La Javanaise offers sandwiches with a twist

As much as we're fans of some chain boulangeries, like Panera, it's so refreshing to have an original around. And by that, we mean the new La Javanaise cafe in the former home of Herbata Tea Bar in Greystone Plaza. The charming bistro is the second eatery for owner William Heng, whose Hot Rize Cafe in Merrimack has been a longtime favorite of the Table for Twos.

But according to the La Javanaise Web site, Heng, who was born in Cambodia and raised in France, wanted to open another shop with handcrafted grilled flatbread wraps, panini and salads with continental and Asian touches. Heng said the new cafe is a homage to the Paris he knew as a student at the Sorbonne, studying business and visiting cafes in the Latin Quarter “sipping espresso, one after another” and listening to French music like the Serge Gainsbourge song “La Javanaise,” for which the new eatery is named. Heng said he wants La Javanaise to be a place for fresh coffee, strong espresso and a good casse-croute (snack) – an alternative to coffee and restaurant chains or just a place to meet friends.It succeeds on all those fronts – especially in the casse-croute department.

We found the sandwiches at La Javanaise to be some of the best sandwiches we've ever had. This is especially true of the Cubano Panini ($6.95) – a take on the famous pork Cuban sandwich so popular as a midnight snack for the party set. In this case, the panini consisted of roast pork, jalapeno, pickles, mustard and Swiss cheese on a fresh baguette grilled perfectly.

It was a masterful sandwich, and we could have easily eaten two of them each. We also fell in love with the La Javanese ($6.95) grilled flatbread wrap with roast beef, fresh spinach and cilantro, corn and a spicy aioli. This was a great combination of explosive flavor. The lemony tartness of the cilantro and the sweet crunch of corn were the perfect additions to this sandwich.

The cafe was also very accommodating when another member of our party asked for the Javanese to be made with turkey rather than the beef, which, by the way, made for just as good a sandwich.We also felt passionately about the Chicken Delicato Panini ($6.95) with grilled chicken, roasted pepper, provolone cheese and tomato pesto made on the same great baguette and grilled just as perfectly.

Our only slight complaint about the sandwiches, and it's slight indeed, is that for $7, we feel we could have been given a little bit of a side – a pickle, slaw or chips. We paid the buck for the chips, and would again – just to get to those sandwiches, but we'd rather not.

Lest you think that all there is to La Javanaise is sandwiches, there's also fresh brewed and strong (the way we like it) iced tea ($1.75), European-style brewed coffee ($1.53/small), cappuccino ($2.95/small) and lattes ($2.95) – all from beans roasted locally from Java Tree in Manchester.

And the breads are local, too, from the Good Loaf Artisan Bakery in Milford.We also loved the pastries we sampled – an amazing peach scone, an impressive blueberry scone (both $1.60) and a giant, perfect chocolate chip cookie ($1.35).

There's also breakfast with a twist to be enjoyed here. We can't wait to try the Spinach, Tomato, Guacamole and Swiss Cheese Bagel ($3.65) and the Southwestern Turkey Grilled Ciabatta Egg Western Panini ($4.95).

Let's face it. We want it all. And if takes a few years to do it, we hope to try it all.