Well Met Cafe Takeaway. Well Met will fairly meet your craving for a fun little panini. It's a 7.2/10 for a solid neighborhood panini spot with fun, actor-named sandwiches and quality ingredients. The Sarah Connor delivers brie, bacon, apricot jam, and ham on sourdough. At $13.15 with no sides, it's decent but not a steal.
Overall, however, I wouldn't recommend going out of your way for it. It's solid if you're hungry and nearby, but nothing memorable. I wouldn't drive across town for it.
Fast service, small seating, and street parking make it convenient if you live in the area.
Well Met Cafe Experience Summary
I met up with a college acquaintance on a Friday afternoon for lunch. We were originally headed to Union Loafers, but when we rolled up at noon, they hit us with a 45-minute wait.
So we pivoted. Well Met was maybe a three-minute drive further south, closer to his place anyway. I didn't know anything about it going in, so I had limited expectations.
Turns out it's a panini-and-salad shop. Paninis, bagels, juice, that kind of crunchy, healthy sandwich vibe. It's the kind of place where you grab something quick and fresh without much fuss.
The first thing you'll notice is that all the sandwiches have fun names. Each one's named after an actor or actress. The Liz Lemon. The Axel Foley.
When we got there around noon, there was nobody in line. We got our sandwiches in under 10 minutes. The lady behind the counter was super helpful. I didn't have a strong preference on what to order, so she steered me toward her favorite, the Sarah Connor. Which I guess is technically a fictional actress, but we'll allow it.
My sandwich was solid, but unspectacular. It's restaurant-quality, but not worth going out of your way for. Hit the spot in the moment.
It's a small restaurant. Maybe three or four tables inside and four to six outside. If you can swing it and the weather's nice, sitting outside is definitely the move. Inside feels a little tight.
This is the kind of place that works if you're in the neighborhood. It's not going to top any charts or become your new obsession. But if you live nearby and you're looking for a quality panini? It's right there for you.
For my ongoing mission to find the best sandwiches in St. Louis, Well Met fits into that solid neighborhood tier. Not a destination, but a reliable option when you need something good and fast.
The Food At Well Met Cafe
Let's talk about the Sarah Connor.
Ham, brie, apricot jam, bacon, mustard, and greens on sourdough. All toasted up in a panini press.
Now, if you're making a sandwich with bacon, you're already kind of cooking the books (pun intended) in my opinion. Bacon makes everything better. The same goes for brie. They're both super fatty and generally delicious, so you're starting with an advantage.
But here's the thing. It worked.
The apricot jam adds this sweet, tangy element that plays well with the saltiness of the bacon and the creaminess of the brie.
Ham on its own is boring and didn't add much here. Turkey would be even worse, never going to be a showstopper.
The sandwich itself wasn't very big. Think of a loaf of sourdough bread you'd get at the grocery store. Two pieces of that, toasted in a panini, with all the aforementioned ingredients.
Well put together, nothing falling apart, good texture from the press.
At $13.15, it's fairly priced for the quality. But here's the catch. It doesn't come with a side. Not chips, not a pickle, nothing. For that price and that size, you're probably expecting a little something extra.
I didn't have my scale with me, but this was not a big sandwich by any stretch.
Would I order it again? Sure, if I was in the area. It's a 7.2/10 kind of sandwich. Good quality ingredients, fun little flavor combo, nothing that's going to blow you away. It's not something crazy unusual, just a solid neighborhood option.
They've got other fun ones on the menu, too. The Liz Lemon and the Axel Foley both caught my eye.
Those could be worth a shot if you're trying to mix it up.
Well Met Cafe Atmosphere And Miscellaneous
Well Met is small and straightforward. It's the kind of place where you order at the counter, grab a seat, and they bring your food out when it's ready.
The inside has maybe three or four little tables. It feels cozy, but honestly, a little cramped if it's busy. The outdoor seating is the better play when the weather cooperates. Four to six tables out there with more breathing room.
The service was really good. Fast, friendly, helpful. The woman at the counter knew her stuff and gave solid recommendations. We were in and out in under 10 minutes from ordering to eating, which is exactly what you want on a Friday lunch.
The vibe is casual and low-key. Not trying to be anything fancy, just a clean little spot serving quality food. You can tell it's the kind of place locals would stop by on the way to wherever they might be going.
Parking At Well Met Cafe
We parked on the street and had zero issues around noon. There's street parking all around, and it wasn't a hassle at all.
Well Met Cafe Receipt
Sandwich Size Comparisons
