Sara Z.
Yelp
I had been thinking about this sandwich from the last time I was in Paris in 2012. It's different than it was before, but it's still a delicious and filing sandwich, but maybe a bit more hyped. When I went in 2012, there was only the shop inside the market with Alain himself making the sandwiches.
First, no matter when you go, be prepared to wait. There are tables and chairs inside, but they fill up quickly. We lucked out and were able to get a seat while in line once inside the store. If there aren't seats inside the shop, there are plenty of seats in the Marché Covert.
Second, the ordering system is strange, at least for me. There are several chefs making the sandwiches and when one is done, they'll take your order in line. I didn't see this but they have a list of all of the meats and toppings on the large menu inside so you can specify what you want. My mom and I messed up the order at first because we failed to specify we wanted two different sandwiches, one meat and one chicken. So we had to go back to our sandwich maker and re-order before we paid.
Now for the sandwich itself. It's fresh, tons of veggies, and the meat quality is excellent. I had half of a thin cut beef sandwich and a bit of a chicken sandwich. It has avocado, lettuce, tomato, mushrooms, and your choice of cheese on it, along with some other seasonings and herbs. the bread is delicious and fresh! It is messy, so sitting is recommended.
Comparing this sandwich to the 2012, I gotta say, 2012 wins. It wasn't a panini but it had the same veggies and cheese options, but it also had oil and vinegar on it so it was just a tad more flavorful. I don't think I would personally go back a 3rd time if I go back to Paris but I do think it's worth checking out if you've never been, like sandwiches, and don't mind lines.