Henri's Bakery & Cafe Sandwich Label

Label for a turkey on white bread sandwich from Henri's Bakery & Cafe.

Driving through Buckhead, hungry for lunch, the options are either efficient drive through with their ever predictable offerings, or an over priced, fussy something—-salad of tri-colored sweet potato with fresh tarragon dressing and a $7 sun tea sweetened by peach cane sugar.

No thanks!

I am a simple man, culled by my Christian Brothers and Jesuit upbringing, brown paper bag filled by my late Mother’s hands, minimalist sandwich, chips, oreos, drink.

As no-nonsense and matter-of-fact as her strident 1960s Irish Catholic faith

“Pray before eating, Jeff!”

Chasing a white bread lunch in modern Atlanta is like looking for a C & S Bank branch, or a parking spot near the Commerce Club on Broad Street for an afternoon meeting with Mills Lane.

“My great grandfather began his Atlanta business in 1929,” said Anthony DiNardo, “it was more of a bakery and candy shop.

Mr. DiNardo runs Henri’s, the venerable local family business serving Atlanta pastries and lunch for almost a century.

“In 1960, we started making sandwiches for brown bag sack lunches, wrapped in wax paper, homemade bread, turkey or roast beef, mayo, pickle, Swiss slice,” offered Mr. DiNardo.

Henri's Bakery & Cafe sandwich.

Ham and cheese sandwich from Henri's Bakery & Cafe.

The sandwiches were fancied by the Carter’s, governor’s, mayors, legislators, athletes, business leaders and first responders.

Roast beef on white springy bread with the deep crust, mayo, swiss and the signature pickle.

Ham & Cheese, mayo, mustard, pickle, white, wheat, rye, or croissant.

Eisenhower era stuff. The Ford Galaxy 500 of Atlanta lunch fare.

“In 1962, we renamed our Cuban sandwich because of Cuban Missile Crisis, but other than that, it’s been smooth sandwich sailing,” laughed Mr. DiNardo.

I was introduced to this eternal symbol of Atlanta life 41 years ago by a television news photographer. We were heading to interview Falcons owner Rankin Smith Sr. and stopped by the old Henri’s location at 61 Irby Avenue. 

Close your eyes and these sandwiches conjure up Mustangs, Ivan Allen, Otis Redding and the Braves moving to Atlanta.

“Yeah, this is Atlanta retro, but it’s a great lunch option and we do it well.”

As Memorial Day Weekend approaches, turkey on white please, extra mayo, sweet tea, two sugar cookies and put it in a brown bag.

The more I’m surrounded by Buckhead and Beltline lunch offerings of frites and haricots verts, the more I realize - Mother had it right, and Henri’s too.

Brown bags, wax paper and a pickle still rock.

Now say a blessing.