1872 brick oven bakes daily bread

Eighty cents. That is the price of a single pretzel at The Pretzel Shop on East Carson Street, where almost every item on the menu costs less than five dollars. The Southside institution serves solid, filling food that stretches a typical fifteen dollar budget far beyond standard restaurant portions.

The shop bakes its pretzels every day inside the building’s original brick oven. That structure dates back to 1872. Customers can select from breakfast and deli sandwiches served on fresh pretzels, as well as standard sandwich rolls and daily specials. The menu features a housemade chicken salad that the source notes as a go-to item, often paired with a peanut butter cookie and a Schneider’s Peach Iced Tea.

The Pretzel Shop operates as a takeout counter. There are a few tables available on the sidewalk outside during warmer months, but most patrons order at the front. A line usually forms, though it moves quickly. The shop accepts cash only, but an ATM is located on site for customers who need to withdraw funds.

The business runs from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Saturday hours shift to 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. The shop remains closed on Sundays and Mondays. A single pretzel comes with a variety of dipping sauces for that initial eighty cent price point.

The location sits at 2316 E. Carson St. in Southside. The menu includes cinnamon sugar pretzels and rotating daily specials. The source identifies the housemade chicken salad on a pretzel as a primary recommendation for visitors seeking a substantial meal within the fifteen dollar range.