What: The 5-alarm panini
Where: Play Lounge and Café, 2825 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs
Hoe much: $10
Contact: 760-808-8588; www.playloungeps.com
Why: It’s an addictive breakfast sandwich.
I’ve been trying to eat just one meal a day in recent weeks—it’s time for me to lose some weight, alas—and for work and social reasons, that one meal is usually dinner.
But Play Lounge has been making it rather challenging for me to skip breakfast and lunch, because my office is quite close to the café—and the breakfast sandwich there is soooo darned tasty.
The sandwich is called the “5-Alarm Panini,” and it includes egg, cheddar cheese, house-made salsa and a protein (bacon, ham, sausage or a Beyond patty), all on warm, pillowy ciabatta. It’s simple, but it’s delicious. The salsa adds a nice little kick; it’s more like a two-alarm level of spiciness, not five, but that kick enhances the other ingredients. Yum.
If breakfast sandwiches aren’t your thing, no worries; Play Lounge offers an increasingly large variety of eats, including multiple sandwiches, salads, flatbread pizzas and baked goods, in addition to coffee, beer, wine and other drinks.
You can enjoy this fare while playing board games, or enjoying a variety of events, including cribbage, trivia, karaoke and game nights; a Sunday brunch featuring Best of Coachella Valley winner Keisha D; other concerts; and special food-related events, such as an ice cream social scheduled for 1 p.m., Saturday, July 13. Owner Matt Irby has done an incredible job of creating both a great coffee shop and a community hub for lower-key gatherings and events.
Even if you’re not located close to Play Lounge like I am, it’s definitely worth a visit—for both good food and a welcoming, inclusive vibe.
