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Ate: March 25, 2006 Published: March 26, 2006 $$ Nestled among the national fast-food chains and the all-you-can-eat buffets, you will find one of Myrtle Beach's newest restaurants. Panini 38 bills itself as a bistro and wine bar, and that is definitely the vibe you get when you walk in. Unlike the other restaurants found around Plantation Point Plaza, you feel a little bit like you have walked into somebody's home. From the artwork on the walls to the rich wooden bar, the owners of Panini 38 have poured a lot of themselves into the place. We got to the restaurant late in the lunch seating and didn't see more than a couple of tables that were empty. It may be a new place, but the word has definitely gotten out. From the looks of the crowd, it appeared to be mostly locals looking for a place with a relaxed atmosphere and a little quiet. But since it was lunchtime, we didn't see too many people drinking wine. Panini 38's namesake sandwiches are their featured food, but you carb-watchers out there don't have to fret. They also offer plenty of specialty salads as well. Since the two of us try not to worry about such things, we didn't hesitate to order a couple of Panini's paninis. When our sandwiches arrived, they looked good all the way down to their grill marks. I had been expecting slices of bread slathered in lots of butter. What we got instead were ciabatta rolls. After consideration, I think I liked this way better. The ciabatta roll made for a much lighter and fresher sandwich than most other specialty sandwich places produce. As an added bit of variety, our panini sandwiches were served up with a fresh salad instead of fries or chips. In fact, I didn't realize it until my bride pointed it out to me, but we didn't see anything served at Panini 38 that was fried. No fried sandwiches, no fried sides, no fried anything. The salads were good enough that we didn't miss the fried stuff. Instead, we got oil in our meal through a wonderful Italian vinaigrette house dressing. My wife's sandwich was honey ham and American cheese, topped with a chunky sun-dried tomato pesto sauce. She thought that it had a really good flavor and the bun had a good crisp crunch while still being soft inside. But more than anything, she kept talking about the pesto. To her, it was the final touch that made the sandwich. My own order was their Italian Panini, which consists of Genoa salami, honey ham and honey turkey with American and Swiss cheese. Like my wife's, mine was topped with the same sun-dried pesto. The sweetness of the honey ham and turkey made for a good counter to the savory flavors of the salami and cheese. There was nowhere in particular we had to be and we weren't pressed for time. Instead of just a quick sandwich, we stuck around and relaxed while we split an order of Panini 38's signature tiramisu. Instead of the normal layers of ladyfinger cookies, their tiramisu was made with cake soaked in a liqueur, with the cookies (also liqueur-drenched) along the edges, flanking the cake. It was a great end to a nice, leisurely lunch. Panini 38 is not cheap, but the price is very reasonable for the quality of the food. The two of us have had plenty of meals that cost a lot more, but we enjoyed a lot less. Whether you want a lunch that's an upscale departure from fast food, or a light dinner and some good wine, don't miss out on Panini 38. |
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