Excellent addition to the dining options and the streetscape on Church: Nomad Sandwiches, which started two years ago in a ghost kitchen in Hudson Square and is now in its permanent location on Church and Duane/Reade.

Founder Samar Sajjad has been working in the restaurant industry for 15 years, mostly on the management side. He founded it with his roommate — he’s supplying the talent and his roommate is supplying the cash.

“I’ve been thinking about this for 10 years,” he said when I stopped by. “I wanted a place that honored the foods of New York City.”

The idea is only fresh ingredients — nothing frozen, no preservatives — sourced from some top-notch providers, like breads from Balthazar and cheese from Joe’s Dairy. There are paninis, sandwiches, salads and a build your own bowl option — it’s a base, a protein and a chose of 12 sides/sauces. I plated by bowl since it was huge — that’s the chicken tikka masala below with the couscous as a base. And we got the Philly cheese panini. Both excellent. (I took mine to go but it is cute in there — despite what that stretch of Church looks like. And I was being ridiculous and rushed them but it really doesn’t take long.)

The Steak Dinner sandwich is dry brined steak with German yogurt/red pepper sauce, pickled & raw vegetables served on a Ciabatta. The banh mi has pickled vegetables, chicken liver pate, chipotle mayo and cilantro. The vegan samosa sandwich is spicy potato with peas and cashew filling, pickled red onion and vegan cumin/yogurt sauce.

Sandwiches are $14 to $22; my bowl was $18. You can order on line for pickup or delivery.

Anthony Bourdain was also part of his inspiration.

“Bourdain transcended the idea of a chef and a traveler,” Samar said. “He brought cultures together that way. New York City represents the same thing.”

Nomad Sandwiches
179 A Church | Duane & Reade
917-969-2071
Mon – Fri 8a to 8p
Sat – Sun 11a to 7p