New sandwich shop brings taste of Germany to Cape Coral — bratwurst, schnitzel and all
Dennis Friedmann is exactly where he wants to be.
Last year, the German businessman walked into a small deli on Del Prado Boulevard in Cape Coral that would change the course of his life.
“It was like a dream,” said Friedmann, who has vacationed in Cape Coral for years. “It was exactly the kind of place I wanted to own.”
And so he made it a reality. In that exact shop.
Friedmann quietly opened The Rustic with his father, Martin, on Feb. 19 in American Plaza. It’s a cupcake throw away from LadyCakes Bakery in the space previously occupied by Poppa Don’s Deli and Catering and Nicaraguan and Cuban restaurants before that.
“I love this area and the people,” Friedmann said. “What I’m bringing here is old authentic German food in an American style.”
It comes in breakfast and lunch form with sandwiches served on Kaiser rolls in the morning and hot, cold and signature subs throughout the day.
Breakfast — officially from 7-11 a.m. but anytime upon request — consists of egg, bacon and German sausage creations.
“Those are on Kaiser rolls,” said Friedmann, who spent the last 17 years living in Switzerland. “I want to make those popular. We have a good coffee (lattes, espresso, cappuccino) to go with it with fresh ground Italian beans. And we have a new coffee machine from Switzerland. It’s high end and the coffee comes out perfect.”
Sandwiches, wraps and salads are on the menu
Things really get going around lunchtime.
Customers come in for the hearty sandwiches served on NY-NJ Par Baked Breads.
“Bread is very important,” Friedmann said. “We have the good bread and the sandwiches are packed inside with everything homemade or the highest quality. They are big.”
Best-sellers include house-made schnitzel and bratwurst, and The Grilled Jeff — grilled chicken with mozzarella, roasted peppers, tomato and balsamic. The Rustic — with German meatloaf, hash browns, Swiss cheese and mayo — is also very popular.
“The meatloaf is bought special from a German butcher,” Friedmann said. “It’s complicated to make. It’s like baloney. Germans know what it is and love it.”
Other sandwiches include homemade meatballs, Philly beef and fish, plus veggie, Greek and Mediterranean style and Swiss tuna.
“We make the roast beef ourselves,” Friedmann said. “It’s 2? hours in the oven. It comes out beautiful, like a celebration.
“Every day we talk about creating another style of sandwich. We do all our sandwiches in wraps now too after customers requested something lighter.”
Salads — including potato, German sausage, tuna, chicken and macaroni — are made fresh.
The recently added Hungarian goulash, served in a sourdough bread bowl, is also a hit.
Local and German customers are discovering the small, order-at-the-counter eatery.
“We have a lot of German recipes,” Friedmann said. “I didn’t know anyone here but German visitors are coming and finding us now.”
Before Friedmann opened, he completely redid the inside of the space, from new flooring to updated ceiling tiles. He added tables and a long counter too.
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“Food is important,” Friedmann said, “but I want this place to look good. It’s clean and modern with a rustic look I love.”
After a quiet start, things are picking up for Friedmann.
“I’m really happy now,” he said. “Each day we are growing more.”
The Rustic Sandwich Deli Cape Coral, 2924 Del Prado Blvd., Unit 5, Cape Coral; open 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; (239) 710-5835; the-rustic.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: The Rustic sandwich shop opens in Cape Coral with German flavor
