavor was subtle, and it was creamy in an aerated sort of way. I was glad that there wasn't much of it. The dessert was better – an unusual but refreshing mint mousse with a couple of blueberries and a small piece of chocolate cake. It was a nice way to end the meal; I certainly walked out with fresh breath!
Billy's is more of a Japanese take on New York than it is the real deal, but it has a lovely quirky side to it. The sandwiches are great, and good value for money. It's easy to get to – the hard part is choosing what to order!
