Cocoa Beach sandwich shop adds Asian flair to beach subs

COA Sandwich Shoppe in Cocoa Beach serves elevated subs using Asian-inspired ingredients and bread shipped from a century-old Atlantic City bakery.

The shop is part of a dining concept associated with Backstreet Boys member Howie Dorough. The full-service COA restaurant operates next door, and a speakeasy-style lounge named the Walk-In is located behind a door styled to look like a walk-in cooler.

Chef Eric Basta leads the food across all three locations. He applies the same focus on quality ingredients and Asian influences to the sandwich shop that he uses for the main restaurant.

“I use a lot of high end ingredients like I do next door. So our sandwiches are elevated,” Basta said.

The shop’s signature Italian sub includes capicola, salami, ham, and provolone. Basta tops it with peppers, onions, shredded lettuce, and red wine vinaigrette. The sandwich is finished with Kewpie mayonnaise and togarashi. The bread arrives overnight from a bakery in Atlantic City that has operated for more than 100 years.

“And between the flour and the water that they’re using, I haven’t tasted anything that I think is better,” Basta said.

Customers can also purchase a chocolate-covered key lime pie bar. Basta sources these treats from a maker in DeLand.

The Walk-In lounge offers a regular cocktail menu along with a custom option. Beverage director Jesse Brennan said the staff asks guests about their preferred spirits and flavor profiles to create a personalized drink.

“We want that cocktail to be completely tailored to you,” Brennan said. “So whether you like sweet, spicy, smoky, all the above, we can make that happen.”