Bertoni Caffe in Brickell Has a Secret Off-Menu Fried PB&J Sandwich

When it comes to snagging a secret menu item, one must be in the know. Because hidden dishes are scattered across various restaurants in town, finding off-menu items is a challenge. Sometimes, though, diners receive helpful information from the eatery itself.

Recently, NaiYaRa announced the existence of a fashionable sushi doughnut that is available only by asking a server.

Now, Bertoni Gelato Caffe in Brickell wants to share its own secret: a fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

"My favorite snack is peanut butter and jelly,” chef Eddie Baida says. “Sometimes I love to toast the bread so the peanut butter warms up a little, which is what made me think of frying it.”
Available by request, the warm sandwich smears all-natural peanut butter and Bertoni's homemade blend of berry marmalade on classic white bread. Baida fries the treat to a crisp golden brown, keeping its doughy center intact. He coats the bread in tempura batter before frying it to prevent a mess and add crunch.

Before the dish is sent out, it's drizzled with chocolate syrup and accompanied by a small scoop of gelato.

“To match the warmth of the sandwich, I decided to add a scoop of vanilla gelato,” he says. “It’s meant to dip and swirl your sandwich in."

The sandwich costs $11.99, which is in line with the rest of Bertoni's prices. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant is known for fresh salads such as a kale blend topped with Parmesan, dates, and butternut squash, as well as pastas like sweet potato gnocchi and a variety of cheese- and meat-stuffed sandwiches. The PB&J is a welcome deviation from the restaurant's otherwise health-focused menu.