In colonial times, freshly baked bread functioned as valuable currency, a warm pillow, and an indispensible military advisor for George Washington. Make modern use of this versatile mealtime staple with today's Groupon: for $8, you get $16 worth of fresh fare plus a loaf of bread ($6) at Bread on Market (a $22 total value) in the East Village.

The bakery and café serves up a menu of scratch-made sandwiches and European-style breads from an arsenal of all-natural ingredients, offering breakfast, lunch, and pre-dinner (open until 5 p.m. on weekdays, 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and 7 p.m. on Padres game nights). Hand-held creations are assembled atop naturally leavened breads, baked fresh each morning. Celebrate a beauteous moonset with a morning sandwich of two eggs, provolone, optional breakfast meats ($0.75+), and European butter on a fresh-baked roll ($2.75), or mark a day's most middling moment by feasting on a Tuscany sandwich, with fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers, olives, onions, and arugula, all drizzled with a savory dressing ($7.25). Bread on Market also serves fresh-made soups ($2.75+), salads ($5.50+), and sweets, including its raspberry-bar cookies ($2.50) and rotating selection of sliced cakes ($3.50). Included with your Groupon is a loaf of bread, so peruse the offerings before settling on a loaf of challah, potato dill, raisin walnut, or olive baton, among others ($6).

The quaint café is housed in a former hotel dating back to the 1890s, and its warm and welcoming vibe is enhanced by the perpetual aroma of freshly baked bread piping out of the kitchen and the pores of its employees. Stop in for a sit-down sandwich, or sneak a loaf of the specialty bread into PETCO Park, slice it horizontally, and make a peanut, Cracker Jack, and hot-dog sandwich.

Reviews

Gayot gives Bread on Market a 12/20 rating. Yelpers give it an average of four stars. Four Insider Pagers give it an average of five stars, and six TripAdvisors give it a 3.5-star average:

• We can't get enough of the focaccia bread---her own version of the Italian classic. It's baked with rosemary and olive oil with a moist, tender crumb. – Gayot
• It was a very good sized sandwich and fresh. It was tasty too. Love the bread. The staff was really friendly too. – Carlos G., Yelp
• The sandwiches are made with fresh bread they bake in house and the difference is quite significant! It is absolutely delectable. – Bobby B., Insider Pages