When looking for a place to study with friends or get a bite to eat on the weekend, Northborough and Southborough offer many options. Students already know the typical offerings of Starbucks, Dunkin’, Chick-fil-A and more, but sometimes they are looking for something different. In this blog, I’ll showcase and review small, local businesses across the boroughs to find the best hidden gem in our community, ranging from a place to eat to a place to shop. 

The first local business I’m visiting is The Vin Bin Cafe, a sandwich shop I have been to before, located in Southborough on Route 9 at 154 Turnpike Road, about 15 minutes from Algonquin. They offer a wide variety of dishes, ranging from falafels and soups to sandwiches and salads. They offer online ordering and in-person orders from 11-3 PM on Monday-Saturday.

Founded by Rick and Julie Lombardi in 2004, they opened their first location in Marlborough, expanded into Hopkinton in February of 2013 and opened their Southborough location in December of 2014. 

Stepping into The Vin Bin, you’ll immediately notice the rustic interior design which adds to the charming feel the cafe brings. Although I do wish that there were more decorations to enhance the environment, the environment is still welcoming. I visited on a Friday afternoon, so many of the tables were already taken, but I would recommend stopping by during the weekend as many employees at offices nearby stop in for lunch.

What sets The Vin Bin apart from other sandwich shops in the area is its panini-pressed sandwiches and unique condiment combinations. Each sandwich is panini-pressed to order, which I found makes the sandwich just that much better than other shops. Additionally, each sandwich idea seems simple, but ends up much more flavorful than expected, courtesy of the condiments and sauces they use. 

The Vin Bin is also home to The Donut Stand, a separately owned small business that operates inside their Hopkinton and Southborough locations. They offer a variety of special donuts each day, along with breakfast sandwiches and coffee at their Hopkinton location. Unfortunately, they were already closed for the day when I got there, so I couldn’t try them.

The Vin Bin also offers a daily special, providing an element of surprise each time you visit. The special of the day was a BBQ roast beef sandwich, but I opted for The Townie, a roast beef sandwich on their house-made ciabatta bread with A1 sauce, cheddar cheese, horseradish mayo, tomato, arugula and red onion. Their sandwiches are on the pricer side, with the total with tax coming to $15.25.  

Despite a single sandwich costing me nearly $16, it was still delicious. The roast beef was fresh and the horseradish mayo and A1 sauce added a nice balance of sweet and savory flavors. The panini-pressed ciabatta bread achieved the perfect texture: not too crunchy, but not too soft either. I would give the overall atmosphere a 6.5/10, and the food an 8.5/10. 

The Vin Bin packs a punch as the first visit for this blog. There are plenty of offerings for everyone, and while the prices are a bit steep, you’re getting a delicious sandwich that will certainly leave you wishing to come back.

The Vin Bin is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM-3 PM.