Gambino's New York Subs

The Place: Gambino's New York Subs
1 Embarcadero Ctr

www.gambinosnysubs.com

The Order: #11 The Gambino (East Coast Style)

The Review:
Back to the FiDi close to work. It appears summer has finally hit the City, so the walks to get lunch have become even more enjoyable. I decided to head over to the Embarcaderos to my  next spot, Gambinos. I was in a great mood, the sun was shining on my city as I strolled over the unmistakable sidewalks in front of the Embaracdero Center.

I walked in and took a look at the large menu up on the board. I decided on the place's namesake the Gambino #11. I enjoy a place where I can order by number, it means they have a wide selection. The Gambino is ham, salami, hot coppa, mortadella and provolone.
They then ask you East Coast, or West Coast style. East Coast means shredded lettuce, onions, olive oil, vinegar, salt & pepper and herbs.West Coast: Shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, mayo, mustard, pickles, and onion.
I went with the East Coast, grabbed chips and a drink and headed back to enjoy. However, enjoy I did not. The roll was soft but dry, like chewing on a gym sock. They must realize this though, because they absolutely drench the sandwich in oil. There weren't enough napkins in the place to sop up the oil dripping off this sandwich. It was not cut all the way through which is a pet peeve of mine and by the time I got to the meat, I realized they only had one thin slice of each meat listed. It was truly disappointing. An oily, messy,  poor quality roll, with a hint of meat.

I think NY would be insulted with this sandwich, as was I.
 

 

Java Beach

The Place: Java Beach at the Zoo
2650 Sloat Blvd
http://www.javabeachsf.com

The Order: The Tsunami
Ham, mortadella, salami and melted cheese (pepper jack)

So I finally got around to reviewing a place outside the financial district. After a walk with my dogs, wife, kids, mother-in-law and a friend, we stopped into Java Beach on Sloat for lunch. This is a great spot right across from the Zoo and blocks from the beach. My wife placed the order while I grabbed a table outside.

This place is popular for lunch and for coffee, so there was a little bit of a wait. You can call ahead and place your order and I recommend it. When we did get the order I sat outside in the Sunset breeze and got into my sandwich. The bread is amazing, a great roll with a  floured crust that bites with a crunch, then yields to a soft delicious dough. Then the oil and vinegar (sub sauce) kicks in with a nice tang that is not overpowering, and is accompanied by the very fresh veggies. Then a trifecta of meats, ham, salami, and mortadella, bound together with a hot melted layer of cheese finishes off a delicious mouthful. Each of the meat's flavor came through most likely because they slice their own behind the counter.
This was a very good sandwich that I highly recommend if  you are going to the zoo, the beach, or just happen to be on this side of town. They offer great coffee as well. The Tsunami is an awesome hot sub with some of my favorite meats, melted cheese and a high quality roll.

I recently heard someone describe the ingredients of "The Holy Trinity" of bread, meat, and cheese, and Java comes through on all three. Give 'em a try and let me know!

Les Croissants

The Place: Les 2 California St
(between Drumm St & Davis St)

The Order: Grilled Pork Banh Mi

The Review:
So after a few negative reviews, a friend of mine from work and blog follower recommended I go to his trusted banh mi spot. I have only had a couple banh mi before and enjoyed them so I took his word...and order, and headed to Les Croissants.
Before I get to far into my review let me give you a quick overview of the banh mi, or Vietnamese sandwich.
They start with a french roll, then fill it with your choice of meat, usually pork, chicken, or ham. Then they add sliced cucumber, and thinly sliced pickled carrots and daikon. Add some cilantro, jalapeno, a little soy sauce and sometimes pate, and you have your banh mi.

As I stepped in, I was greeted by a very friendly young lady, with a big smile. Both ladies that  worked here were very nice and friendly. I ordered a grilled pork for myself and a grilled chicken for my friend and 2 cookies. I paid...$10 total ($4.50 a sandwich and 2 for a dollar homemade cookies) and took my order back to work.

The sandwiches were filled with a lot of  the traditional banh mi ingredients (no pate, thank you) and smelled great.

My first bite into the bread was a great start. This french roll was perfect! A nice crisp crust that gives way to a soft inside which allows the fillings of the sandwich to stay put. Then the flavor of the pickled carrots and daikon hit with the fresh crunch of the cucumber. Not to be overshadowed, the saltiness of the pork and soy sauce joined the party with a bit of heat from the jalapeno. This was a party of flavor with the bite of all the veggies, a touch of heat, and delicious salty pork, all wrapped in some great french bread. The heat stayed on your lips, so if you are sensitive to such things I would recommend you ask for no jalapenos.
So over all this was really tasty and really cheap! I have to thank my friend at work for recommending them. For a fast, cheap, tasty meal, give Les Croissants a try! The cookies are worth it too, but this isn't San Francookie, is it.

I will be trying to get to more places outside the FiDi, so far it has been convenient for me to get to places there while at work. Thanks for the support, tell your friends, comment, and eat some sandwiches!

Mondo Caffe

The Place: Mondo Caffe
602 Mission St (between 2nd St & New Montgomery St)
http://www.mondocafesf.com/

The Order: Crab Melt

The Review:
Again I went to a popular Internet review site to find my next place. Mondo Caffe came up with people raving about their crab melt. I took the walk over and almost passed the place right up. In a little while I wish I did.
I went in and saw two ladies waiting for their sandwiches and stood at the counter right under the "Order Here" sign. There was one man making sandwiches, a young lady watching him, and another man closer to me enthralled with his phone. I stood and waited and looked at the guy looking at his phone. Finally the guy making sandwiches asked what I would like. I told him the crab melt, and phone guy rushed over to take my money. My first disappointment was over a $10 bill for lunch...no drinks, no chips (it did come with a little side salad of wilted crab grass)
As I left I opened the container and smelled the goods. It was warm and smelled good. When I got down to eating it I was impressed with the foccacia bread. The make it in house and it was very good. Then came the crab "melt." Now as I have stated before I am a San Francisco native and was raised on Dungeness Crab. I guess this has made me spoiled. This was a Snow Crab melt. Well it seemed like imitation crab to me. I can't say for sure and I don't want to presume but there was some pink color that I don't think was natural. Not to mention we are literally BLOCKS away from where you can get fresh, local, delicious Dungeness!

To be brief, as brief as my encounter with the worker here, I didn't like this at all. I will say the foccacia warmed on the panini press was good. The rest, the sandwich, the service, hardly deserve mentioning. I really am amazed that this place gets so many good reviews online. Save your money  ($10!!) and the joy of being ignored until your wallet comes out and skip Mondo Caffe!

This has been a couple negative posts in a row, and I don't want to come off as a guy who does not like anything! Please send me your favorite places so I can go enjoy a good sandwich and praise somewhere!

The Sentinel

The Place: The Sentinel
37 NEW MONTGOMERY ST (AT STEVENSON ALLEY)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94105
http://www.thesentinelsf.com/

The Order: CORNED BEEF with cabbage, Russian dressing and Swiss cheese

The Review: Another Financial district trip leads me to The Sentinel. Rave reviews online, and on the 100 things to try in San Francisco by 7x7 magazine http://www.7x7.com/eat-drink/2010-big-eat-sf-100-things-try-you-die. I was looking forward to this on my walk over.
For the first time in a few days we got some dry weather (even though it is JUNE!) So I took the stroll over to New Montgomery. As I approached The Sentinel I was surprised to see how small it was. It looked like just the corner of The House of Shields. As I got to the front door I realized that it was just the corner, but has a great look. This is a sandwich counter. Very cool, very fun to order from.

 I asked the young lady if I wanted to spicy pork, or the corned beef. She said if it was my first time, I should get the corned beef, another worker there quickly agreed. At the time I did not know that this was on the 7x7 list, but the staffs confidence had me excited! I ordered and was quickly called to pick up my sandwich.
When I got back to work to eat I opened the box and was hopeful. A good amount of corned beef, tucked between nice fresh foccacia with cole slaw and russian dressing. It was like a Ruben with cole slaw instead of sauerkraut. With my first bite I was pleased with the foccacia. Very fresh, I would say made in house and nice. Then the cole slaw with a nice crunch, and Russian dressing kicked in...and then....then....nothing. The corned beef was dry and bland, the Swiss almost nonexistent! I took another bite, same thing! I was very disappointed. A vegetarian may want to go here for a cole slaw sandwich on some good foccacia, but I was not impressed! Apparently the owner is a fairly famous chef, but this sandwich did nothing for me...in fact it angered me because I paid $9 for it! I do have to give points for my favorite part of the meal though:

It came with an Andes mint...and I love me some Andes mints! So for finish, this place has a great look, and is owned by a famous Chef, but give me a good sandwich from a liquor store and give me chips and a drink for my $9!

Sammy's on 2nd

The Place: Sammy's on 2nd
84 Second Street Between Market and Mission (near Jessie alley)

The Order: House Special

The Review:
I checked an internet review site to find my next spot close to work. It gave me Sammy's on 2nd, so I took the short walk down there. I walked in and was surprised to find no line! (by the time I was leaving there was more of a crowd gathering.)
I ordered the House Special because after all it is their...house special. I also chose this particular sandwich because it was hot pastrami! The menus described it as hot pastrami  and swiss cheese on Pita with avocado and the works. Wait....Whaaat? Pita? This should at least be interesting. I ordered one for myself  (no pickles) and a co-worker and went to get a drink. I came back to watch the sandwich get made and noticed the young lady putting the pastrami in the microwave. When I think of a hot pastrami I think of pastrami right out of the steamer, giving a much more moist, delicious version of the meat. I would consider this more of a heated pastrami. However "heated"  pastrami is still pretty good!
As I paid the nice man at the register he asked if I had a sandwich card with them. I answered no, and he gave me a frequent buyer card with two stamps for the two sandwiched I had ordered. If I go back and buy 7 more, I get a free one! Gotta like that! The whole staff here was very friendly.

I gave my co-worker his sandwich and we both agreed "this looks promising!" The sandwich had a very "healthy" serving of pastrami that would prove to be the star of the sandwich. As I took my first bite I was pleasantly surprised. The pastrami came through nicely with a good pepper flavor, and was embellished by a perfect amount of mustard. The pita allowed the pastrami to really shine and not be over shadowed. The swiss and avocado came in as a nice aftertaste and almost a palate cleanser for my next bite of pastrami.

I was really unsure of the pita as a bread choice and this was defiantly the first time I have had a sandwich on pita...but it worked! This ended up being a very good sandwich and I can see myself racking up that free one pretty quickly. I have to say this is a very good option for the Financial District. This was a great example of a good to a very good sandwich. I wouldn't say it is the best sandwich in town but if someone asked where to get a good sandwich close, I would, and will recommend Sammy's. Give 'em a try and let me know!

First Review

The Place: Cafe Algiers
                   50 Beale Street

The Order:
Spicy Turkey on Dutch Crunch with Pepper Jack and Jalapenos

The Review:
As I said, I am starting my reviews in the Financial District, near where I work. And what better place than where there is a line out the door by 11:30 everyday...this has got to be good right? Well, Cafe Algiers offers what I like to call a "fine" sandwich, there is nothing wrong with it...it's fine. That doesn't mean it's bad, just doesn't knock my socks off. I waited in line for 20 minutes at 11:30 after trying to beat the crowd. I stood in line anticipating the great sandwich that all these people must be waiting for. There is a very small chalkboard menu and they heavily advertise their use of Boars Head Meat, which is a plus for me, they make a good product. People in front of me and behind me were talking about the Spicy Turkey, so I made up my mind. I ordered The Spicy Turkey on Dutch Crunch with pepper jack and added jalapenos.

When I got back to work I opened up the Boar's Head bag and and unrolled my wrapper. The first thing I noticed was that the roll was not sliced all the way through length wise. They made a "pocket" to put everything in. I want my sandwich sliced all the way through, both length wise and through the middle. However the roll was fresh, and a good dutch crunch. The produce was also very fresh, the lettuce had good crunch, and tomatoes were crisp.
When it came to condiments, they were a little overdone. I noticed as the young lady made my sandwich they mayo bottle was a three headed squeeze bottle. This lead to it being a little heavy on mayo. Even with the "extra" mayo the sandwich seemed a little dry.

I must say the price was very reasonable, especially downtown. I am trying to keep price out of my reviews and not give extra points for low price, but will try and note good value or if I think it is priced a little high.

So  again, this sandwich was "fine." Which is good, but not worth standing in line for 20 minutes for. I ate it, was enjoyable, and I was full (with a bag of chips and a Snapple.) This was a perfect example of a "fine" sandwich.

So there it is! My first review! PLEASE comment, let me know pros and cons...if your are near Beale and Market, go try Cafe Algiers and let me know your thoughts. Thanks, and good eating!