By Steven Doyle
A great sandwich satisfies on so many levels with a perfect mélange of flavors layered high and perched on slices of bread that acts as a canvas for the artistry some may call lunch. The perfect sandwich must be made with fantastic bread, served with slices of artisan cheeses, meats and interesting vegetables for a complete meal that truly requires nothing else besides a good beer or wine as accompaniment. This week we examine the finer examples of sandwiches throughout Dallas. These all range from inexpensive to somewhat pricey, but all will certainly satisfy.
East Hampton Sandwich Company: Located in Snider Plaza, East Hampton is fairly new to the sandwich scene in Dallas. Here you will find a find an honest-to-goodness chef using bread from one of the top bakeries in the area, Empire Baking Company. There are several sandwiches that make the grade on the menu here including a Hot Cheese and Short Rib, A Goat Cheese Avocado and Bacon and our favorite, the Lobster Roll. The latter is topped on a perfect roll with slight griddle marks and brimming in sweet lobster meat. You cannot go wrong with any of these selections. East Hampton also offers a nice selection of beers and wine.
Jimmy’s Food Store: Located in East Dallas in what was at one time considered the Little Italy of Dallas, Jimmy’s is a hold out of a lost era. Jimmy’s is family owned and operated serving the disheveled area the top list of Italian wines in the state, aisles of Italian ingredients, and a crazy good deli. At the deli counter you can order fresh meats and cheeses along with the best sandwiches in Texas. Jimmy’s makes hundreds of pounds of Italian sausage that they offer wholesale as well as retail. This makes for an incredible sandwich. The meatballs used for their subs are made from a long family secret recipe, but are superb. The Italian is made with sliced Beef, Gravy, Provolone and a Pepper Giardiniera. Bring friends and try the whole menu.
Uncle Uber’s Sammich Shop: Uncle Uber lives in Deep Ellum and makes some serious sandwiches. Try out the Shaved Rib Eye Steak or the Grilled Goat Cheese and Bacon sandwich. The good Uncle also makes one of our very favorite burgers. The downside to Uber’s is that they close at 4pm each day except Friday and Saturday when they stay open until 9pm. Enjoy a cold, local beer when ordering this sammich.
La Me: This Vietnamese restaurant might be a bit hard to find, located in a massive shopping center surrounding dozens of Asian businesses. La Me makes a sturdy pho, but the true star at this restaurant is the Banh Mi. For those unfamiliar, this is an amazing sandwich that starts with a French roll, crisp on the outside, but fluffy in the center. The shop slathers a layer of house-made pate to moisten and add a layer of flavor, then grilled pork and assorted veggies like pickled carrot and daikon and sliced jalapeño. For a slam dunk, order both the sandwich and a big bowl of pho for a rocking lunch. Best part about the Banh Mi is that they are super inexpensive.
Oddfellow’s: Located in Oak Cliff, Oddfellow’s does a stand up job at making breakfast but they also offer superb sandwiches. Join them on Facebook for daily enticements that have stellar drool powers. Our favorite here is the Jalapeno House Pastrami. That’s right, they make their own pastrami.
Ruthie’s Rolling Café: A kick ass food truck that serves up some mighty fine sandwiches including the best grilled cheese we ever shoved into our mouths. Add the pulled pork for an absolute flavor explosion. Seek Ruthie out on Facebook for current locations.
TJ’s Seafood Market: Check out the new TJ’s located on Oak Lawn. Here you will find they have seating and offer a full plated menu including fish tacos and the very best lobster roll in Dallas. There I said it. The best. A full pound of lobster free of mayo and seasoned with herbs and butter on a killer roll, set up with several side dishes that will make you scream with excitement.
Look for more restaurant news at craveDFW.com