Nestled on the ground floor of a rambling marigold-hued Victorian on a main drag of Main Road in Westport, Massachusetts, Partners Village Store and Kitchen is your quintessential country general store, bumped up a few notches for the tourists who come in for a day at the shore at nearby Horseneck Beach. There are books, tchotchkes, and a menu of soups, baked goods, and lots of yummy sounding sandwiches. With this laidback country vibe, I wanted a laidback country sandwich, so I opted for the Tarragon Chicken Salad ($7.45) served on a baguette. More

Mustard Seed Cafe, with prime corner real estate in Los Angeles' busy Los Feliz neighborhood, is that prototypical go-to spot. It's got a solid menu of slightly elevated diner eats, a smattering of outdoor tables, and good speedy take-out for that lunchtime emergency. The food may not be revelatory, but it's reliable, comforting, and easy—part of my regular rotation. Perhaps best of all, this chicken salad sandwich is served on what for L.A. is not a bad onion bagel. More