Unexpected find

Have you ever gotten off a bus or a train before arriving at the expected stop? And, have you ever found, say, a good place to eat because of it? Well, I and two roommates found ourselves in these scenarios Saturday in South Boston. We toured Fort Independence, then boarded a bus to take us to the “T” or subway station. By the time we boarded the bus, it was almost 3 p.m. I had cereal and cottage cheese for breakfast, but didn’t want to eat too much before dinner. I was hungry, though. Well, we got off the bus before the “T” stop and started walking through south Boston. There was talk of going to the Teriyaki House, right across the street from the “T” station, but we still had some distance before reaching that destination. We stepped into one cafe a few minutes after exiting the bus, but I gave it the thumbs down. Strolling onward, we finally came upon two cafes on the same side of the street. One of my roommates, Jay, checked out one place and I went into another. We decided on Cafe Arpeggio, a diner-like place with maybe a handful of tables and a bar running lengthwise reminiscent of an ice cream parlor, a sugar scent and ice cream waiting to crown that cone. Underneath the bar, sweets such as brownies, cookies and a whoopie pie with a diameter about the size of a compact disc, tempt the sweet tooth. But a sandwich sent my tastebuds into delight. The “Famous Arpeggio Sandwich” ($6.99) is a fine combiation of sliced turkey, cranberry mayonnaise, spinach and melted white cheddar between slices of a light crisp, tender “boule,” a circular-shaped bread that appeared to contain herb flecks which I couldn’t identify. The sandwich was excellent – soft bread with right proportions of ingredients. As I lifted a half, a cranberry fell out. The white cheddar oozed out in places along the bread. I ate one half plus a bite of the second half. The sandwich was mild, one ingredient didn’t overpower any other. I wrapped the rest in paper, placed in a bag and later, in the refrigerator. I didn’t try any ice cream, but if I’m ever in the neighborhood at night and crave ice cream, Cafe Arpeggio may be the place to stop. It’s a quaint stop to get a sandwich, salad, an ice cream cone or brownie. Might want to split that moon pie. Cafe Arpeggio also has locations in New Bedford and Fall River, Massachusetts.

Cafe Arpeggio

398 W. Broadway, South Boston, Mass., (617) 69-8822, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; 139 S. Main St., Fall River, Mass., Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed Sunday; 800 Purchase St., New Bedford, Mass., Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed Sunday.