The Market Place has gourmet sandwiches and more

• Tell us about your place: Bonnie Black bought The Market Place Restaurant in Pinehurst in 2004 after working for the previous owner for 13 or 14 years, she said. Her son, Luke, co-manages the restaurant with Anna Castro, who is the main cook in charge of the kitchen. Customers may dine in or on the patio. They also operate a food truck by the same name. “We want everyone to have a good time at The Market Place and to enjoy themselves,” she said. “We hope our customers will leave feeling better than when they arrived.”

• Specialties: Made-to-order gourmet sandwiches, quiche, homemade soup, fresh salads and desserts are the house specialties. In addition to the regular dining menu, whole quiches, pies and other specialty foods are available. The restaurant features a different homemade soup, quiche and dessert daily.

“Our one-of-a-kind sandwiches are not just a sandwich,” Black said. “We serve gourmet sandwiches with a twist.” The sandwiches are served with the signature hot toasted butter croissant, a kaiser roll, on wheat bread or gluten free, for an extra charge. Sandwiches are accompanied by slaw, a pickle and chips.

Sandwiches include roast beef, chicken salad, Virginia baked ham, vegetarian, Reuben, bacon club, chicken breast with chutney and five-cheese pimento with a kick. “The chicken salad, the hot roast beef and the Reuben are all very popular,” she said.

Homemade condiments provide an extra layer of goodness. “We make our own sweet and sour mustard sauce and our own herb butter,” she said.

• Most popular dish: Breakfasts are popular with a crustless, gluten-free quiche of the day that is served with fresh fruit. The omelets and fresh fruit smoothies are also popular, she said.

The seasonal homemade soups, chili and Brunswick stew are all popular, Black said. “The soups rotate, except for the Wisconsin cheddar cheese soup, which is served daily,” she said. It is made with ham, green pepper and a hint of vermouth. Combos also are available.

The desserts are all homemade and include a flourless chocolate torte, a giant chocolate chip cookie and deep dish apple pie.

• Why should diners eat here? “Our food is good,’’ Black said. “We use quality ingredients and serve simplistic healthy meals at reasonable prices.”

Alison Minard

• Address: 246 Olmstead Blvd., Pinehurst

• Contact: 910-295-1160; themprestaurant.com; Facebook

• Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; open until 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday

• Type of food: Breakfast omelets, baked goods, fresh made salads, hand crafted sandwiches, homemade quiches, soup and desserts, as well as coffees, lattes, all-natural fruit smoothies and gluten free and ketogenic low-carb options. Take-out, local delivery, catering and private events are available.

• Price range: Breakfast $4.25 to $9.50; lunch $4.50 to $12

The Market Place