Michelle’s Brown Bag Cafe

164 Main St., Bar Harbor

288-5858

Sandwiches and salads, $3.50-$7.95

Cash or local checks only

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday (winter hours)

There are a few things I look for in a sandwich shop: Good bread, thinly sliced meats, interesting combinations of ingredients, and last, but certainly not least, a healthy selection of condiments (not to be confused with a selection of healthy condiments – you can keep your reduced-fat mayo, thank you very much). If the atmosphere is nice, that’s a bonus. If not, that’s fine, too. As long as the sandwich is suitably delicious.

Michelle’s Brown Bag Cafe in Bar Harbor has all of this and more. By more, I mean paninis, which can elevate even the humblest of ingredients into a crisp, melty thing of beauty. And the space – high ceilings, long sandwich bar, big chalkboard – was equally beautiful in a pared-down way.

But back to the sandwiches. With options such as The Acadian (homemade chicken salad, sliced apple, baby greens, tomato, sprouts and crumbled gorgonzola) and the Park Loop (honey ham, brie, baby greens, cucumber, tomato, red pepper and mango chutney) it took me a while to decide.

Not surprisingly, I chose a panini with tomato, fresh mozzarella, double-smoked bacon (whatever that means) and fresh basil ($6.95). When I ordered, I was informed that the sandwich normally comes with pesto aioli.

“Does it get any better than this?” I wondered as I waited for the panini press to work its magic.

When I sunk my teeth into my sandwich – thin and crisp on the outside; smoky, gooey, salty and aioli-y on the inside – I knew the answer was no.