CHIReview
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Tempesta Market
Included In
Some things are clearly the work of experts. Like the pyramids, or those tiny ships in glass bottles. You’re not sure exactly how they were put together, but they obviously took a lot of work. The sandwiches at Tempesta Market also fall into this category. They’re complicated, thoughtfully designed, and occasionally they seem to defy the laws of physics. But you don’t have to be an archaeologist or a grizzled sea captain with above-average fine motor skills to appreciate them. You just need to show up in West Town with an appetite.
Like most impressive structures, the sandwiches here are made with quality materials. The meats are cured in-house, the toppings are made from scratch, and the bread comes from great local bakeries. There are only about seven sandwiches on the menu (along with a few rotating specials), and each of them has a lot going on. The Dante involves basically an entire deli counter’s worth of different meats, and it’s one of the best Italian sandwiches we’ve ever had. Another one of our favorites is the vegetarian Beet Streets, with thinly sliced marinated beets, almond butter, apple, and pickled onions on toasted rye. It’s sweet and savory and just kind-of-healthy enough, and because everything is assembled so perfectly, nothing goes sliding out of the bread while you’re trying to eat.
photo credit: Sandy Noto
All that being said, Tempesta isn’t just a sandwich shop any more than the pyramids are just some buildings in the middle of the desert. It’s also a deli and market, with picnic-friendly things ranging from cheese and charcuterie to potato and pasta salads. It’s a perfect stop for takeout, but it’s also comfortable to hang out in, with large wooden tables and a small outdoor patio. And while the sandwiches are pricey (they start at $10 and can go up to around $15), the portions are generous, and the high-quality ingredients and overall deliciousness make them worth the price.
Generally speaking, sandwiches are pretty simple things to make at home. But Tempesta Market’s are on a level of their own - you could assemble an entire Thanksgiving dinner with the amount of energy it would take to recreate one of these things in your own kitchen. Luckily, there’s no need. All you have to worry about is getting here and letting the experts do their thing.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Sandy Noto
The Dante
photo credit: Sandy Noto
The Southside Johnny
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Beet Streets
photo credit: Sandy Noto
D.D. Brindisi’s Grand Pastrami
photo credit: Sandy Noto
B. Franklin
Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
photo credit: Sandy Noto
’Nduja Arancini
photo credit: Sandy Noto