It's getting cold now and it's great to sit on a patio with a warm wood burning stove! Food is always filling and delicious there. read more

Brighter Side - Wood Burning Stove - Sandwiches Near Me - Modesto, California

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The environment is cheeky and laidback. It's a neat redo of an old gas station. The location, environment and ordering process makes it an interesting experience but be prepared to pay with cash - the owner said he hasn't taken a credit card in over 40 years and allowed us to pay after lunch (Wells Fargo ATM across the street). The food is mediocre at best. We had the supposed favorite, the Genora, a roast beef sandwich. The sandwich was kind of bland. Roast beef (bland), jack cheese, mayo, avocado and the normal lettuce/tomato. All this combined left me wanting a little zing of a good mustard. The roll was Safeway quality and became rather soggy from the roast beef. A good Dutch crunch and some mustard would put this sandwich over the top. With two Genora roast beef sandwiches, two sodas and a bag of chips cost us $22. read more

Staff is great and the food is awesome, they ambience and environment is comforting if you choose to dine in for lunch.

Best sandwich in Modesto. Fresh, wholesome ingredients served up with positive vibes making it the best lunch spot in town. Smiles shared freely. read more

It feels like a home sitting here. Honestly it is an adorable place with some awesome sandwiches. They are super nice and make sure you try a Calypso!!!You should definitely try it 10/10 and we got 2 sandwiches and 3 chips with a drink it only came out to $20. read more

Brighter Side - The Nicolas - Sandwiches Near Me - Modesto, California

I came in here looking for a vegan option, and made the mistake of ordering a turkey sandwich. Completely my fault. I went to pay for the meal with card and was told promptly but very kindly that they didn't take cards. The gentleman at the front told me that he would let me take my time and eat my sandwich, and get money from across the bank when I finished up. Didn't ask for my ID or anything, just trusted me. After I scraped the turkey off, the sandwich was very good. I ordered a fruit cup that was about as average as they come. Short story: Great people, good food. I'd suggest to put some vegan cheeses/meats/sandwich options on the menu. read more

Great place for guilt-free sandwiches or salad. One thing I really appreciate here besides the friendly customer service, is the bread is always so incredibly soft; nothing like a bite of stale bread to kill your sandwich mood. Never happens here!! The only disappointing part is cash only; one of the reasons I don't go too often. I never have cash, great prices, though. Their hours are also limited but that's understandable for a sandwich lunch shop. read more

Brighter Side - Amy! - Sandwiches Near Me - Modesto, California

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This place has the best sandwiches I have ever eaten in Modesto! The produce is perfection, customer service is above and beyond, and the sandwiches are above worthy of a 5 star review. My husband and I have found our new gem and we will definitely be back! I would have taken a picture of the sandwich for the post, but it was gone too fast. read more

First time stopping by and all I can say is this place is a hidden gem, service was awesome and I was in and out really quick. I ended up getting the Amy and a cup of fresh fruit salad and let me tell you it was great! I'll definitely start going there often read more

This is a beautiful quiet place tucked in downtown modesto. Great vegetarian sandwiches! We ate outside and found Pumpkin, honestly the best 3rd wheel you could ever ask for. He's the sweetest read more

Brighter Side - Pumpkin - Sandwiches Near Me - Modesto, California

Forever delicious!!! This place never disappoints. Love the owners, the cat, the ambiance...all of it is great!

Pretty confusing at first but it's all good once you order. At first it looks a bit sketchy from the outside and you enter through a weird wooden door. When you walk in it feels very cozy. The staff looks like it's family owned so it gives you the real mom and pops feeling! Food is pretty good and isn't too expensive. The food I just ate in San Francisco would have probably been double (literally). $6 for a quick lunch hell yes! I'd go again read more

Always fresh and delicious! Friendly and casual. Great value.

This spot is super cute. I had no idea that this place existed until my aunt had brought me here. At the time she worked in a building nearby and often went to this place with her coworkers, so she decided to take me when I visited her building one day. I love that there were cute names for the sandwiches and how there seemed to be an option for everyone. I am definitely coming here again to check out new things I might have missed during the first visit. read more

Wow!!! Sooooo good! It's very hard to find a place with sprouts and fresh ingredients. My food was great and very reasonably priced. $10.95 for a handcrafted whole sandwich with avocado, chips, drink and fresh baked cookie. They were super friendly too and made me feel at home. Logistically the restaurant entrances were a little confusing but only for a first timer like me. Very vintage building, felt like an old greenhouse it was cool. They only accept cash or check so thank goodness for once I had cash on me lol read more

Brighter Side - Very, very good! Only $10.95 for all this. Sandwich has avocado too. - Sandwiches Near Me - Modesto, California

I love, love this place for so many reasons. The sandwiches, soups & salads are amazing, you're treated like family by the staff, they have an awesome drink & chip selection & the ambiance is so serene. The inside is bright & cheery, with the light shining through the many windows, & the patio is beautiful & relaxing. There's a reason they've been serving our community with a smile for over 40 years. If, for some reason, you haven't yet tried this Modesto original gem, it's time you get your Brighter Side on! read more

Tried this place for the first time today. I meant to take a picture of my sandwich (The Amy) but before I knew it, it was already too late. That's how good it was. Thank you, Larry and staff! You guys are amazing and make the best sandwiches. Keep up the good work! read more

First visit today! I have to admit it was difficult to find the entrance but after following Punkin the kitty I was pleasantly greeted by the owner once inside. My daughter I were pressed for time and ordered a not grilled cheese sandwich and it was absolutely delicious! The collection of antiques and the wood stove made us feel right at home. The conversation was great too! Looking forward to returning! read more

I still work a block from Brighter Side and I still say they're the best! READ PREVIOUS REVIEW! read more

First time there, after several years in Modesto, and clearly see why the star average is high! FRESH. FRESH FRESH meats, cheeses and breads. Great service. Prices are affordable. read more

Stopped by this place on the way to Yosemite for a hefty sandwich. Delicious meat, great selection of ingredients and such friendly staff! Also coming from the city $6.00 for such a filling sandwich was amazing. I highly recommend this as a quick lunch spot! read more

Brighter Side - Sandwiches Near Me - Modesto, California

Soup, Salad, Sandwich, two sodas and a cookie =$17.00 lunch for two. Looking forward to going back. Very quaint. Kind service.

Went here for lunch with my sis both Tried the Amy turkey and salami was a nice combo ! Just wish there was a lil more meat but hey I don't mind paying a lil extra next time for extra . the lady at front was very nice and friendly the atmosphere was very welcoming and has a garden type ora hence there is a garden outside will be back to try more on the menu read more

Such good food! Glad they're still open and survived covid... very friendly local owned business. I do wish they'd bacon for the sandwiches though ! Lol read more

Been coming here for years and no lie I did get worried after the fire if things would stay the same but thankfully they have :) Such a hidden gem of Modesto, I wish I could come here more often. Everyone who works here is fantastic and my sandwich never disappoints. I read a review about someone asking for more vegan bread and what not...get out of here with that! The brighter side does it need to change anything, please go somewhere else,why reinvent the wheel? I had a great lunch today, definitely can't wait to come back. read more

This is probably my favorite sandwhich shop in town. Kind of a hidden gem you wouldn't notice it walking by but the sandwhiches are amazing and they have plenty of vegetarian options. The owners are super friendly or staff? Either way I love this place read more

Great sandwiches! I like the variety of sandwiches that they have my fave is the Judie. Sprouts galore in these sandwiches I love it! Can't go wrong! read more

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One of my all time favorite places to eat lunch. The food is always fresh and tasty. Love the old gas station dining room and Larry is always friendly and warm. Do wish they took ATM though. read more

Like most getting inside was a bit confusing (I probably should of read the reviews more) maybe putting signs like "Enter here" would be nice, but overall location & food is worth a going back, however what made them fantastic was there grade A service! I come from the Bay Area where places like this are very common so to find one in the valley and Modesto at that was super nice because they don't have many places like this....the menu is straight forward & you can add or take things out you don't necessarily HAVE TOO get the sandwich as listed...its healthy it's convenient & way better quality than any of this sandwich franchise places! Thank you for the complimentary cup of fruit because they DO NOT take cards only CASH OR CHECK, they apologized for the inconvenience but if your a food junkie like me it really was not inconvenient for me, remember folks your body is your temple treat it will & it will treat you better....thank you read more

Brighter Side - The Annie: no green onions or mushrooms w/ turkey. - Sandwiches Near Me - Modesto, California

I came here with my son. To be honest the set up is very confusing. I walked all over the place trying to find the entrance. I had a very nice gentleman explain to me the process. You walk up to this kind of sketchy looking building. You walk up to it and go in the door right into what looks like the kitchen. They take your order then you go back outside and into another door to pay. But everyone was SO extremely friendly. They only take cash or check so beware of that. The food was so delicious and the price was outstanding. I got my son a sandwich and myself one. 2 bags of chips and a soda and it was 15 dollars! Score! The people I cannot say enough were so friendly. Noticed I was alone with my son and helped me out with a high chair and carried my food to the table. So sweet. I will DEFINITLY be back with my husband to show him this awesome place! read more

Gone there for a long time! I think since 1989 Every time wonderful!!!love them and we move to Merced anytime I go we go there immediately read more

Awsome food the salads are amazing the owner and others are very friendly and knows everyone by name great place to eat healthy.

Been going to this place since I was a kid. Its so fresh and yummy! Chef salad topped with egg salad is a win! Sandwiches are wonderful too! Staff is like family! Pumkin the kitty is a lovey! read more

Not very happy it was my first time here and when I got to counter I told the lady I didn't catch her name she had glasses on older lady she answer me Rudely and had a attitude I told her it's my first time and want to see if they had a turkey w avocado w sourdough and she just had this awful tone of voice she sigh and tilt her glasses look at me ,, I soo wanted to just leave but I was meeting some friends and didn't want to make a big deal plus it was my friend lunch hour from work I know one thing I will not be returning or refer this place to anyone ,, I suggest the woman gets customer service training ,, read more

Sandwiches good, but service sucks. Starts with messing up my order THEN the elderly man at the counter tossing my wife's change at her to them only giving me one sandwich. She had to go back in get the sandwich and hearing him yelling "who fucked up back here". I know that Covid has people on edge and things aren't as they usually are but that's unacceptable and not a good way to represent your business. I WILL NEVER SUPPORT, LET ALONE STEP FOOT IN THIS PLACE AGAIN. I was super excited to try their sandwiches because they use fresh ingredients and put sprouts on the sandwiches. read more

Stopped in here just to try it out. Very quaint little place, kind of out of the way and if you blink you will miss it. The sammie I had was good. Nothing out of the ordinary but maybe a little better than your average sammie shop. Price was no better nor worse than anywhere else. Would I go back??? Yes, well worth the time spent. read more

I was recently in Modesto for business so I decided to head out to Brighter Side after I read some pretty good reviews on yelp. At first glance the place itself is kind of dinky and it's a little hard to find because of the one way streets and all that stuff. ANYWAY.. I ended up getting the Nickolas and man was it a good decision. Service was really quick and it was just straight up a proper sandwich. They load up on meats and all the fixings. A previous review said that this place was a little slice of Berkeley in Modesto. That's what told me I had to try it, being a recent Berkeley grad and all. I'm super glad I did, I wish there was a place like this in Berkeley because I'd be all about it. So why not 5 stars? The fact that it's cash only is a little bit of a nuisance, that coupled with the fact that it is pretty hard to find/you have to park on the street most likely was just enough to keep it from garnering 5 stars. Nonetheless, I'll be coming here again soon. read more

I have eaten here several times and the food is ALWAYS fresh and delicious! If you're looking for a great sandwich place THIS is it! read more

Pros: Best egg salad sandwich ever, prices, selection, phone order Cons: Parking, payment This has to be my favourite sandwich ever. Their selection of sandwiches always has something that sounds good. (One day, it'll be egg salad, which I can't stress enough how amazing it is, and the next, it'll be a roast beef with cheese). You can even come up with your own combinations! They don't just sell sandwiches either; they sell salads, fruit salads, chips, sodas, cookies (I think) and other sides like soups. (I think soups are seasonal.) The prices for everything are really cheap with the only downside being they do not take credit cards. CASH ONLY. However, they're located across the street from a Wells Fargo so if you bank with them, you're in luck! (You can even park there but don't tell anyone I said so :P) You can also call in your order and it'll be ready to go which is really convenient if you're in a hurry or your lunch break is extraordinarily short. Word of caution: Never, ever, EVER attempt to eat one of their sandwiches, especially those of the "salad" variety, in the car. You will end up with a car full of bits of egg salad or chicken salad all over your car sprinkled with confetti lettuce. So....*dramatic pause* if you enjoy sandwiches at great prices, regardless of whether you're in a super hurry (phone order!!) or if you just want to hang out on their back patio with the inexplicably large cat, this place is fabulous and you ought to check it out! read more

This place is super affordable and the people are kind! I was kind of confused when I walked in, but they take your order at the front and then you pay, they only take cash. Super recommend this place if you're looking for a tasty sandwich! read more