Despite working only a couple blocks away from Dali Mamma at a previous job, I have never ventured inside before. This could be because the previous location (and to some extent, the new location) seem a bit unapproachable, tucked away inside larger office buildings and without a big street presence. It could also be because I never realized what Dali Mamma offered. The name is a bit odd, and it doesn’t really convey a genre of food.

A recent lunch at Dali Mamma has me regretting all of those times I passed it by. The menu is primarily sandwiches and salads, with a strong emphasis on local produce. Many of the options are vegan or vegetarian. Some of the most promising options that I did not try were the Beverwijck sandwich (in-house roasted beef, beet infused horseradish, sweet potato, and cheddar); a salad with roasted fennel, brussels sprouts, lemon, greens, and shaved parmesan; and a couscous salad with currants, greens, and honey lemon basil dressing.

I decided to try the curried chicken salad sandwich as a wrap.

This wrap was phenomenal. The chicken salad included generous chunks of walnuts and grapes, and the curry mayo had a mild sweetness to it that wasn’t overpowering. The lettuce and tomato were nicely crisp and fresh. And the portion size was perfect!

The checkout counter also had a variety of baked goods on display, including muffins, biscotti, and cookies. I decided to try a simple chocolate cookie. I was pretty blown away by this selection as well. The cookie was super light, with an almost brownie-like consistency and a smooth chocolate taste. The powdered sugar coating was a welcome dash of sweetness to top it all off.

I truly enjoyed my lunch at Dali Mamma, and I’m eager to return to try some of the other interesting menu options. It’s worth noting that this meal was not cheap – the sandwich alone cost more than ten dollars. I tend to believe that some extra cost is worth the quality from fresh and local produce, not to mention the benefits of supporting local farms. Maybe Dali Mamma isn’t a place that you’ll want to order lunch from every day, but the occasional splurge would be well worth it.