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In a city of faceless grab-and-go delis, Toasties East stands out for its impeccably fresh sandwiches and salads and its oddly pleasant, upbeat environment. Located smack in the middle of midtown East, it caters to harried office workers who calmly queue up to order from among 46 specialty sandwiches, all made to order and none run-of-the-mill. The chicken cheddar unites a delicate cutlet with sharp cheese and smoky bacon. For heat seekers, the spicy roast beef matches its grilled meat with melted jalapeño Monterey Jack, hot peppers, and a few squirts of Tabasco for good measure. A steam table offers homey entrées like roast turkey and macaroni and cheese that are actually appealing. The salad selection is unusually spectacular; four dozen toppings range from teriyaki chicken to mini mozzarella balls—and the stock is obsessively refreshed and replenished. But most surprising is the dining area in back, invitingly done up with a persimmon-hued leather banquette, stainless-steel tables, and off-white modish chairs. Tree branches lit from beneath and gazebo-like wooden slats above invoke an unexpected rustic tranquility. — Michael Anstendig

Smoky sandwich, $7.75; chicken cheddar sandwich, $7.75; spicy roast beef sandwich, $7.75