Dad and I made a trip down the Fairhope earlier this week to run some errands. It was about lunchtime so we decided to stop and get something from Panini Pete's in downtown.
Fairhope has such a cute downtown area. It's very similar to St. Michaels, MD (where I used to live) with little tourist shops and restaurants and is very walkable.
Panini Pete's specializes in, you guessed it, sandwiches and paninis. It was featured on the Food Network show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives a few years back, making it even more popular than it already was!
It's situated in a little courtyard called the French Quarter. The outdoor dining patio is shaded by sprawling live oak trees, and a big fountain helps give diners the illusion being cool, even if it's a hot, humid summer day! Personally, I can't think of a better atmosphere for a summer-time lunch (unless it's a street side café somewhere in Europe).
If dining outdoors isn't your thing, they also have a big, glassed-in dining room (which looks like something straight out of France - perfect for the French Quarter!) which is air conditioned.
The menu is short and sweet, with a little something for everyone. I had the "French Poodle", a hotdog with onion confit and dijon mustard and dad had the house roasted & medium rare roast beef panini. We both opted for the hand cut fries.
Service was fast for this sleepy Monday lunch, and everyone was friendly - the waitress and the other diners!
Panini Pete's is the idea spot for a light, summer lunch. Definitely recommended if you want to take a little detour on your way to the beaches! (And take the time to wander around Fairhope, you won't regret it!)
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