I live and work in Fremont so I tend to have “usual” hangouts to grab a bite to eat. Yak’s, Red Door, Costa’s Opa or, even, PCC for a salad are my typical lunchtime fare. While I tend to get bored with these options I really never feel the urge to breakout and try something different. So it was today that I decided to cross to the other side of 34th Street at Fremont Avenue and try out Bandoleone. I have seen it many a time, perched in front of the Adobe building, tables set-up on a patio out front. But for some reason it was the dinner menu that kept me away, it seemed a bit too exotic in some sense. Today though I stopped and took a look at their lunch menu. While a bit pricey for an everyday lunch the offerings seemed more down to earth, a mix of Latin sandwiches and salads.

I arrived shortly before noon and was greeted by an empty dining room and a friendly, outgoing waitress. She said I had my choice of seats and since it was a bit blustery outside, I chose a nice window seat in the sun. Once seated, my drink order was taken and I had time to peruse the menu. I decided on one of the healthier choices, the Prawn, Avocado & Cucumber Salad ($12.00). With my order placed and some quick conversation regarding my Piggly Wiggly shirt I sat back and took in a few pages of my book, as my order was prepared.

What arrived was a mountain of a salad. The bed of greens was composed of fresh spinach and frisee lettuce, lightly dressed in a warm Xeres Vinagreta. What is a Xeres Vinagreta you ask? As near as I could tell it is a typical vinaigrette made with olive oil and balsamic vinegar but with a slight taste slightly redolent of bacon. Plus, and I didn’t taste it with every bite, but I could have sworn there was toasted cinnamon in it. Scattered around the edge of the plate were thin slices of cucumber, their coolness adding balance to the greens and dressing. But the stars of the meal were the half of an avocado perched at the top of the mountain and the plump, firm prawns. The prawns were nicely grilled and cooked to perfection. A crusty exterior was made even better with the presence of a last minute dusting of a peppery blend of spices. While a great mix of warm and cool, light and fat this salad was a perfect midday meal.

My shortcomings tend to be that I judge books by their covers and that’s what I have done with Bandoleone. While I may have shunned dinner with them in the past it has now been made apparent to me that at least lunch is worth visiting them for. Who knows, I may one day be bold enough to try them for an after work meal.