Sandwich Reviews
Judging and Biases
So I usually get sides but the sandwich is a standalone rating, I just get what they recommend or something that peaks my interest. Price matters. I love pickles, garlic, and like a balance of veggies. I don’t like too much bread.
Leader Board
Reviews in Order of Consumption:
THH Sandwiches
Order: #4 Grilled Pork with Extra Veggies
Price: $7.50
Rating: 95/100
THH holds a special place in my heart, they always give extra veggies for free and absolutely load it up. The bread is made in house and is nice and soft. Pork is flavorful and thinner than other places that I have had so it is easy to chew and stays tender. They add some green onion sauce to give it a unique slightly sweet flavor. The pickled carrot and daikon balance out that sweetness perfectly with just the right amount of acidity, the jalapeño adds a touch of heat, the fresh cucumber adds extra crunch for texture and the cilantro’s herbaciousness ties it all together. A truly goated sandwich, especially for the price. Spring rolls I got were good too.
Pumpernick’s Deli
Order: C2 Pastrami and Corned Beef with Fried Onions
Price: $17.00
Rating: 81/100
Great sandwich, was piled high with meats and had a good amount of coleslaw and russian dressing to keep it nice and moist. Since the onions were a little caramelized from being fried it added a soft sweetness to the sandwich to balance out the flavor. Having both pastrami and corned beef is nice because you get a mix of fatty meat and lean meat to properly balance out the meal. Highlight of this place is the picklebar, which had a ton of different pickled vegetables to add to the sandwich allowing you to customize each bite(the pickled tomato went the best). Would definitely go back and get sauce all over my shirt again.
Antonio’s Deli
Order: Chicken Fantasia
Price: $14.50
Rating: 62/100
It was ight, sadly they didn’t cut it in half so no great cross-section but it was definitely a beast, the roasted eggplant and prosciutto went really well with the cutlet. The bread was chewy and there was a lot of it, I ended up taking off half the bread to make the ratio was better. Pickle was as chewy as the bread but the potato salad was fire. Will try this place again though the people running the restaurant were nice.
Cosmi’s Deli
Order: Sicilian
Price: $13.95
Rating: 94/100
This sandwich was badass, had the perfect ratio of bread veggies and meat. i know the meat looks a little light but when you’re actually eating this beast it is well balanced, which I think is why this is one of the best sandwiches around. Thinly sliced onion, tomato and lettuce add an perfect punch of freshness. Get the veggies with vinegar and oil and i suggest you do the same as it balances out some of the saltiness of the meats. Mild Provalone does it’s job and doesn’t overpower anything else. The combination of coppa, proscutto, and mortadella was diabolical, especially since I have been a bolonga lover since I was a kid. Longhots add a good heat but didn’t overpower anything and the combo with sweet peppers gave a great sweet and spicy dynamic. Seeded roll was great, nice and soft, got a little drenched by the end because of the vinegar but held its shape without any problems. Potato salad was a little mayo-ey but good and worked with the sandwich.
Wawa
Order: Chicken Salad with Pepperoni
Price: $8.99
Rating: 82/100
Wawa hits like 2007 Subway. For those unaware Wawa is basically an east coast gas station on crack. Allow me to put you onto my classic subway order with a Wawa twist: Chicken salad, pepperoni, American cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion, banana peppers and honey mustard, add some red pepper flakes and you are laughing. The beauty of this sandwich is that it hits all the taste buds(except bitter, fuck that) the salty from the meats, a little sour from the pickles, savory from the pepperoni, sweet from the honey mustard, all held together by some good chicken salad. She may not look pretty but it was a great sandwich with solid ingredients.
Ricci’s Hoagies
Order: Antipasta
Price: $14.00
Rating: 66/100
Not too shabby, you really gotta be an olive lover to completely enjoy this sandwich. The Olives kind of overpowered everything else, which was a bummer because the ingredients overall were solid. Meat was thinly sliced right in front of me, had peperoni, salami, coppa, and prosciutto. Red peppers added a nice tang, pepperchinis added a good crunch and some spice, cheese was soft and light, veggies were crisp and thin, and bread was fresh. I took off some of the olives for the second half and everything balanced out much better, would definitely rate it higher if not for that. Rare deli potato salad L.
Blazer’s Food Joint
Order: Chopped Meatball
Price: $16.00
Rating: 37/100
They cooked a little too hard on this sando. Honestly there were some bites were pretty damn good, but overall it was not that good. The ingredients themselves were good, caramelized onion, pesto, a bunch of cheese is delicious, but the fried ravioli was a little much, added a little too much breading to the sandwich. Bread was sourdough which was good on it’s own but not sure if it went with the rest of the sandwich. Meatballs had a chopped cheese texture, which I think is what they were going for but actual chopped meatballs might have went better. Yes I was.
Carrot and Daikon
Order: Lemongrass Beef
Price: $7.50
Rating: 83/100
A delightful sandwich. Carrot and Daikon was the first bahn mi place I was ever introduced to, and I fell in love. The bread is buttery and made fresh in house, the pickled veggies are fresh, crunchy, and fully loaded on this sandwich, helps balance out the rich lemongrass meatloaf. I am a meatloaf enjoyer so this is right up my alley. The lemongrass in the beef comes through well with the other veggies. The crispy pork spring rolls are slappers as well.
Nick’s Deli
Order: Breakfast Burrito Toasted (add Avo)
Price: $8.99 (+1.75)
Rating: 88/100
A true hometown classic. This burrito tastes better the more hungover you are. Loaded up with flavorful homemade chorizo, bacon, potatoes, eggs, and a ton of cheese, it simply cannot miss. Overall, the texture of the burrito is a little simple, but that’s what makes it so great, especially when hungover. The cheese tends to be on the end and always gives a delicious last a first bite. Comes with their homemade salsa that gives it the perfect kick. Avocado is not needed on this burrito I was just feeling myself. Also fuck you a burrito can be a sandwich this is my blog don’t forget that.
Liberty Kitchen
Order: The Fig and the Pig
Price: $18.00
Rating: 89/100
Glorious Sandwich. This was essentially a charcuterie board on a sandwich with a chicken cutlet and it absolutely slapped. This is the best cutlet I’ve had so far in Philly, thin crispy breading gave a crunchy texture to the whole sandwich without making it too bready. The goat cheese and fig jam provided moisture so that it wasn’t dry. The Goat cheese and pickled red onions were tangy and cut the saltiness of the aged prosciutto. The sweetness of the fig jam contributed to the great balance of flavors and textures that every sandwich should strive for. There was a little too much arugula to close it but I just ate it on the side. Also the long hot potato salad was top tier.
Angelo’s Pizzeria
Order: Cheesesteak with Longhots
Price: $14.04
Rating: 85/100
Instagram cheesesteak. I have seen this thing all over instagram as the best cheesesteak in Philly. Ima say it, this this is great but not earth shattering. Don’t get me wrong, the ingredients are solid all around, but it doesnt really come together to be something that is worth the hour and a half wait. I ate it almost immediately and the bread was soaked through and soggy (not terrible but kind of fell apart while eating). The meat was high quality and tasty but could have used a little seasoning on it. Longhots gave a ton of spice which I liked but I probably should’ve gotten sweet peppers so that is on me. The Longhot wiz was good and spread evenly throughout. Overall it was a great sandwich, but I would not wait so long for again. Also everyone in line was saying they were not from Philly(I am not either so I can’t talk shit but that is what I noticed). Got a deep dish pizza with it and that was amazing, they may have the best pizza in Philly.
Brennan’s Delicatessin
Order: #15 Smoked Fish Sandwich
Price: $14.95
Rating: 44/100
Normie Jewish sandwich. This was a pretty uninspiring sandwich and looked like something I’d whip up in 30 seconds at home. The pumpernickel bread was soft in the middle which was nice but it was pretty plain. The fish was good and the salt levels were balanced across, but the tomato was not seasoned. The horseradish cheese sauce tasted more like a mayo than cheese or horseradish and didn’t add any spice or extra flavor. red onion added a nice crunch but there could have been more. Locals say this place used to be better which is a bummer. Potato salad was mid, tasted like store bought.
Tap 24
Order: Crispy Chicken
Price: $13.95
Rating: 16/100
Don’t let its good looks deceive you, this was not good, but you gotta have bad sandwiches to have good sandwiches. First off anything that was cooked on this guy was burnt, I did not eat the top piece of bread because it was burnt to a crisp. The Chicken was overcooked and dry, had a burnt cornflake crust that was bitter. Bacon was decent and had unseasoned tomatoes, but they were good and added some freshness. There was barely any guacamole on it, only covered about half of the sandwich which was a bummer as it needed to balance out the rest of the dry ingredients. Tater Tots were good, but the ranch was watery and flavorless so it couldn’t even save this sad sando. RIP.
Middle Child
Order: Duck Fat Cubano
Price: $16.00
Rating: 85/100
Muy Chevere. This was the best cubano I’ve ever had (I have only had like 4 tbh). The meats on this guy were so good, the pilled pork had a very rich meaty flavor from the duck fat that went great with the ham, which was thick cut and delicous. This bad boi was sauced up with good amount of mustard and mayo, but the sauce was balanced so the mustard didn’t overpower the flavor of the meat. the pickles also helped balance out the mayo and pulled pork which gave the sandwich a fresher kick. Cheese was mild and melty. The ciabatta bread was nice and crunchy which gave the whole sandwich a good blend of textures. Also their pancake is god tier. PS don’t wear a falcons jersey there.
Vincenzo’s Delicatessen
Order: Meatball, Rabe, Sharp
Price: $11.50
Rating: 77/100
Solid sandwich. Meatballs were well seasoned, herby, and cooked well to where they had some cripsy bits for added texture. They smashed them on the seeded roll so that every bite was even. Broccoli rabe added a good bitterness and some balance to the savory meatballs. There was a lot of cheese which gave the sando some moisture, which it kind of needed. A little sauce would have tied everything together perfectly imo, but i added a little ketchup and the sweetness in that balanced everything out. Overall pretty solid but they didn’t have potato salad ://
Di Bruno Bros Market
Order: Sicilian Sensation
Price: $12.99
Rating: 74/100
Pretty tasty butterball. Overall this sandwich was very rich, the housemade focaccia was cooked and had a nice crunch on the top layer, but it was incredibly buttery, to the point it smelled like movie theater butter. The mortadella was also very tasty and they guy making it did not skimp which was nice. The stracciatella was light and buttery, adding creaminess to the experience that contrasted the warm crunchy bread. What makes this guy special is all of the pistachios, they are piled on there and mixed in with a syrup that adds a nice sweetness. The sandwich was overall very decadent and put me on the ground after eating it. The curry chicken salad was very unique and delightful.
Bagel & Co
Order: Breakfast Sammy with Sausage
Price: $6.75
Rating: 70/100
A great hangover(or still drunk in the morning) bagel. I already took a bite when I decided to take a pit. There wasn’t anything crazy about this sammy but it did everything it needed to. The sesame bagel was soft and chewy but not at all stale. The sausage was flavorful enough and the right size for the bagel. The egg was cooked so that it was soft and fluffy while still having some yolk to spread throughout the bagel. Because of the ketchup, American cheese, and egg this sandwich was moist throughout and pretty well balanced. Can’t go wrong with melty American cheese. Nothing here was groundbreaking but everything was done well and came together nicely.
Attilio’s
Order: Cheesesteak Pizza
Price: $4.50
Rating: 27/100
This pizza crumbled as soon as I picked it up and I knew I was in for a treat. I mean just look at it. Yes I was sober and I hate to say it but honest to god it doesn’t taste as bad as it looks. That is not much of a compliment thought. It seems like they just put a giant slice of american cheese over a normal slice of cheese pizza without sauce. Bread was a little crispy on the bottom which was nice. Meat was fine it seemed like ribeye, tender and well cooked, but I swear they gave me the slice with the least meat in the window. All you could really taste was american cheese so it was kind of like a grilled cheese. There was also definitely ground sausage randomly on there so the pizza was kind of inconsistent. I could not believe my stomach was able to handle that so I truly must be getting stronger. If you go here just please exercise free will and do not order the cheesesteak pizza. Also remember I run the show and pizza is an open face sandwich.
What About a Bagel
Order: Pork Roll Bagel Sandwich
Price: $6.50
Rating: 68/100
Jersey-ass bagel (not a bad thing). this Bagel sandwich was pretty good overall, I heard that pork roll is the jersey way so I had to get it and I can confidently say I am a pork roll fan, it is like fried baloney but possibly better. The everything bagel was good but I wish it was a little bit softer/fluffier but had a good chew to it, just wish the innards to outtards ratio was better. Egg was tasty and worked well with the salty meat. The ketchup brought everything together but I added a little more since there was so much bread. American cheese works great with ketchup and baloney so it fit right in here. Mac salad was tasty and had fun noodles.
Honey Bee Deli
Order: Corned Beef Special
Price: $8.99
Rating: 75/100
Buzzing good. Not the most unique sandwich in the world but was pretty solid overall. The Boars head meat was well distributed and plentiful, the corned beef fell apart nicely and everything was tender and warm. The Rye Bread balanced out the richness of the slaw and russian dressing. The sandwich was “toasted” but really just warmed up so I missed some crunch on the bread. Swiss cheese was good and complimented the meat but not melted sadly. Slaw seemed homemade and was mayo which balanced out the salt levels in the deli meat. I am like 88% sure that the russian dressing was the kraft russian dressing and not homemade because it was really sweet, thankfully there wasnt that much so it did not take away from it. Potato salad was watery but not dogwater.
Tommy DiNic’s
Order: Roast Pork Sandwich
Price: $13.00
Rating: 73/100
Porkin good. This sandwich was pretty simple but every piece added what it needed to and was tasty. The Pork is roasted all day and left to sit in the juice. The seeded roll absorbs all of the meat juices well and holds it’s shape well throughout the whole eating experience, but may fall apart if you save it for later. The sharp provolone gets melted by the hot meat and gives this guy great salt levels. The long hots adds good spice to give each bite some variety. They forgot my spinach rabe which was a bummer tho because I would have like some more greens on it. The hero of this sandwich is the slow roasted pork and the way the sandwich is made allows it to shine.
The Foodery
Order: Peppermill Turkey
Price: $4.00 (After 10pm)
Rating: 50/100
I mean, for 4$ you can’t go wrong with something that has avocado on it. It should be known that it is only 4$ after 10pm so you may just get a random sandwich but hey we take those. This was made with boarshead smoked turkey which is solid and has a hint of smokey flavor, but overall pretty light. Mozzarella was fresh and light. Avocado is always a solid topping and felt like the main flavor contributor of this sandwich, it along with the mozzarella added some much needed moisture to the sando. There was a tomato puree or sauce(?), only problem is there was barely any on it so it couldn’t contribute to the already mellow flavor. Overall it was nice and light and definitely worth the price, but nothing really stood out other than the avocado.
George’s
Order: The George
Price: $11.00
Rating: 69/100
Ya did good with this sloppy bitch George. The George is a beef sandwich piled high with provolone cheese, marinara, and spinach. The meat had been marinating in it’s juices all morning and was dripping hot, which made the provolone stringy. The meat was sadly a little tough, but at least there was a ton of it. The meat juice was well seasoned and combined well with the mildness of the provolone. The spinach added some needed greens and somehow made this guy feel a little healthier. Marinara gravy was a little basic but tasty. The two people cheffing up were also really nice so shoutout to them. Bread was good but could not quite hold up to all the liquids, all good though because they serve it with a fork and napkins.
Bagels…ETC
Order: Bacon Egg and Cheese with Scallion Cream Cheese on an Everything Bagel
Price: $7.00
Rating: 87/100
Just look at the beautiful SOB. YEAH I GOT TWO CHEESES I’M ON VACATION SUE ME. This was one of the best bagels I have ever had. The Everything bagel was so soft and chewy on the inside but had a great toast on the outside to give the guy wonderful texture. It also was heavy on the sesame seeds but light on everything else so that it wasn’t over-salted like a lot of everything bagels are. The eggs were clearly seasoned with a little S&P and cooked enough to hold their shape. The Bacon was crispy but not fatty which is how I like it. Chive cream cheese gave a nice onion flavor and paired well with the everything bagel. The American cheese is a classic and also paired well with the tang of the cream cheese. I got hot sauce and ketchup but didn’t even think to use it because I was so enthralled in my meal. This place was so good I went back the next day. Good job Bagels ETC you deserve to be in the capital of the USA baby.
Some Halloween Market in Jersey
Order: Raclette Sandwich
Price: $15.00
Rating: 70/100
A little rough to look at but a freak in the baguette. Walking by this thing smelled like feet and I knew I had to have it, wait no. Ok actually this sandwich was made with fresh charcuterie including salami coppa, and prosciutto (90% sure it was a costco pack). Actually now that I am thinking of it I think everything but the cheese wheel may have been from costco, still fire tho. The french baguette was heated up on a stone brick which was cool to watch but sadly did not heat the bread all the way through. There was just a little bit too much dijon mustard, which was a bummer because the rest of the flavors were great. They also added chopped green onions and cornichons, balancing out the heaviness of meat and cheese. Speaking of cheese the Raclette was awesome, they piled it high and there and it was nice and melty, did not taste at all how it smelt it was a complex and flavorful cheese. Only sides were some ice cold beers :/
Rowhome Coffee
Order: Roast Beef Sandwich (Fire’d up)
Price: $10.00
Rating: 39/100
As you can probably tell from the picture there was way too much cayenne or whatever the hell this spice was. I like the concept of trying to make the sandwich spicy but like what is the point of caking on spice… Anyways the pretzel itself was cold so it wasn’t really fluffy or anything, tasted fine but the everything seasoning had a little bit too much salt for my liking. The Roast beef was from dietz and watson so that was the best part. Leaving it alone to soak for a while made it overall more moist and better. Onion and tomato were fine, thin sliced onions boded well for the taste and there was a little lettuce. Spicy cheddar that it came with was good and not knock your socks off hot. I would just stick to their breakfast since they actually heat up the pretzel for that.
Dennis Food Cart
Order:
Price: $5.00
Rating: 72/100
Napkins included because she saucy and i’m messy. Got this on a late trip into the office and it hit hard. Overall extremely simple but made fresh right in front of you. Two eggs three big strips of bacon hot the griddle, after a minute he flips, adds the white american cheese and cuts the potato roll in half. Throws everything in and slaps some SP ketchup and a kiss of siracha (you gotta ask for siracha). He then wraps everything in foil which is the key. so hot tip you’re gonna wanna wait at least like 5 minutes before eating so that the hot eggs and bacon can steam everything in the foil, this makes the potato roll super soft and the cheese super melty. cheese was mostly on one side but a little massaging spread it all around. a good 5$ fill up, thank you dennis.
Poe’s Sandwich Joint
Order: Weedman
Price: $16.75
Rating: 54/100
Stoner sandos staying mid so far. Definitely had some fun things going on in this guy with all the wild ingredients but the proportions of the ingredients didn’t work out. The bread was decent but kind of chewy and tough, the pulled pork was tasty and abundant but there wasn’t quite enough mustard sauce or black bean paste mixed into the meat so half the time all you could taste was the meat. This had bahn mi style pickled carrots but they were too thick and there was only one sprig of cilantro. the pickled jalapeño was a nice touch but there was only a few, definitely not spread evenly. Overall it was unique but i think it could’ve been balanced better.
Roland’s Subs
Order: Sweet Curry Chicken Salad
Price: $5.50
Rating: 56/100
Wasn’t perfect but it did what it needed to so we take those. The curry chicken salad was a little sweet, definitely closer to a japanese style yellow curry, i think the color came from mayo and maybe even a little mustard(?) but tasty and the chicken was cooked well so it wasn’t too tough, just could’ve been a little more moist. Bread wasn’t super pillowy but that’s probably because it was from at least the day before. there were some lil veggies in there so there was at least some balance to it but could’ve used some more. Wish it had a little more chicken as well but as far as gas station sandwiches go this was a win. Potato salad was nothing to scoff at either.
Dunkin Donuts
Order: Turkey Sausage Breakfast Wrap
Price: $3.29
Rating: 12/100
Ayo fuck dunkin donuts. if your homie ever wants to stop there for anything other than burnt coffee just go somewhere else. support small business or literally anything else. They clearly hate their customers by how hot they make the coffee. Not much to say about this wrap the tortilla was mostly soft, edges were crisp from defrosting. Turkey sausage was fine, tasted like an unseasoned james dean type. Egg white was light but kind of stiff and not fluffy. Overall didn’t really taste much though because of the cheese, somehow they use a worse american that coats your mouth in the worst way. smothering it in ketchup makes it better because there is not a lick of seasoning on this but I am sure has the salt content of a pickle somehow. fuck you dunkin donuts i don’t know how you are popular. THERE DONUTS AREN’T EVEN GOOD I SEE WHY THEY GO BY DUNCAN NOW.
Lily’s Cafe
Order: Jalapeno Kolache
Price: $6.75
Rating: 60/100
Beef Cheese Bun Good. This Pastry was delightful and a good way to help kick a hangover. I wish it had come warm but I couldn’t wait until I got home to heat it up because I had one bit and had to finish it. The Pastry itself was fluffy and soft and had a soft buttery taste to it which was nice. I think it was a kielbasa sausage which are fantastic. The cheese was a soft cheddar/cheese whiz type, but didn’t taste artificial which was nice. Little pieces of jalapeno spread throughout was nice, provided a bit of difference in texture and a little added taste but no real heat. Coffee shop was cute overall and make sure you try their donuts!
Bao 155
Order: Hat Yai Fried Chicken Bun
Price: $10.00
Rating: 71/100
Lil small but definitely packed a punch. The bun was steamed to perfection and nice and soft. The Chicken itself had a great flavor and only had a light batter to it which I generally appreciate. The Spice mixture actually reminded me of something I had in Taiwan so it brought back some good memories. They also don’t skimp on the cilantro which pairs perfectly with everything else and along with the pickled onions brings the perfect amount of brightness to this somewhat heavy bun. The sriracha mayo was plentiful and lubed this guy up nicely. I had a little bun left over and for the price it felt a little small but the taste was definitely there. Also their actual Bao are good, got the traditional which did not disappoint.
Royal Tavern
Order: Smoked Beef Round
Price: $16.00
Rating: 83/100
This sandwich was smokin. This dude is stacked nicely with their smoked top round, which was awesome because the meat itself was smoked perfectly and had a nice soft texture, definitely done right. Bread(while crushed by my hand trying to cut it in half) was soft(clearly) and absorbent of the juicy toppings while still maintaining its structure. Their maple “dijonase” was like a well balanced honey mustard, the sweetness complimented the smoke well. They also had a lil horseradish which gave a mild kick to each delectable bite. Onions were good too and cut so thinly that you would think it was cabbage, overall this guy was small but very well balanced. Overall restaurant was an absolute vibe and their apple cider whiskey drink warmed my soul.
Mabu Kitchen
Order: Chicken and Waffles
Price: $23.00
Rating: 49/100
If this bird was a word it would be mid. Nothing was bad but if I’m paying 23$ it should be pretty damn good. The scallion waffle was made just like an eggo waffle, and not that fluffy, bottom was crispy though which was nice for structure. The chicken was decent, bone in, and had a good crust at first. Sadly, the chicken itself wasn’t that moist despite being dark meat and the breading’s crisp didn’t hold up throughout the entire meal. The chilli oil syrup was good(I think?) but you only get a little drizzle and nothing on the side. This is topped off with crispy lettuce that adds a nice contrast to the rest of the dish. Overall not bad but not great, I would try something else here. banana pudding was tasty and our server was nice. Also obligatory fuck you this is an open face sandwich.
Moriarty’s
Order: Turkey Apple Brie
Price: $17.95
Rating: 55/100
Good concept, alright execution. To get right into it you can probably tell from the picture but the turkey was very dry, like you can see it didn’t even stick to the other pieces of turkey. The Brie was good but not as creamy as I had hoped it would be(since it needed some more moisture). Rye bread was good and buttered on the outside which paired well with the brie. There was fig jam but it was spread pretty sparingly throughout, so I really only got two or three good bites where everything meshed together and those were GOOD, the slight sour from the grannysmith helps cut the richness of the brie and fig jam and makes for an awesome bite. If the execution was on I think this would be higher. Fries were firing.
Lou Malnatis
Order: Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
Price: $24.95 (serves two)
Rating: 85/100
Good lord she thicc. Absolutely fantastic pie and my first real Chicago deep dish pizza(although I hear tavern style is the local way). The tomato chunks were large and flavorful. The cheese being on the bottom is actually kind of genius because it stayed on when you take a bite, but still maintains its stretch. Flavor of the cheese was a good full body mozzarella. You could easily use a fork and knife but it held it’s structure well enough to be able to bite. Lou Malnati’s buttercrust was delicious and helped maintain the structure, as it stayed crispy and firm even when eaten a few hours later. To me, the big sausage chucks were the star of the show as it was incredible juicy, well seasoned, cooked perfectly, and abundant. overall all the flavors melded together very well and is definitely something you gotta try at least once. Canker sore approved.
RiccoBene’s
Order: Breaded Steak Sandwich
Price: $13.99
Rating: 91/100
Sick messy fuck this one is. This is hands down one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had, I almost ordered another one after finishing this. I think it’s necessary to order it with mozzarella and giardiniera since it adds so much to the experience and truly rounds out the meal. The steak itself is tender and the breading is crispy,well seasoned, and plentiful. The gravy(tomato sauce) was phenomenal, it had a minor sweetness but was jam packed full of flavor. The bread held on for dear life but did its job and held together, absorbing all of the flavor from the gravy. As you can probably tell the mozzarella was shredded and piled on top, it got melty and provides a mild cheese flavor that adds a slight element of creaminess, which bodes well with the deep tomato flavor and breaded steak. Finally the giardiniera brings everything together perfectly, it gives you the a nice spicy kick but doesn’t overpower any of the flavor while you are eating, the carrots and peppers also add a nice crunch to pair with the breading and break up the textures of this mess. Also, the acidity of the giardiniera cuts the richness of the tomato sauce and mozzarella. This place deserves the hype it gets and the restaurant had a nice diner style pizzeria vibe to it.
RedHot Ranch
Order: Chicago Dog
Price: $5.50
Rating: 65/100
A well made messy discount dog. Came rolled up in a bag with some fries(included in the $5.50 price so great bang for your buck). Came loaded up with diced tomato, onion, pickles, and two hot peppers which added a perfect freshness. The mustard paired well with the all beef Vienna sausage, which had a kind of thick casing which gave it a nice snap while eating. Relish added a good little sweetness to it. Bun was soft and malleable but didn’t fall apart and just barely kept all the ingredients together. Fries were great and nice and crispy but fluffy on the inside, but maybe just needed a dash of salt. Overall solid experience. Note: Don’t ask for ketchup they’ll get your ass for that.
Kelly’s Chicken Cutlet
Order: Chicken Cutlet Sand
Price: $12.50
Rating: 58/100
If William Taft was a cutlet this would be it. The ingredients themselves were all pretty good, just super heavy, with nothing to really brighten it up. The brioche bun was buttery and fluffy. The Fried onions and bacon were crisp and salty. Then the cheddar cheese gave texture and had a strong flavor. And the Cutlet was pretty well made, extra crispy and had a decent amount of meat to it. The Jalapeno jam was supposed to be the star but there werent any real chucks of the jalapeño or heat to it so it didnt really balance out or bring the acidity it needed to, was just really sweet and mostly fell off the burger. Overall good ingrediants but would have been way better with some veggies, they had other options that looked way better. House made chips were very good but even better with pepper and ketchup.
Uncle Gus’s
Order: Chicken Cutlet Sand
Price: $17.00
Rating: 80/100
New Steak on the block. This place opened up in Redding terminal market and has been making a splash, rightfully so. Overall the meat quality was great, they were using non frozen meat so it was super tender on each bite. Cooper sharp cheese along with the meat juice made this thing nice and moist, but not too much. The bread held together very well since it was toasted and the heavy amount of sesame seeds provided an additional pop that mixed well with the mild flavor of the meat. My favorite part of this steak was the grilled onions, they were more caramelized than any other place I’ve had and melted in your mouth, which I really enjoyed. Overall a little overpriced but undeniably tasty.
John’s Philly Grille
Order: Cheese Steak
Price: $15.35
Rating: 72/100
Cali Steak tries its best, and mostly succeeds. Also have to acknowledge my bias here because I grew up going here and they sponsored my little league team. This reminds me of the street carts in philly and that is a good thing. The meat is solid and plentiful, they use american cheese which has a slight sweetness and adds a nice texture. I piled mine high with onions and peppers, then add in this chilli sauce that they have in the restaurant to give it enough moisture, which it probably needed. The bread was a standard roll that was crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. Adding all the accouterments brings this up to the level it is, where as other cheese steaks can mostly stand on their own, but a seal beach classic non the less.
Angelo’s Redo
Order: Cheese Steak
Price: $14.04
Rating: 90/100
This place is dank so of course i’m gonna go back but this felt like a different sandwich from the first time. after studying what everyone got and what type of cheesesteak is for me i made the switch to coopersharp and i feel like that switch alone made a huge difference, as it changed the entire composition of the sandwich, being way more ooygooey and overall more moist, providing a better mouthfeel. i still add a little ketchup because it adds a nice sweetness to combat the spice of the longhots. The housemade bread was stellar as always and the sesame seeds provide a unique flavor enhancer. Meat was delicious but i wish they caramelized the beef a little more. while i am still surprised it is the best sandwich in america i definitely understand the hype (also somehow there was no line when i went)
Middle Child Again
Order: Shopsin Club
Price: $14.00
Rating: 87/100
I want to be a part of this club. This is what a turkey club should aspire to be god damnit fuck the extra bread. Anyways, this mf comes packed with good, thicc, not too salty turkey(a little front-loaded but thats ok you can just even it out) that serves as a bright meaty base for the rest of the sammy. The crisp bacon acts as turkey enhancer and takes home the meaty flavor profile of this club. The house made pickles are thinny sliced for a great texture and add a nice crunch with the lettuce. The avacado is abundant and cuts the natural the saltiness of having turkey, bacon, and pickle, dare i say the perfect balancer. The smear of mayo was evenly spread and added to the fattiness of the avocado. Hashbrowns are supper unique and fun. Great Club.
Fiore Cafe
Order: Maritozzi
Price: 5.25
Rating: 90/100
The sweetness, the cream, the butteriness of the bread, DIVINE I TELL YOU DIVINE. I see why these translate to ‘almost husband’ because i was in love after first bite( I am a sucker for creme puffs and this thing was just essentially one on crack). The generous serving of cream was delightfully sweet while not being too sweet or overpowering and complemented the bread perfectly. SPEAKING OF THE BREAD, since this is only two ingredients the bread has to be good which it absolutely was, the brioche bun was only slightly buttery and sweet, a perfect pairing with the cream. it was also soft and pillowy which felt like biting into what i imagined a cloud felt as a kid. Paired well with espresso.
Cartesian Brewing
Order: Normal half hot honey half pep(overlapping)
Price: $19.00
Rating: 64/100
chucklefuck pizza. this reminded me of a chuck-ee-cheese pizza but with a sourdough crust, so honestly it was pretty good. The sourdough was nice and crispy and had the softest hint of being sour which i think came out the best in the pure cheese section. The mozzarella was spread out well and held its shape. Finally the sauce itself was good, a little thick and sweet so it held onto the pizza and didnt slide which was nice and made for some good za. hot honey was a nice addition and the pepperoni was pretty generic and not super overabundant so i think just having hot honey is best. Beer was good if you like IPAs and hops, i don’t.
Bravo’s Pizza
Order: Mexican Pizza (Beef)
Price: $3.50
Rating: 78/100
Now I know what it looks like, and yes I was about five cold lads into an ale trail, but still THIS SLAPPED. To start off the pizza itself was cooked well, crispy crust that held itself together and provided a base for these glorious toppings. The Beef was carmalized(pretty sure it was ribeye since it looked the same as the cheese steak pizza) but was just a little crunchy. The tomato and lettuce added an unexpected but needed brightness to balance the slice out. The sour cream added to this and made it feel lighter than it was in reality. Hot sauce added a welcomed tang that helped meld the flavors together towards the overall theme. The cheese wiz was clearly for fun but it was welcomed as it meshed well with the well cooked mozzarella that they used as the base. This is a reminder to not judge a book by it’s cover.
Paesano’s
Order: Paesano
Price: $16.00
Rating: 71/100
Juicelord. This guy was pretty solid, had a lot of meat and was juicy as all hell. The brisket was clearly marinated for a long time as it was perfectly tender. The sharp provolone added a good sharpness(no shit) and balanced out the punch of meaty flavor, there also wasn’t too much which let the properly shine. The pepperchinis are always a welcomed addition to a sandwich and added a mild bite to the sandwich, both textually and spice wise. They seasoned the tomato which is already a win, but the added oregano was a nice flavor combo with the brisket. Honestly for me the egg didn’t do much and I could barely taste it, I got more creaminess and punch from their horseradish mayo which I thought was a great was to balance out the heaviness. I ate the other half cold a few days later with half the bread and it was even better.
Hoagie Dom
Order: Mortadella Guy
Price: $35.00 (comes with two Millers)
Rating: 91/100
Oh Dom you sweet son of a bitch. As an avid baloney enjoyer from childhood this sandwich holds a special place in my heart. The motadella was fresh cut and had hints of pistachio flavor in it. The cheese was a sharp provolone that helped cut the fattiness of the mortadella and longhot aioli. The longhots themselves provided a balance of heat without overwhelming the experience. The marinated onions and arugula provided crunch to balance out the soft textures. Bread was a tasty fresh made seeded roll that was soft and could stand up to being fully loaded. Can’t go wring with the champagne of beer. Overall the sandwich is hard to get and a little pricey, but as an experience is definitely worth it, so good luck to you but don’t take my fuckin spot! Cheers Dom good shit my guy.
Mighty Bread Company
Order: Prosciutto Mozzarella
Price: $14.00
Rating: 70/100
HEY DO YOU LIKE SESAME SEEDS BECAUSE I HAVE THEM. Since it is called the mighty bread company I’ll shout that out first, the bread was great, nice and soft inside and crunch outside, well baked and the sesame seeds gave the sandwich a unique flavor. The mozzarella was fresh and helped the sandwich taste light. The prosciutto was plentiful and salty to balance out the missing salinity in the other ingredients(a good thing). The basil spread was there but didn’t add a ton of noticeable flavor, was almost better to just eat one of bread with the basil spread by itself. Arugala added a mild peppery flavor and to the overall fresh theme of the sandwich. Overall not too shabby but was pretty elite when I air fried the second half later, so if you can’t finish it I highly recommend that.
Fountain Porter
Order: Cheeseburger
Price: $6.00
Rating: 74/100
Good standard bar burger. As you can tell from the pic this guy was juicy as hell and cooked to a solid medium. The potato bun was not toasted but able to absorb most of the juices. Patty was thicc and seemed to be a not so fatty ground chuck mix. The American cheese slice was nicely melted and complemented the richness of the meat, but the acidity of the tomato helped cut it down. The lettuce added a good crunch for some textures along with the pickles on the side. This burger served as a fine ass base for some good beer. Also the fries are great because they are charred to hell.
Pat’s King of Steaks
Order: Onion Cheesesteak
Price: $17.00
Rating: 42/100
Meh. I got this at like 2am so maybe the cooks were over it, which is understandable but my man thems are uncooked blocks of cheese on a cheesesteak. The onions were undercooked as well and still had solid bites to them. I threw some hot sauce and relish on it to try to mask the flavor. The meat was fine but cooked no char or extra flavor on it, just standard ribeye, which is fine but can’t carry on its own, there was a lot of it but not enough to heat up the rest of the sandwich and melt the cheese/steam the bread. Bread was alright I am partial to a sesame seed bun at this point. I took it home and reheated it in the pan with a lil oil and crisped up the meat, melted the cheese, and toasted the bread. After all that it was serviceable, if I was blacked out I am sure it would’ve been fine but not the case for a this “staple” of philly cheesesteaks.
Pete and Elda’s
Order: XL Cheese Pizza w/ half Meatball and Onion
Price: $20.00
Rating: 68/100
(Mine was on the bottom)You don’t go here for the pizza, which is solid but nothing to scoff about, you go here for the challenge. You have 30 minutes to finish an entire XL pizza, but don’t worry it is thin crust. You are rewarded with a custom tshirt that the store designs. I was able to house it in about 22 while taking my time, but imo it was crucial to get half cheese and half another flavor so you don’t get tired of eating the same thing. OK ON TO THE WHOLE POINT WHICH IS THE PIZZA, crust is thin and crispy, almost like a cracker but was great for putting down. There isn’t much sauce but there is enough to get the acidity to cut all of the shredded mozzarella. I was a personal fan of the housemade meatballs and onions as they provided a meatiness and tang to an overall simple dish. Overall Experience 90/100.
Coffee House Too
Order: Dirty Jersey
Price: $9.75
Rating: 71/100
You dirty dirty Jersey. This place is a vibe and had nice outdoor seating. Came in with a pedialyte and got a free bloodymary(everyone gets one). Egg was well seasoned and had a runny center, the yolk added a nice richness. Can’t go wrong with white american cheese as it adds good gooey texture along with a classic flavor. The pork roll was thick -cut and salty as hell, which helped cut through the richness of the egg and cheese. The brioche bun was soft butter and pillowy, got steamed nicely by all the hot ingredients. I recommend putting a little hot sauce on this guy to really cut through the heaviness of the rest of the sando. Wish it had just a little green but overall it scratches that hungover itch perfectly. Apologies to the owner for blowing up their bathroom for 20 minutes.