On our first visit to Duran, we were disappointed to learn that the bread and pastries were delivered from La Fournette twice a week instead of being made in-house, so when the sandwich spot announced that they were starting to make their own bread, we stopped by for another visit.
The cozy, quaint café, located a few steps away from Grand Blue Line, is known for its open-faced sandwiches, and even though I was there in late afternoon, I was still able to take advantage of the $10 lunch special (three open-faced sandwiches alongside a cup of La Colombe coffee).
While the coffee was excellent, the sandwiches were hit or miss. I ordered the hummus, Mediterranean tuna, and salami. The hummus was great—it was flavorful and dressed with balsamic vinegar for a sweet-sour taste. But the onions and slice of lemon couldn’t save the boring Mediterranean tuna, and the hint of cheese could only go so far to making up for bland salami. That the sandwiches were chilled took away from them further, and while Duran is fine for a fast meal or cup of coffee, it isn’t a place I’d think of if I lived outside the neighborhood.