Food D.O.G.s: Breakfast sandwich "Survivor"

By PETER BOTHUM

The island off U.S. 40 just before you hit Del. 896 is the perfect quick stop for motorists on their way to work or vacation via I-95 or routes south to the beach.

McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts provide the grab-and-go eats and fuel-you-fast coffee and sweets on the mid-highway sliver in Glasgow. Need an oil change? Jiffy Lube is right there, too.

There's also a 24-7 Mart, which has the unfortunate disadvantage of facing east, which would fail to snag the morning traffic heading that way from Elkton and other parts of Maryland.

Still, the mart does everything it can to grab passing traffic, flashing a bundle of signs, one of which reads "Breakfast 2 for $3."

Wait. What exactly would I be getting "two" of for $3? Two pieces of sausage? Two slices of toast? Two eggs?

I had to find out. As I suspected (and prayed), the offering at the 24-7 Mart is an absolute steal: Two breakfast sandwiches for $3.

Your choices sit in a warming tray, wrapped neatly in foil, next to the register: Sandwiches boasting egg and cheese along with either sausage, bacon or ham on toast or a bagel.

How in the h-e-double-hockey sticks can this joint offer two breakfast sandwiches for almost the same price as Dunkin' Donuts charges for one?

"I lose money," said Mack Patel, who runs the register at the 24-7 Mart. "I have to. I have to do it if I want the customers to come in."

He's right. There's a Wawa to the west that motorists will hit a quarter mile before they arrive at the convenience store. Across the street is the high-priced (overpriced?) coffee-and-pastry offerings at Starbucks.

The mart's island mates, omnipresent brand names McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts, hypnotize and suck in the eyes and brains that have been trained to follow and obey their commercials and slogans.

But deals are deals. In addition to the breakfast sandwich deal, the quaint little spot sells New England coffee at any size for 99 cents.

If you come for lunch, you can fill up on a 12-inch sub for a mere $4 made at the 24-7 Mart's deli, which also offers cheese steaks, sliced meats and other sandwiches.

Were the breakfast sandwiches the best I've ever had? Nah. But the sausage, egg and cheese on a bagel was comparable to Dunkin' Donuts or maybe even something you might scoop up at a quality street stand in New York. The bacon, egg and cheese on toast had a nice made-on-the-go-at-home feel to it.

But really, how can you argue with two for $3? With that kind of deal, we're thinking the 24-7 Mart is going to be a survivor on this fast-food island.