Pho Saigon

Pho Saigon is my top choice for Vietnamese Noodle soup or "Pho". However, it's been in the triple digits over the weekend and I wasn't ready for a big bowl of soup. The menu here has a great variety, in addition to the noodle soup they also serve vermicelli bowls with many different meat options to choose from, as well as a full complement of appetizers and rice dishes.

My objective today is to go outside my comfort zone. Already ruled out was the soup, and I've had vermicelli bows before (usually tasty but not my first choice). In trying to keep cost down and being slightly healthy, I ordered a grilled chicken rice plate and a shredded pork spring roll.


Included inside the shredded pork spring roll was yes, shredded pork, mint, and lettuce, all wrapped inside rice paper. These are very refreshing, and can be served with either a peanut sauce or in this case a vinegar based sauce with pickled carrots. Spring rolls are popular because they are not deep fried like egg rolls and are served cold or at room temperature.

Spring roll or Vietnamese Cigar?

This is my first time trying the shredded pork, normally I order the shrimp or BBQ pork. The shredded pork tasted dry and crumbly. There was almost no flavor at all. Perhaps if I knew anything about knitting, I could have created some very nice and quite durable shredded pork shoe laces out of this stuff. Sure the rice paper and mint/lettuce combo tasted fine, but shucks that would be hard to mess up.

A nice surprise showed up with the grilled chicken rice plate. A small bowl of their Pho soup broth. The Pho soup broth is made by simmering either beef and/or chicken bones along with other "interesting" goodies and spices together for several hours. We will talk more about Pho, but that's another blog.


Next I sampled the Grilled Chicken. Not much to talk about here folks, the chicken was sliced so thin it tasted more like an overcooked pork chop. I did notice a hint of lemongrass, that was a nice flavor addition but not enough to rehydrate this bird. The rice was really sticky as well, perhaps yesterday's batch?


Overall, I always ask my friends to get out there and try something new. But I guess sometimes, it's best to stick to what you know. I'll do a review on Pho Saigon for their fantastic Wonton Soup when the weather gets cooler.

You can visit Pho Saigon at:

7300 San Ramon Rd
Dublin, CA

Galvin's Market

A lot of my friends and loyal B Food Blog followers have been asking me lately how I'm able to afford going out to lunch everyday. Well, yes it does get expensive. So, I'm going to make an effort to eat on the cheap as much as possible, starting today. There is a beautiful park in San Leandro called Chabot Regional park. They have a small 9 hole disc golf course, in addition to hiking trails, and picnic benches. I decided to stop into Galvin's Market in San Leandro. This local meat shop offers homemade sausages, gourmet imported cheeses, wide selection of fresh fish, and also a full meat counter. Luckily for me they also have a small deli where they make sandwiches to go.

The selection was pretty standard, 4 types of bread, 4 cheeses, 7 meats, and standard produce options. When I asked my sandwich maker what their most popular sandwich was, he crinkled his forehead and acted as if I asked him to recite Pi in binary. So I rephrased the question and asked him which sandwich he makes the most, "oh, um, I guess the turkey". Great, so I opted for the turkey on a ciabatta roll with mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, red onions, and pickles.

When I viewed the finished product I was less than impressed. It looked like it was mostly fabricated of bread. I don't have a personal hatred of bread (or any food really), but I like my sandwiches to be well proportioned. Bag of chips, and a sandwich $6.75. Next I walked a block to the liquor store and selected a Hop Rod Ale for $2.99. My total was $9.74, ok so not terribly cheap, but it's a start right? Cheaper than usual.

When I arrived at the park there weren't any tables in the shade, but it was still early and not too hot yet.

So, I'm looking at this sandwich and I gotta tell you I'm not terribly excited to dig in.


First bite...and it's delicious. This ciabatta roll is a work of art, dusted flour on the top of the roll, tender with just the right amount of chewy.


The turkey is full of flavor, the produce fresh, the pickle chips are crunchy and surprisingly large. The provolone cheese is mild and creamy. Most times, I have a really good idea of what to expect when I order food. This time I was way off, and very pleasantly surprised.


I have the honor of recommending a Galvin's Market sandwich and definitely try the ciabatta roll.

You can visit Galvin's Market at:

1275 MacArthur Blvd
(between Bridge Rd & Estudillo Ave)
San Leandro, CA 94577

IL Fornaio and Gelateria Naia

Located in beautiful downtown Walnut Creek, close to fantastic shopping and great people watching is IL Fornaio. This is an Italian chain restaurant, but since I've never been to one, I thought I'd give it a try. Joining me for lunch was my friend Adelei. When we walked in we were greeted by three hostesses and we opted for the patio dining area. Two glasses of Ice Water magically appeared (yes it was that fast). We had menus, water, and a great view into H&M to watch people shopping. Great for the voyeur in all of us.

The menu offered a plentiful selection of pizzas, flatbreads, salads, fish, meat, and pasta dishes. We decided to split the Insalata del Fornaio and the Canneloni Al Forno.


The Insalata del Fornaio was just as the name implied, the house salad. Basic but flavorful, it was mixed greens, garlic croutons and shaved parmesan with house vinaigrette.


The Canneloni Al Forno is usually one of my favorite Italian treats. This version included large pasta tubes filled with rotisserie chicken, spinach, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes and smoked mozzarella; bechamel and tomato sauces. The first thing I noticed was that the chicken was large chunks of chicken meat. Typically this dish is prepared with a minced chicken or veal. I found the chunks of chicken really threw off the texture of the filling, which is normally my favorite part.

The menu description of the Canneloni really made it sound as if the flavors were going to explode my tastebuds. Instead, the flavor was more of a "Mish-Mash" of bland sauces. The highlight of the dish was probably the mushrooms, and I think they actually forgot to add the sundried tomatoes. Adelei commented that she felt the dish had a certain "Fishy" taste to it.

For me, this would be a place I would dine at simply take in a fantastic setting, enjoy a glass of wine, perhaps sample the calamari. If you are looking for authentic Italian food, the search continues. Also noteworthy is the exceptional service, we wanted for nothing, our server and the bus staff kept our glasses full and checked in with us often.

You can visit IL Fornaio online at:

http://www.ilfornaio.com/

Or in person at:

1430 Mt. Diablo Blvd
Walnut Creek, CA 94596



After lunch we saved some room for some mid-afternoon dessert. On my short walk from the parking garage I noticed a new Gelato shop, or Gelateria. It is located on Broadway, right around the corner from IL Fornaio.

Gelateria Naia is a local gelato shop that makes fresh handmade gelato in small batches.

Each flavor is labeled and actually has the base ingredients
resting either in bowls or loose on top of the Gelato.

This Geloteria is high class all the way. When you order a sample they scoop it for you in a real spoon, when you are done, clunk goes the spoon in a metal bucket on the counter. There were many flavor varieties to choose from, I sampled the Scherffen Berger 41% Chocolate, Strawberry Cheesecake, and the Nutella. All three were delicious, I really wanted the Nutella, which is a chocolate hazelnut flavor, but I couldn't decide what flavor would compliment it well. With a small order you get two flavors, I made an executive decision and went with the Chocolate and Strawberry Cheesecake.

It was absolutely exquisite, the flavors worked perfectly together, the texture was amazing.

Adelei sampled the Rhubarb, and Raspberry. She ended up with a Waffle Cone filled with Raspberry and Vanilla.


If you are in Walnut Creek and in the mood for something sweet, it is mandatory that you stop by Gelateria Naia!!

You can visit them online at:

http://gelaterianaia.com

Or in person at:

1245 North Broadway
Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Other locations are posted on their web-site.

Halu Shabu Shabu

What is Shabu Shabu? That is a question I had when I saw the sign for this restaurant, the sign showed raw meat and declared "all you can eat". Interesting I thought, I had to call on a lunch pal that would be able to help me tackle this new food challenge.

Shabu Shabu is a form of Japanese food. Translated it means "Hot Pot", in the 13th century hungry Mongol soldiers used this type of cooking to efficiently feed many troops and conserve food resources. The concept of the "Hot Pot" spread throughout Asia and now many other ethnic groups have their own version.

We were seated quickly by the restaurants only server. She took our drink order, as she sat us. She returned ready to take our order, we ordered the all you can eat lunch special. Before you could say "Shabu Shabu" she was back with a large pot of hot water. Each table has a heating element in the middle of it. She placed the pot on the the electric burner and turned it to high (there is a digital box under the table that controls the heat). Next she brought us a plate of thinly sliced beef, a plate of thinly sliced pork, a bowl of rice, a plate with assorted vegetables, fish balls, mushrooms, tofu, and last a square bowl of "Satay" sauce used for dipping.



We were definitely surprised at the amount of food that was in front of us. Nothing to do but scoop it all into the pot. Gary M. took over all the cooking duties, as I was busy snapping pics.


Also, we found it odd that there was a mysterious green chunk of what looked like seaweed floating in the pot. We asked our server if you could eat it, she said, "Nobody does, but you can if you want". I wasn't excited to eat it, it looked more like green pork rinds. It's actually wasn't very flavorful, not sure why it was even in the water to begin with.


Once the meat is dropped into the boiling water, it cooks almost instantly, you can literally watch the pink disappear. As soon as the meat was set in the hot pot, our server brought another two plates of meat and the other "assorted" plate was delivered, we didn't even have to ask. This was done 4 more times, before we had to ask that she STOP bringing us more food. They aren't shy about giving you all you can eat. Honestly, I had all I could eat and another plate more.


The meat was tender and surprisingly flavorful. The fishballs were like an amalgum of scallops pressed into a ball, tasty but weird, two or three and that was enough. The vegetables, and tofu were a fun addition, but after two plates, we focused on just the meat. For me the surprise VIP of the hot pot was the mushrooms. They were very "meaty" in texture and flavor, pairing perfectly with the other proteins. Each time we dipped into the Satay sauce we were puzzled as to what it actually was. We probed the server, who with only 4 tables, but multiple plates to carry was not interested in chit chat, not un-friendly, just efficient.

Is Shabu Shabu something that I will find myself craving? Most likely not, certainly this type of meal is an event and can be fun with a large crowd I'm sure. My guess, twice a year, just for the novelty. Also, quite a bargain, all you can eat for only $9.99.

You can visit Halu Shabu Shabu online at:

http://halushabushabu.com/about.html

Or in person at:

4288 Dublin Blvd. #110
Dublin, CA 94568

Willow Tree Restaurant

On the menu today was "Dim Sum". Many people have heard the term "Dim Sum", but may not know exactly what it is. I only learned of it two years ago (thanks Barbara), but was immediately hooked. Dim Sum is similar to the Spanish "Tapas" or small plates. Small portions of food are served in Cantonese restaurants, accompanied by hot tea. Some restaurants have you order off of a printed copy of their menu, similar to ordering Sushi when you sit at the Sushi Bar. However, Willow Tree serves their Dim Sum using the rolling "Trolleys". These metal push carts hold many different types of steamed dumplings including, meat, vegetables, and seafood.

In this picture we have the Shui Mai, Steamed Pork Bun, and Shrimp/Chive Dumpling

Here is a closeup of the Scallop Dumpling

Tricia "DISH", really liked the Shrimp/Chive Dumplings

I am enjoying the Shui Mai

In total we ordered:

Shui Mai- Pork and Shrimp steamed dumplings. These were smaller than at most places, flavor was good but not great. Shui Mai could be considered a "beginner" Dim Sum, think of it as the "California Roll" of Dim Sum if you will.

Steamed Pork Bun- Steamed dough filled with a BBQ Pork mixture, usually sweet. Hard to mess these up, I didn't try this one, but no complaints from "Dish" so I'm sure it was fine.

Shark Fin Dumpling- They are called Shark Fin because of the ridge along the top where the dumpling is formed together. Oh and because they include a mixture of softened shark's fin and ground pork. Neither terrible nor fantastic, take 'em or leave 'em here at the Willow Tree.

Scallop Dumpling- These are simply a small pork meatball with a big scallop on top wrapped with a rice noodle. These are pretty good here, their scallops were fresh and had a great texture.

Shrimp/Chive Dumpling- Probably one of the best dumplings they have to offer. The fresh herbs offer a "refreshing" flavor to this dish. They steam these dumplings, then pan sear the top and bottom, this offers some crispy goodness and great texture.

Rice Noodle with BBQ Pork- This they do extremely well!! I've sampled the Dim Sum from Walnut Creek to Berkeley and San Leandro and nobody can touch these Rice Noodles with BBQ Pork. This dish is not for the squeamish however. Most people can't handle the texture of the rice noodles, they can tend to be very mushy in the mouth. The payoff however is the sweetness of the BBQ pork and the firmness of the meat vs. the soft noodle. Mushy and Blissful.

Shanghai Dumpling- One of our previous lunch "Special Guests" Gary M., turned me on to the "Shanghai Dumpling". It is quite a novelty actually, this is a dumpling that has a small pork meatball swimming in a soup base inside the dumpling. I'm curious to see how they make these, must be some sort of an injection process. Delicious, and highly recommended, just wait for them to cool down first.

If your in the mood for some relaxing hot tea, and love a variety of different flavors and textures you should visit the Willow Tree for lunch. This type of dining format can be a little dangerous, with each dish varying in price from $3 to $5, you have to insure your appetite and wallet are in agreement with your personal budget.

6513 Regional St.
Dublin, CA 94568

Buffalo Wild Wings

Most people that know me, know that I have a certain distaste for any type of "chain" restaurant. But, since I haven't seen or been to a Buffalo Wild Wings, I thought I would give them a try today. I was seated almost immediately as I walked in the door. This restaurant is brand new, it's located in the Grafton Station shopping center in Dublin, close to the new Lowe's.

My goal today was to come here and try whatever their spiciest wings were. I was hoping for lots of sweat and a good laugh. What I ended up finding however, is this is an awesome place to hang out. It's a sports bar for sure, but they have a large and diverse menu (well as diverse as you can be for sports bar food). They have three dining areas, a bar section, main dining area, and patio dining. I choose a seat in the main dining area, and it was amazing. There were four large projection screen televisions, and 13 smaller flat screen TVs in this area alone. Also, the musical selections had me cracking up, I sat down and Rammstein was playing Du Hast in the background. I usually like to dine early and I arrived at 11:15, guessing that they probably opened at 11:30. I noticed that there were people going in already, so I went in as well. Turns out they open at 11, and this place is definitely a Dublin hot spot. When I got inside there were already 8 tables occupied, in addition to diners in the bar.

When my server arrived, I asked her what was popular and just how hot were these "Blazin" wings? Jenn, was very knowledgeable and friendly. She gave me the rundown on their sandwiches, burgers, and wraps. Next she mentioned that during training, the servers actually had to create all of the sauces that they serve. She said the "Blazin" sauce had people crying, and that when you eat it, it turns your face numb.

They serve their wings in order increments of 6. I chose 18 wings and they allowed me to choose up to 3 flavors. I also tried their cole slaw, and the wings come with either Bleu Cheese or Ranch dressing, and Celery. I paid the additional 60 cents for all three.

The flavors I chose from left to right are: "Blazin", "Parmesan Garlic", and "Jamaican Jerk".

I decide to try the Parmesan Garlic first. Unbelieveable flavor, these wings will blow your mind. They remind me of the idea of having a whole meal in one pill. These wings, taste like Chicken Fettucine Alfredo. Increadibly rich, and delightful. The biggest compliment I can give to any food dish is if I find myself craving it. I will crave these, at some point and not be able to have them, I rue the day.

Next I sampled the Jamaican Jerk, they had a "hint" of jerk seasoning. However, they have a sweet glaze that really makes them much sweeter then I think they should be. I would order them again, they were enjoyable, just not authentic.


Sigh, I really don't want to do this. I can smell the spice, and the vinegar, and it's making my eyes water. Well here we go...


Ok, yes, the "Blazin" wings are hot. But, I gotta say, they aren't TOO hot to enjoy. Some places offer extreme hot sauces that tend to be too "vinegary". My face never went numb, but my lips started to burn. I grabbed a celery slice and slathered on the bleu cheese dressing, followed by a water chaser. That certainly helped things start to cool down. What I found was, these wings offer a short blast of spice, the recovery time was relatively short. I ate all six and I'd eat six more at a sitting no problem, but I wouldn't want to eat more than that.


The Aftermath, count the bones, yes I ate them all!!

So, my hands were still messy after the wet wipe cleaning at the table. I needed to wash up, and make sure I didn't have any extra sauce on my face. I went to the restroom, rounded the corner and was greated by HD TV in the lavatory. Sorry, I know bathrooms pics have no place on a food blog. But hey, I'm a guy, and I'm impressed with fancy toys, shiny objects, and well TVs at the urinal.


The Verdict, stop what you are doing right now, go to your nearest Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and try the Garlic Parmesan flavored wings. It will change your life, or at least make it better for an hour while you enjoy your lunch.

Visit Buffalo Wild Wings online at:
http://www.buffalowildwings.com/
(it's a great site really, check it out)

Or in person at:

3712 Dublin Blvd.
Dublin, CA 94568

The Crown British Pub

Did somebody say Fish and Chips? I'm in!! Today, Allison, Lorraine and I visited "The Crown" British Pub in downtown Danville. This restaurant has a beautiful bar area and very nice handcarved booths that were shipped over from England.

Allison ordered the Fisherman's Pie


This dish is a variation of Shepard's Pie (which is made with Minced Lamb, not to be confused with Cottage Pie, the beef variation). So as you may be able to deduce, Fisherman's pie is indeed made with fish. In a light creamy, slightly spicy sauce under a layer of mashed potatoes with yet another layer of melted cheese. Certainly not a lunch item to be taken lightly, this meal packs a punch.

Lorraine ordered the Kobe Beef Sliders


Lorraine and I agreed that the french fries were perfectly cooked. Crispy golden brown on the outside and soft in the middle. Dipped in mustard and a little bit of ketchup (or catsup if you are from Orcas Island) as well. The bun was impressive, very soft and by golly it tasted fresh baked. The beef was cooked medium well with just a hint of pink. The beefy goodness was further enhanced by the tangy sweet relish that accompanied the burger.

I chose the Fish and Chips

The gold standard of any English Pub SHOULD be the fish and chips. However, I think The Crown is more interested in keeping their gold in their pockets. For $10.95 you get 1 filet of fish and fries. I ordered a "side" of cole-slaw, seriously folks it was a heaping teaspoon (yes, not tablespoon) of slaw for an extra $1. Plus I wanted to try a Caesar Salad, the server said it was only an additional $2.50, when the bill came it was actually $3.35 additional. Don't get me wrong I love to eat and I don't mind paying for it. However, I don't feel like I got a great value with their add ons, and skimpy fish servings. With that said, the fish was good but not mind blowing. I'd go back for sure, but I'd try another menu item, perhaps the bangers and mash.

If you are in Danville and you fancy some English Beers on tap then stop by The Crown.

You can visit them online at:
http://www.crownpub.com/

Or in person at:
331 Hartz Ave. Danville, CA

Fat Cactus Grill and Bar

Mexican food in the East Bay has always been a controversial topic for me. Aside from select Taquerias, most Mexican food is more "Mexican" inspired food than actually great Mexican food. I've always judged a Mexican restaurant by their chips and salsa. It's the first thing you get when you sit down, and often times the food directly correlates with the quality of the salsa. Fat Cactus didn't fail to disappoint with the standard "Mexican Ketchup" they served me in place of salsa. It looked like salsa, with the pepper seed flecks, and hints of cilantro, just overall bland.

This Grill and Bar looks like an exceptional place to meet friends and co-workers for a drink after the work day. They are located in a newly developed area, pretty far from central San Ramon, and definitely a trek from the Dublin-Pleasanton area. The lunch crowd appeared to be rather slow, but started to pick up as I was leaving.

One item I was particulary impressed with was their menu. There were some interesting offerings from a Blackend Shrimp Salad, Mahi Mahi Tacos, to their "North of the Border" section including Ribs, Pasta, Burgers and Sandwiches.

I opted for the "Soft Duck Tacos":


How could I resist the menu description:

"Two slow braised shredded duck tacos with habenero cream sauce and tropical salsa."

These tacos were fantastic, and by far the standout here. The duck was not oily, or fatty but instead mild, tasted more like turkey dark meat. The first bite was full of flavor, very juicy with a nice spice kick that was not overpowering and the tropical salsa was a refreshing bonus. I Quack these tacos very much!!

I also ordered the Chile Relleno con Pollo:

I consider myself a Chile Rellano connoisseur, as I order them at almost every Mexican joint I visit. Rarely do you find this dish stuffed with meat. The choices were chicken or seafood (which I'm sure was K-rab and not Crab). I went with the chicken. The red sauce on top of the chile was more of a pasta sauce, acidic and boring. The chile was tender, the chicken inside was juicy and semi-flavorful, the portion ample. Now I know why most people stuff their chiles with cheese only, it's a simple dish and doesn't necessarily get better with additional ingredients. Also served with alonside the chile were spanish rice and refried beans. The rice and beans were just as I thought they would be, unexceptional filler.

If your looking for a bar with rich decor and a great vibe, this is your place, if you want Mexican food, might I suggest Los Pericos in Dublin? One more side note, the service is exceptional, I didn't have to ask for anything, the bartender and the server were one step ahead of all of my needs.

You can visit Fat Cactus online at:
www.fatcactusgrill.com

Or in person at:
11010 Bollinger canyon Rd.
San Ramon, CA 94582

T-Valley Korean BBQ

Introducing our very first B-Food Blog special Lunch Guest.....Gary Metcalfe. Gary and I decided to try T-Valley Korean BBQ today. We walked in and were quickly seated. The restaurant was very brightly lit, via natural sunlight coming though the front windows.


T-Valley Korean BBQ has many menu choices, varying between "Bento"-style lunch boxes and also, cook your own meat specials. To take full advantage of the the whole Korean BBQ experience, you should bring $20-$30 per person. We opted for the lunch specials, as they were reasonably priced from $8.99-$14.99.

Gary ordered the LA Kal Bi, Beef Short Ribs.

I ordered the Dwae Ji Bui Goki, Pork in House Special Spicy Sauce.

Each of our orders came with our chosen meat and:

Bowl of Rice
Kim Chi
Bean Sprouts with a Sesame sauce
Glass Style rice noodles with beef, mushroom and a light vinegarette style dressing
Green Salad
Orange Slices

The short ribs were better than any Hawaiian BBQ joint, and most Japanese restaurants. Fairly lean (for short ribs) with great flavor, could have been more tender though.

The spicy pork was very flavorful, not terribly spicy though. Tender, lean, bright in color, went well with the white rice.


All the food was well seasoned, no need for any additional condiments, everything you desired was in the lunch box. Spicy, salty, sweet, bitter, a veritable smattering of flavors.

The portions were very generous, which is always a plus. The food arrived quickly after we ordered it. Then the service got spotty, we found the service to be friendly but not attentive. Gary had to ask both times for refills on his Sprite and I had to reques extra Kim Chi more than once.

For you Sprite drinkers out there, Gary said that the carbonated soda to Sprite Syrup mix was perfect and that he would come here just for a refreshing glass of Lemon-Lime Sprite.


I also decided to order their Soft Tofu Soup served in a Clay pot. We found the Soft Tofu Soup to be like an "Asain Style Chili". It was loaded with Soft Tofu, Zucchini, Green Onion, White Onion, Beef, and mushrooms.

If you are in the mood for something different, and can deal with fantastic food over fantastic service, give T-Valley Korean BBQ a try.

You can visit them at:
7877 Amador Valley Blvd.
Dublin, Ca 94568

Chicago's Metropolitan Deli

Today, I decided to visit Chicago's Metropolitan Deli in Pleasanton, CA. I've seen this place a couple of times, but just never made it inside. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was a vast menu, written on a "black board". Fantastic Selection, great menu items and lots of variety.

Since there was just too much to choose from, I asked what their two most popular items were. The Chicago Hot Dog and the Italian Beef sandwich, I ordered one of each.

The service was friendly and the food came quickly. Saving what I thought to be the best for last I opted to try the Hot Dog first.



The Chicago Style Hot Dog came dressed with: tomatoes, onions, relish, peppers, pickle, and served on a soft, fresh poppy seed hot dog bun. The first bite was amazing, the Hot Dog itself was crispy and juicy. I'm fortunate I was dining alone, I believe my lunch guest would have got a shot of Hot Dog juice in the eye had they been sitting across from me. I thoroughly enjoyed this Hot Dog, and must admit, it was the best I've had. Better than Costco, even better then the local favorite Caspers (Kaspers). Interesting to note also that this Hot Dog achieved a feat almost impossible to duplicate on your own. There was the perfect ratio of bun to dog. From the first bite to the last this Dog was perfection.


Next, after my Hot Dog appetizer I was ready to tackle the Italian Beef. When you order this sandwich you have the option of, Sweet Peppers, Spicy Peppers, Both or None. I ordered the sweet peppers with the Spicy on the side. I must admit this sandwich looks amazing and perhaps intimidating. The first bite; I chew and I taste, and I chew, and chew, and chew. The roast beef has notes of garlic and other spices, but overall is pretty bland. I dipped the sandwich in the Au Jus (although the bread was already soggy on the bottom from sitting on the plate), and that wasn't any help. I'm not sure what cut of meat they used, it almost tasted from a texture standpoint like they use a ball tip. It reminded me of being a child and having steak for the very first time, you just couldn't seem to chew it enough to swallow it without fear of choking.

So, Chicago's Metropolitan Deli, served up one dish I loved and one I don't need to order again. We are 1-1, I demand a tie-breaker. I will follow up and report back when I have tried another menu item. Perhaps I should have tried their special of the day, called the "Sausalito Turkey". This bad boy is a Turkey Sandwich with Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Cheddar Cheese, BBQ Sauce, served on a Crossiant. Not to mention it was served with Jalapeno Poppers and Ranch. Now, some will say that it was a no-brainer and I should have ordered the special. However, I wanted to get the feeling of the deli and what they offer on a regular basis.


Italian Beef Sandwich $7.25
Chicago Style Hot Dog $5.25
"The Special" $7.95
You can visit Chicago's Metropolitan Deli online at:
http://www.chicagodeli.us/index.htm

Or Visit them in Pleasanton at:
6003 West Las Positas Pleasanton, CA 94588
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