First Tastes: French Onion Meatball Sub at Frog & Snail

The French Onion Meatball Sub at Frog & Snail

I don’t remember exactly when I noticed this sandwich on Frog & Snail’s Instagram, but I was instantly intrigued by it: French onion soup in sandwich form. What a great idea! And I finally got a chance to taste this French Onion Meatball Sub last week.

I met up with my friend Charlene at this little crêpe cafe (BTW, their German crêpe is excellent) on SE Hawthorne Blvd for lunch and we both were eager to give this sandwich a try. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. The beef meatballs were moist and savory, there was a bit of sweetness from the caramelized onions, enough Gruyère cheese to be satisfying without overwhelming, and all of this was on one of Grand Central Bakery’s excellent hoagie rolls, toasted. We both loved it and I look forward to eating it again.

Frog & Snail opened during the pandemic as a reinvention of Chez Machin, and judging from a mostly full dining room when I was there, they have created something people really want. And creative takes on traditional dishes—like this classic soup-turned-sub—is something I find delightful. So far it’s one of my favorite sandwiches in Portland. Check it out!

Frog & Snail
3553 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland
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