Taste of the Town

Taking Stock of Alameda's Sandwich Selections

Six to Sink Your Teeth Into

    It’s lunchtime in Alameda and what do you crave? A sandwich, of course.
    Sandwiches are a long-standing tradition in the Western world, dating back to that Earl in England in the 1700s who favored a quick and easy nosh. His idea took hold, with multiple nations and cultures embracing the concept and creating special versions to call their own.
    Closer to home, present-day Alamedans have a long list of options to satisfy their cravings for a fast repast. Several Island sandwich shops have been up and running for 20 years or more, with no end in sight. One of the mainstays—the Sandwich Board—will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2008.
    While sandwiches have a fairly simple definition—two pieces of bread filled with various meats or cheeses, vegetables and condiments—the number of combinations for the final product is mind-boggling. Ask for a sandwich shop’s “signature sandwich” and you may still have to choose your bread and fixings, manifesting a creation unlike any other.
    In the United Kingdom, the cheese sandwich tops the list of favorites, but here in Alameda it’s turkey. In fact, just about every eatery claimed that a turkey sandwich is one of the top two sellers on its menu.
For the purposes of our survey, although hamburgers are considered a sandwich, we saved them for another time. The latest trend in sandwiches is the panini, which is toasted, either in a press or an oven, on an Italian-style roll (always go for the grilled veggies). A note to those on a budget: a custom shop-prepared sandwich is a pricey light meal, with costs ranging as high as $8. I don’t know about you, but I think it’s worth the investment sometimes, as I can never get my own to taste as good.
    On to the sandwiches!

Panini No. 7

Bacci, 1118 Lincoln Ave., (510) 748-0312
I love roasted red peppers—in a salad, on a sandwich, any time. So when the guys at the tiny but excellent Italian delicatessen on Lincoln (near Pagano’s) told me that one of the customers’ favorites, and one of the best sandwiches, was the No. 7, I was pleased. Starting with a long, thin, crusty roll, Bacci’s No. 7 ($6.95) is a delightfully warm combination of real, not processed, sliced Boar’s Head chicken breast, pesto, pepperoncini and roasted red peppers, topped with melted Havarti cheese. I skipped the Dijon mustard that usually dresses this specialty, and still enjoyed every single bite.

Grilled Veggie Sandwich

Season to Taste, Alameda Marketplace, 1650 Park St., (510) 522-3663
Though it’s better warmed on panini-style flat bread with melted provolone cheese, Season to Taste’s grilled veggie ($6.25) on sliced whole-grain bread is still something to sink your teeth into. Packed with roasted peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, grilled eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash, this vegetarian delight provides a chunky grilled texture and taste, and is a great choice if you are planning to include an after-lunch sweet treat from Feel Good Bakery right next door.
 

The Alameda Sub

Dimitra’s, 1251 Park St., (510) 521-3737
It was a pleasant shock and surprise to learn that a non-poultry-filled sandwich topped the bill at Dimitra’s, a popular sandwich shack on Park Street. “We’re better than Togo’s, better than Quiznos, better than Subway,” claims the 35-year professional and proprietor Michael Hahn, adding with a competitive gleam in his eye: “We’re even better than the Sandwich Board!” The Alameda Sub is a sesame-seeded soft roll packed with several types of meats: pastrami, roast beef, pepperoni and ham. We tasted it with all the toppings except jalapeños, including wine vinegar, onions, lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise. At $4.75, this was the least expensive meal in the survey and comes the closest to my memory of an East Coast submarine sandwich.

Porchetto

C’era Una Volta, 1332 Park St., (510) 769-4828
This Italian-style gourmet sandwich, served warm—toasted on a flat, rectangular bun in this case—features thinly sliced, seasoned and roasted pork tenderloin topped with marinated onions, lettuce and mustard. The pork gave the sandwich a distinct and upscale taste—I’d serve this at a special lunch for guests. The $6.95 tariff brings a side salad of greens, as well.

Gonzo

Jonathan’s Sandwich House, 2316 Santa Clara Ave., (510) 522-8040
I tried to limit the turkey selections to just two. This favorite, offered by another Alameda lunch stronghold, is a homestyle (but I could never get it to taste this good at home) sandwich, starting with 12-grain bread piled with turkey, avocado, jack cheese and mayo. Bean sprouts in lieu of lettuce add a crunchy, healthy surprise, and there’s additional crunch in the handful of Ruffles potato chips on the side. Don’t forget to stop at the bank on your way to Jonathan’s for a Gonzo ($5.95), because the shop accepts only cash.

Turkey Delight/Jeff Special

Sandwich Board, 2412 Webb Ave., (510) 521-3366
There are two top sandwiches at the Sandwich Board, where they roast the turkey right on the premises daily, and owner Susan Lee fixed up a special combo just for me. The Turkey Delight is the Alameda classic turkey and avocado; the Jeff Special is Lee’s favorite, with cranberry sauce, cheddar and crispy bacon. The Sandwich Board offers no fewer than 12 bread and roll choices, from wheat, white and Danish crunch rolls—which are just too good to be true—and then all of the sliced breads and two kinds of pita. Go for the Danish crunch roll to get a satisfying take with the most popular sandwich filling in town.