Always fresh and prepared perfectly! You can not beat the prices, either. Parking is not superb but if you work downtown, easy to walk to. Always friendly and helpful; when sunny, there is outdoor seating. Great place!! read more

Good food, good service, love the outdoor eating area. Sandwiches are ok. Kind hard to find parking...avoid the lunch rush

Absolutely love this place. The owner and workers are so sweet and treat you like family. By far one of modesto's best kept secrets. Their ambiance radiates happiness and their sandwiches and salads are delicious and affordable! I go at least once a week! read more

A small, inexpensive sandwich shop. I go to MJC so it's hard to find somewhere nearby that has good, cheap food for lunch, but this place fits the bill. Sandwiches are under 7$. The shop is very interesting on the inside, with lots of antiques, including a wood burning stove. The outside seating area is a beautiful rustic garden. The only thing I would be able to complain about is that they don't take card. read more

We stopped by on a whim and were not disappointed. We were greeted by the owner (I believe) who was kind enough to show us the ropes. The sandwiches we got were delicious! Prices are reasonable. Just be aware that they do not accept credit cards. We just went to the ATM across the street, which wasn't a big deal. We will definitely be back! read more

To me, Brighter Side is a great example of what a sandwich shop should be -- I'm not sure which is the bigger attraction, but the food is all fresh and delicious, and the eating areas are extremely homey and comfortable. Not to mention, the prices and prompt service are great. This is the only place I've eaten at in down town Modesto without feeling like I'm in down town Modesto. From the inside, you don't have a view of all the city's filth, which is likely one of the main reasons people like the place so much! If you want to take someone out to eat and you want something a bit fancier than fast food while still being cheaper than an actual restaurant, this is a perfect place. One caveat though: I'm giving them a 4-star review rather than 5 because the place is a bit dirty if you pay attention. It's perfectly understandable that there's quite a bit of dust and dirt, seeing that the whole interior of the place is covered in wood boards and antiques, but I'm surprised no one else has mentioned it. However, I'd like to stress that I'm being especially picky about this because the place is so close to being perfect that even small flaws become a lot more noticeable. read more

This is a great find in Modesto! If you didn't know this place existed you'd never go in. But going in you'd find a funky interesting place with great sandwiches and soups. I had the avocado, cheese, mushrooms and sprouts on rye, my daughter had the egg salad and my son had the pastrami. All 3 were large, fresh and delicious. We also had the minestrone soup which was very tasty. The restaurant has a very comfortable and friendly feel to it. read more

The food is high quality. The restaurant itself is weird. They don't take card. Not sure why they don't take card. Make sure your ass has cash if you are coming here. Other than that the sandwiches taste good. I expected this place to be worse but they surprised me. read more

Great sandwiches, and nice folks! The sandwich selection is diverse. Gonna have to try the salads next time. The patio out back was nice on this sunny day read more

Amazing! My favorite sandwich place of all time!!! I wish I was closer I would go everyday!! Everything is fresh and delicious! I highly recommend the Nicholas! Everytime they have a special that I've tried like soup or fruit cup, I haven't been disappointed! Very reasonable priced as well!! read more

Excellent my husband, mother nature law and my self had the best sandwiches. Service was wonderful. I will go back. read more

Brighter Side - Sandwiches Near Me - Modesto, California

This place is always great service is wonderful the people are great the food is wonderful and open for many years and still the best service around read more

Not a good experience at all!! Upon arriving I was unsure where to order which is okay, I got that part figured out. However, once I ordered I was told it's cash only.. mind you there's no signs stating so. I walked across the street to get cash. My order was given to the wrong person. I remained patient I understand these things can happen. BUT because my order was given to the wrong customer the older man at the counter taking orders was very upset with his staff, I could hear him cussing at them. I waited for my food to be remade and once my name was called I took my food and went to my car to discover part of the order was missing. At this point I didn't even want to go back inside and piss him off more. As I walked back inside and up to the counter I could hear him yelling and cussing at the staff in the back at that moment i watched him throw the other part of my order in the trash. I honestly felt so bad for the folks in the back being treated so poorly. I understand these times are hard but there's never a good excuse to treat staff like that ! I'm also pretty damn sure I got the sandwich the other person brought back. I didn't question it due to his behavior. The sandwich was good but after encountering him I kind of lost my appetite... was pretty over it at that point. I would NEVER go back for the shear fact that I may encounter that man again. read more

A unique little place downtown. Loved it. Reminded me of some of the joints I grew-up with in Santa Cruz. Food is fab. Go there... you won't be disappointed. read more

A friend told me this place was once a gas station, and he called the dining area the grease bay or pit!!! But noo, no grease pit!!! It is the cutiest and best place so far in Modesto!! I am still thinking of the place long after the full belly!!! The sandwiches are WONDERFUL and yes, you order and go to another side to pay. I am glad I visited with my friend otherwise I may have been toooo confused. We visited there on a beautiful fall day eating outside with the water feature it reminded me of Santa Cruz. I ordered a 'special' BarBQ beef sandwich and my "friend" tried to steal it from me!!! But NO!, not from me!! I loved it so much I am returning tomorrow for lunch!!! I also was also a tiny bit hungry and EVERYTHING was great, the sandwich, soup and fruit salad, ok I did share!!!! read more

Brighter Side is the place people take you to secretly, like a speakeasy. It's not corporate or flashy, you kind of have to be shown how to get through the line. The sandwiches are straight forward and it's charming once you are introduced: so here is the low-down. Enter on K street, now your in Que... Look at the menu, You choose a sandwich by name from the selection or you can change your bread, add things to your sandwich, consider soup, etc. Do not feel rushed, write your order down on a card(staying) or a bag(going). Remember to write your name down too! Hand it to the person to make your order. Proceed out the door, to the next door that takes you into the dining space. Pay at the counter, pick up a drink, cookie, chips or some fruit salad. They will either have your order ready or will call your name. Now relax and eat inside or outside, breath and just enjoy one of modesto's originals, not like anywhere else (thank goodness). *My sandwich is the Dean or the Amy, depends on if I get the Dean on dark Rye or the Amy with Ham. Support local business! read more

I have been here countless times; Everything here is excellent! Amazing experience after amazing experience. Freshest breads and vegetables. The atmosphere is very rustic and entertaining. Busy during lunch time. Staff is extremely friendly and helpful. They are extremely accommodating to your needs and substitutions. read more

Wonderful light sandwiches. perfect location, easy to walk to. You would not know it by driving by, with out a doubt a place you are referred to. Personalities are intriguing, fun, and personal. Prices are reasonable. Delivery would be fabulous!! read more

This sandwich shop is one of my all time favorite places .Quite possibly the best sandwiches made in Modesto.Try the Genora and the chicken salad sandwich. read more

Agree w/ RickP. This place is unique and unusual, very funky & fun. Love the pot-belly stove in winter; lovely overgrown patio dining. Sandwiches are very good! And salads are excellent as well. Great place to bring children, although avoid the business lunch crowd between 12-1 if possible. read more

came into Brighter Side a few months ago and haven't gotten a chance to review it until now. my fiance and i decided to have a little modesto adventure one day and explore the downtown area. we stopped in to Brighter Side for some sandwiches for our picnic lunch before heading to the tiny natural history museum down the street. i think it must have been around 3:30ish, because there was no one in there and they were definitely closing for the day, but still stayed open to serve us! really nice. they have a great selection of sandwiches with some vegetarian options too. my fiance got the turkey and salami and i got the egg salad sandwich. we got two drinks and a bag of chips and took it all to go. i wish we had come earlier in the day because the place is ADORABLE. they have little tables with cute yellow chairs and even an outdoor seating area. the place just seemed cozy and like a good place to relax with a sandwich. can't wait to go back and have lunch there. the prices are very, very reasonable and i'm sure they must do well during lunch with all the downtown businesses. the sandwiches were big and delicious! i loved my egg salad and the turkey/salami was wonderful as well. i can't believe so few people have reviewed this place, because it is excellent and is definitely full of good vibes. may be a little hard to find because it's in a little wooden building, but it's definitely worth finding. :) yum! read more

Fresh, simple, & tasty. Hits the spot. Best sandwiches in town, hands down. Anyone who's been here knows. Never had anything bad or that I didn't like. read more

This place is pretty awesome! Beyond fresh sammiches, and they don't skimp on the fillings. We always order the Christine, I like mine dry (without mayo). Service is always super quick, and they always remind you where the napkins are which is a plus. Four stars instead of five because I wish they offered vegan cheese, but that's pretty standard for this area. Also, I wish they were open for more longer since the hours of operation are a tad slim. read more

Food is so yummy and fresh! Staff is super nice, cute decor, and there are kitties outside to play with! My son is very picky and he looooved it. He can't wait to work his way down the menu. I can't say anything bad about this place. Just don't forget to bring cash! read more

I love this place! I have a chef salad from here at least once a week and it's Modesto's hidden jewel!

I can easily say this place has the best sandwiches hands down in the Modesto area, and I'm not from some city 100 miles away and then posting like i know the place. Since i'm a picky eater i usually just order a simple turkey & cheese type sandwich, and when a place like this can make a simple, plain-ol sandwich taste as good as they do, you know they're good. The place's decor is kinda cool too, it reminds me of what an aged hollistic hippie in mendocino county would want his renovated sandwich shop to be. and they're cashier was the DJ in our wedding like 10 years ago, so we always get a kick out of that! :) read more

Easily the best in town. There are others who try but Brighter Side consistently does it. I always go for the Joshua with everything. The owner is exceptionally nice and has always treated my kids well when they come. It's a Modesto classic for sandwiches. read more

This has to be one of the best sandwich shops in Modesto. I've been coming here for many years and have tried several different sandwiches and have always been happy. The Joshua is my Fav. read more

Absolutely delicious roast beef sandwiches. Very good. Will be back for sure. Nice atmosphere. Salad was delicious. Want to try everything they have read more

Good sandwiches, and possibly the best atmosphere for any sandwich shop (or restaurant) in Modesto. The food's not cheap, but it won't leave you broke either. It's worth the trip just for the atmosphere. read more

Delicious sandwiches and nice customer service. Atmosphere is pleasant. Great place to meet an old friend and have lunch.

A great whole in the wall. From outside, I thought this was a dump, but inside it was vibrant. The owner helped us with ordering, & though we did not have cash, he patiently waited for us. The broccoli soup was very very good. My wife liked the Annie sandwich and I liked the Judee sandwich. We got designer sodas as well. All in all, great service, great food, and a nice place. Its right around the corner from the Doubletree hotel. read more

Truly one of Modesto's hidden gems. If you're looking for wholesome, healthy, and reasonably priced food for lunch ( for they're only open then), and are not too fussy about ambience and the other bells and whistles, look no further. The place is so inconspicuously located-- "hidden" as I like to call it-- that for the first timer it might even be hard to find. There is no bright and conspicuous signage either. With that backdrop, the fact that they have been in business for a really long time ( "since the seventies", the owner told me), is not only remarkable but also a testimony to their quality, affordability and consistency. The staff, from the friendly and delightful ladies who make your sandwich or salad, to the owner who takes your payment ( cash only, just so you know) and helps you with your beverages or cup of fruit, are all so wonderful that I have been going back as often as I can. read more

The entrance is a little confusing and to order you write it down on a piece of paper and give it to the sandwich makers then proceed through the door to the cash register where you pay. It is a bit pricey for sandwiches and I wrote what I wanted on my sandwich which was just meat and cheese and when I got my sandwich it had everything on it and then the ladies making the sandwiches got angry and said that I should have put "only" but I don't see why that would be necessary, if i wanted lettuce and everything I would have written that down but okay whatever they didn't have to be rude about it. The dining room is cute though and they have a lot of antiques. I gave it 4 stars because it is pricey. read more

Nice place to have a sandwich. Garden patio. Downtown. Bring cash or checks no plastic.

Friendly service, garden-like atmosphere, delicious sandwiches, excellent prices. It reminds me of having lunch at grandma's. My fave: Charlie on a roll read more

the atmosphere is cute and the staff is super nice. It gets really packed during lunch hour. They have really good soups and salads. alot of their soups are made from scratch so I go here all the time during the winter. not a fan of their sandwiches- they cost around $5-6 and are really something you could make at your house. They use grocery store bread, cheese, and lunchmeat, with mayo and mustard. I really can only wrap my mind around spending that much for a sandwich if its like the ones at safeway/raleys, etc where they are using fresh baked bread, gourmet cheese, and fresh chicken breast/tri tip, etc. read more

After nearly 35 years in Modesto I finally made my way in to the 'Brighter SIde'. I had heard all about it over the years, how good it was and I was VERY pleased. What a great lil hidden gem. GO, one of the best sandwiches I've had with the freshest avacado ever. read more

I came to the Brighter Side out of curiosity and I am not over exaggerating when I say that it was the best experience I've ever had in a sandwich shop! I wasnt aware that they didn't accept visa cards and since I was in a hurry and had no cash, the man at the register gave me my sandwich with out hesitation and told me to come back and pay the next day. It wasn't just the service that was incredible but also the food! I ordered the "Nickolas" and it was to die for! I am definitely coming back! read more

Brighter Side - Sandwiches Near Me - Modesto, California

Amazing Sandwiches and salads. Make sure to bring cash as it is cash only! Food is always fresh and delicious. My personal favorite sandwich is the Annie add turkey. Ordering process can be confusing for first time visitors, but don't let that discourage you! They will walk you through it and you will be a pro in no time. Here are some tips: walking up to the front there is a hallway to your left. Go down to the door at the end of the hallway. This is where they are actually making the sandwiches and where they take orders. Write your order on a bag if it is to go, or on an index card if it so to eat there. Then walk back to the main entrance to pay. While this process is unconventional it does work out well as this place can get busy. They do take phone orders and I highly recommend taking advantage of that. If the weather is nice they have a gorgeous outdoor seating area in the back that is landscaped with lots of flowers and greenery. Plus umbrellas for plenty of shade for those warmer Modesto day. read more