It's been awhile since we been back at backstreet and I forgot how much of a little hidden gem it is! The sandwiches are good, very simple just bread, cheese and meat and then they have topping and sides available to add yourself if you'd like! The pies are also great, definitely loved the coconut cream pie! Everyone is always so friendly and kind when we go. Love the outside patio, it has been great to bring my kids as it's outside and shaded and love all the greenery. read more

Backstreet - Succulent wall - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

This is THE place for sandwiches. Been going here for 5 years. Always fresh. Always delicious. Today I got the hot roast beef. Holy moly. Added potato salad and in heaven. Don't pass by this place! read more

Backstreet - Roast beef and potato salad - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

Backstreet Restaurant is hands down THE BEST deli shop in the entire Inland Empire. No question. The moment you arrive, it feels like stepping into a classic storybook setting. The place has this timeless charm with trees, a cute garden atmosphere, and cozy outdoor seating that makes you forget you're even in Riverside for a second. It honestly feels like dining in another era while eating some of the best comfort food around. Their French dip is unreal, easily the best I've had in the nation. The service makes the experience even better because the staff constantly walks around checking on customers and making sure everyone has what they need, which makes the whole place feel welcoming and relaxed. They also offer an unlimited sides bar once you order your deli or salad, and their pasta salad alone is worth talking about. And don't even get me started on the banana cream pie. Basically, everything here is just so good. This place is a Riverside classic for a reason. read more

Been coming here for years but it's been a year since here last. Happy to say the sandwich (warm combo pastrami and corned beef on rye with dark mustard) was still EXCELLENT. Love their banana cream pie but for variety tried the coconut creme pie which was EXCELLENT. Choice will be difficult next time. THE MAIN THIS IS THAT ALL OF THE PERSONNEL BEHIND THE COUNTER AS WELL AS THE PATIO STAFF WERE ALL SO CUSTOMER ORIENTED, SWEET, HELPFUL...CAN'T SAY MORE. My wife and our 2 friends totally agree...Always loved this place and still do. Will be back. read more

Very quaint neighborhood sandwich place in the courtyard of a former residential property. The service is very friendly and the food is prepared in front of you. There is no indoor seating but there is plenty of shaded seating. However, when it's hot, it's hot - even with shade. I love the sandwiches and salads. On my salads, I added pastrami on top. There is a condiments bar where you can help yourself with pickles, beets, carrots, etc. Overall a great place for lunch when the weather is pleasant. read more

Food is always delicious and staff always friendly! Lots of covered or uncovered seating on the patio! Perfect for any day.

I really wanted to like this place, but it didn't do it for me. I thought they would have more of variety of sandwiches like Upper Crust or Simple Simon's, but they don't. The sandwiches don't come with lettuce, tomatoes, or onion. And they only have swiss cheese, no other cheeses to choose from. They're also really pricey for what you get. I ended up getting a salad because I was there with a couple of friends from work and I was hungry. The salad was good, but I could have gotten the same salad for half the price. The only good thing about this place is the outdoor patio unfortunately. read more

Backstreet - Kale Salad with a side of pasta salad - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

This place feels like a hidden gem, and it seems to be family-owned. It's a quaint sandwich spot. I haven't been here in years, but nothing has changed--and that's a good thing! The food is still amazing, with sandwiches made fresh to order. The outdoor patio is super chill, especially with the charming garden decor. The staff couldn't be friendlier, and I love that they've maintained the same high-quality standards. I ordered the turkey sandwich. They didn't have avocado , but that didn't take away from the sandwich's quality. The turkey is roasted and sliced in-house with no preservatives--so fresh! My friend ordered a slice of chocolate pie , it was topped with a huge serving of whipped cream. Like a good friend, she shared some with me, and wow... it was delish! Next time I'll try one of their hot sandwiches read more

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Location is 100% beautiful but the food is not. I've been till many years to go to backstreet and never had the chance to until today. I found nothing five star about it. I ordered the house special which was roast beef and pastrami on a sourdough bread that was not toasted. My husband was ordered a roast beef and my daughter a ham sandwich very not anything to go back to the pasta with slimy and tasteless the potato salad did not like the texture. I'm not sure where the hype is. I bought three sandwiches and a pie and four drinks came out to $88. I could've made a better sandwich at home without a slimy texture or un toasted bread. I will continue to go to simple Simon, I understand people had different taste buds but this was not mine. I would invest in some spices seasoning and maybe suggest toasting bread for certain sandwiches. The banana cream pie tasted like instant banana pudding did not feel it was homemade. I didn't find the ingredients for the pie to be high-quality. The servers were very nice. The receptionist or cashier also polite. I do not take any of their hard work unseen. I am just commenting on the food. read more

We love BackStreet. We love that the sandwiches are meat and cheese with condiments on the bread. And all the veggies you can get on the side and their vegetable cart is a lot better than the typical lettuce tomato onion that's on a regular sandwich. Their potato salad is awesome. My husband loves their Mac salad.. don't forget to get a cup of ajus if you wanna dip your sandwich in a nice little warm juice. A lot of people have a problem with the fact that they do not put the typical lettuce tomato and onion on the sandwich so before warned if that's the type of sandwich you want BackStreet's not for you, but if you can handle your veggies on the side it's awesome or you could just go for the pie. read more

My husband & I live down the street from this spot. I want to say our realtor recommended we try it. I'm glad we did :) it was VERY good & good grief the portion sizes are large. I LOVE the little back patio area, it is so cute & cozy! The staff were super sweet & courteous, too. I love that we live within walking distance of this little gem. read more

Backstreet - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

Absolutely love this place! The sandwiches are next-level--fresh, flavorful, and always satisfying. Easily the best in the area

Such a pretty space to meet friends for lunch. I have been coming here since the 1970's and it is even better now if that's possible. I would maybe fix up the indoor seating space next door some. Not nearly as inviting as the outdoor dining areas. read more

We went to Backstreet restaurant today...fantastic food ! We were so surprised to hear a great group performing there.. What a treat..Not sure how often the have live music but it was terrific..We will definitely be going back to that restaurant.. read more

Backstreet - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

My sister found this spot for lunch for us over the weekend. It's a cute cozy sandwhich shop with a simple menu cafeteria style and they have open patio area to sit . The food servings is great & phenomenal customer service .you can park in the street or parking lot across from the restaurant. read more

Backstreet - Lunch - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

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A charming little find. My friend and I found ourselves in Riverside for a medical procedure that I needed. After leaving we turned to Yelp to help us find a good spot for lunch. Yelp reviews did not disappoint! We both enjoyed a combination Corned Beef and Pastrami on rye. The bread was so fresh. The meat was flavorful and piled high! Everything froom the cole slaw and potato salad was homemade and delicious. There is also an open bar of vegis, pasta salad, pickles and other relishes to choose from. The atmosphere was like enjoying lunch at your friends outside garden. Beautiful plants and outdoor decorations to enjoy. Very pretty! Only negative was the price. $57 for two sandwiches and two ice teas was a little steep. The experience, however, made it all worth while. read more

Had to come again because it was delicious!! I found much more seating this time and it was indoors! read more

Backstreet - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

I really wanted to like this place. Atmosphere was really nice so I was expecting good food. $16 for half a sandwich.. that's outrageous. And it's pretty much plain too. I felt so bad for my husband when I saw how small it was. I ended up getting the Cesar salad for $16 as well and I could have gotten a better one at the store for $4 So not worth the price. I would say $10 max for what they give you. We had been wanting to try it for so long but we won't be back. Once was enough. read more

Their pastrami on rye is my favorite and I love the friendly staff and charming outdoor dining. read more

Backstreet - Comfortable outdoor dining with plenty of shade - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

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Such a cute courtyard to eat outside! Great option for lunch. I am a huge fan of the baked beans! The staff is always super fast so if you're in to just pick up your lunch and get back the office they will make it happen. read more

I normally eat here and the ambience is amazing. sometimes I get it to go and it's just as good. The service at the restaurant is amazing as well. They're very attentive to your needs. read more

Backstreet - Turkey and Swiss sandwiches - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

Not sure what I was expecting from Backstreet, but the concept was pretty fun. You place your order as if you're in a cafeteria line and then at the end, there's an unlimited sides station. The station has things like pickles, peppers, pasta salad, beets, etc. The sandwiches aren't mind blowing or anything, but it's a good casual place to visit and eat outside. read more

Backstreet - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

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The sides were ok. But I didn't come here for sides. The sandwich was quite possibly the driest thing on planet earth. Like left out all day in the sun dry. Like eating a mouthful of sand. A few condiments could elevate the sandwich. But no, meat, cheese, and bread. Caveman style. I'm good. read more

Backstreet - Dry ass Sammy. - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

Great sandwiches, great atmosphere. Calm and inviting place to eat. You can't go wrong if you hit this place up for lunch.

This place is an institution in this area for sure. I've always known about it, but never ventured in. There happens to be a couple other brunch spots that are also very popular, within walking distance that I usually go to. I was craving a very good sandwich and figured I check it out because they are known for their sandwiches and seem to be very popular with the locals. Big mistake, because nostalgia alone does not make for a great meal. The menu listed $16. for a whole roast beef sandwich. When the employee pulled out a small roll and placed it on the counter. I politely asked, "a whole one please". She replied "this is a whole one". I was straight up shocked at what was happening. But I was too embarrassed to question or cancel my order, because there were people standing closely behind me. The sandwich comes with one side, I chose the cole slaw. I get to the cashier, and she says "it'll be $21.00". I was like, huh? She said "yah, it's a hot sandwich, so it's more". It would've been somewhat understandable, if the sandwich was worth that price, either in taste, size, or both. Aside from the small size of the actual sandwich. The cole slaw, while looking pretty, was very under seasoned and lacking in flavor in general. The beef was tender and juicy, but also very mild in flavor. The Au Jus was very bland and weak. And sadly, the bread was a little on the dry side. In all fairness,the service was very good, very friendly and very polite. I couldn't have asked for better service. But ultimately, it's the food that matters. Anyone that knows me, knows that I have absolutely no problem paying a higher price for premium food, drink and, product. But, it has to be a premium product, folks. Thank you. read more

Backstreet - Roast beef French dip, cole slaw. Don't let the pic fool ya. That's a small plate, so the sandwich is actually only about 6" long. $21.00:( - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

Lived in Riverside for 53 yrs and Backstreet is great. Fresh sandwiches, salads and pies. All employees are always the best. Ambiance is so nice and relaxing Great place to to take a lunch break outside of work. Thank you Backstreet for giving your special touch to our community for years. read more

It was good the owners and staff so friendly and nice I lived the atmosphere and the food was good. I didn't really like the friendship as much as I wanted to, but everything else was very good. read more

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Great local lunch spot. Definitely a hidden gem! We got the special sandwich with pastrami and roast beef on sourdough. Food was amazing. Service was so nice and helpful. We really like the outdoor ambiance, it takes you away and you kind get lost in its charm. If you haven't been, definitely come check it out. Oh... almost forgot, the banana cream pie for dessert is a must! read more

Backstreet - Full "special" pastrami and roast beef on sourdough with potato salad, and some of the goodies from the self serve bar. - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

Hands down, my favorite sandwich in Riverside. I've been coming here since I was a kid and is still great. My favorite thing to order is a Woody Allen on an onion roll. It has corned beef and pastrami. The mustard and the Swiss cheese compliments it very well. Not only is the sandwich amazing, but so is their potato salad. Very delicious! I always pile my plate high with bread and butter pickles and of course their pasta salad which is amazing. Both come free with your order. The homemade banana cream pie here is the best I've ever had. It's a must! The only criticism would be the same as every other food place now - the prices have gone up so much! For the sandwich, a coke (refillable), and a slice of pie I was sitting at about $26. I suppose this is normal now. The quality is so good, as much as it burns to pay this much I will because Backstreet is so good! read more

I have been going to Backstreet for more than 35 years. Recently had lunch there and it was just as good as it always was. Everything is fresh. Sandwich was still amazing, love the baked beans. Banana cream pie was so good. It's a great place to take visitors. read more

Best sandwich shop in Riverside. A lil pricey but worth it!! I go here whenever I can to enjoy their hot beef dip or banana pie. read more

Went to lunch with my wife and I ordered the white bread with turkey. The salad bar compliments the sandwich and I ordered the potato salad. Sandwich is Delicious. Best sandwich in town and well stuffed with meat. My daughter calls me a carnivore. And in the end. We topped it off with some banana cream dessert. The service is fast and kind. And even when you are seated outside. The service continues. The seating is chill. Under a canopy with greenery, vintage and rustic decor. read more

Backstreet - My turkey sandwich with my dish from salad bar. Delicious - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

Very disappointing, bred comes out of bag with some mayo turkey and cheese. Could have bought at stater bros in one of those plastic containers. $$$ 56,-- for 2 sandwiches, c'mon !! At least have freshly baked bred available. Just outrageous, would not recommend! read more

Cute family owned business. Loved the ambiance but the sandwiches weren't all that great. Would love to come back for the wine and pizza nights though. read more

This place is a hidden gem! I'm a Riverside local and I've never heard of this place until now. At first glance, the patio is filled with plants, art, and plenty of seating. Inside to order, the staff are nice and welcoming. I love that they have a free salad bar. Their sandwiches are plain, as they do not toast their bread or add any other toppings. However, that's what the salad bar is for. Our order: -I ordered a tuna sandwich- if you add cranberry sauce and cucumbers, it's delicious!! -The sauce for the French dip was diluted and didn't taste like onions. Other than that, the sandwich was packed with meat. -The chocolate pie is basically chocolate pudding. It's a beautiful place to go for lunch. I will definitely be returning. read more

Backstreet - Tuna Half Sandwich w/ French bread - Sandwiches Near Me - Riverside, California

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Fun place on a Friday night for live music. Always nice when the weather is good to eat outside best sandwiches

19 dollars for full sandwich (which still wasn't even that big) turkey, cheese, mayo, bread ( that's literally it) with a side of potato salad. Sandwich was still dry. Honestly hate leaving bad reviews but this place was not worth it. I'm honestly bummed on spending 50 dollars on two sandwiches and a slice of banana pie (pie was the best part, and the only reason I gave em two stars) you get unlimited salad bar but it's just pasta salad and pickles and pickled beets ( all stuff that probably isn't that expensive in bulk) Whatever, just not worth what they are charging in there. I never leave reviews but I'm so bummed on my purchase here, so be warned read more

Good service and delicious food. Had a turkey sandwich and it and the extras that go with it were very good. Great coffee and the desserts looked scrumptious. read more

Absolutely positively overpriced! Almost $20 for a sandwich and small cup of potato salad. High quality meat but no lettuce, tomato, bacon - nothing. Extremely basic. Potato salad bland but good enough with salt and pepper. This meal is worth like $7.99 tops read more

They have done a lot of things right here at Backstreet. This is why they have been here for such a long time. Parking is a bit of a challenge. Very little street parking in that area, plus one small parking lot across the street. Once you have jumped over that hurdle, you must wait in line to place your order. On a positive note, there is never a fuss over being ignored by your server. The line moves quickly. You must pay at the counter then find a place to sit in the patio. There are all kinds of surprising nooks and crannies where you will eventually discover seating. The patio is a cozy, zen zone of tables, umbrellas, fun garden art, mature plantings, flowers, and shade trees. Since Riverside is blessed with beautiful weather, more often than not, Backstreet is a sweet place to decompress. Even dogs are welcome. The food comes out quickly, delivered to your table. After all, their menu is simple, mostly sandwiches, and their hard-working staff work speedily to keep things moving. And while I can not find anything particularly notable about their food, the sandwiches are decent sized and made with fresh ingredients. It is a pleasant experience for lunchtime outdoor dining. read more