Even though I took a short hiatus from trying to make my way around Tanya Tandoc’s favorite Wichita restaurants, I’m back on the horse again and decided for something light this week.

Watermark Books & Cafe, 4701 E. Douglas, is apparently a Wichita institution that I have never experienced to its full potential. Up until researching for this post, I had set foot in Watermark only once. I blame this on my boyfriend. We all have our “places” where we each love to go and feel that it’s our home away from home. His place is Watermark, and up until Caffe Posto closed, Posto had been mine. I’ve discovered that I have unintentionally snubbed Watermark since it already had his stamp on it.

This week, I put that all aside and decided to stop there for lunch. I was in the mood for a small sandwich, so I decided on The Godfather, which consists of salami, pepperoni, red pepper mayo, and provolone cheese on fresh foccacia bread. Tanya reccomended getting a turkey sandwich and the tomato bisque, but I’m more of an Italian sandwich kind of gal.

Watermark boasts on its menu that each sandwich is served with homemade foccacia, or white, wheat, or rye bread. I’m here to say that the foccacia bread was delicious! Very light and full of flavor. I was rather amused with all the book-title sandwich names, like Great Expectations, Catcher in the Rye, and Moby Dick, to name a few. Each sandwich comes with chips or a choice of adding a salad for $1.50. I chose to go the light route and do a half sandwich for $4.25. Inexpensive and just right, although next time I’ll definitely try one of the salads on the side as well.

I have also heard from many others, not just Tanya, that the Tomato Bisque is a must-have. I’m a pretty adventurous eater and don’t find a lot of foods I don’t like, but tomato soup is one of them. It happens to be Watermark’s house soup and is said to pair greatly with any of the sandwiches. So I’m counting on you, Wichita, to tell me if this soup is really that AMAZING, and maybe I’ll part with my fearful tomato soup ways just once.

For those of you with little ones around, Watermark is kid-friendly! While glancing at the menu, I took note of the many options that kids can have. Vegetarians, don’t be afraid! Your needs are also met by not only several of the salads, but a sandwich called Who Moved my Veggie-Cheese?, which includes a mix of cream cheese, basil, pecans, and gorgonzola cheese, topped with guacamole, lettuce, tomato, sprouts, and sunflower seeds served on foccacia.

Upon breaking the news to my boyfriend that I’d ventured to Watermark without him, his beloved spot, he asked me, “Well why didn’t you get any dessert?” Although I was tempted at the counter while ordering, I knew I had some delicious Girl Scout Cookies awaiting me at home. A variety of sweets, including cinnamon rolls, raspberry scones, raspberry yogurt muffins, mint pistachio cake, berry mini cakes, frosted cupcakes, and chocolate chip cookies, is offered daily. Check the website for daily soup and dessert listings.

What’s your favorite sandwich or dessert at Watermark? Let us know in the comments.

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