This place has a number of things going for it, but the first is the guy I kind of assumed was the manager--Justin. It turns out he's NOT the manager, but he's probably a strong reason this little sandwich shop with a great downtown Atascadero location has a great chance at thriving (if they aren't already). I'll come back to Justin in a second, but don't forget him...
Layout is simple and obvious, seating has excellent options (unless it's raining, maybe, in which case there are only two tables inside) that are nicely separated, menu is straightforward, not too narrow, not too broad. And the quality was refreshingly good! My "Morty" was what basically an "Italian", but really just a simple, well-balanced, nicely executed and just slightly elevated ham and cheese sandwich (sorry if that offends the menu-maker, but it's a good thing--NO ONE does good basic sandwiches, and I'd far rather get a well-executed simple sandwich than a badly executed attempt that reaches too far!). My wife's tuna salad sandwich was similarly simple, maybe light on the tuna salad, heavy on lettuce--but good! Fries? Simple fries? $4 and the best fries I've had in years. Somebody cares. Is it a sign?
And the prices were quite reasonable. The clientele on a Tuesday at about 11:30am was mixed and obviously happy to be there, clearly some new customers, some returning--a great sign.
And, Justin. He said hello and welcomed us in the moment we entered the space. He was polite, informative, proactive and friendly. That was different, unexpected, welcome. I often think (as a lot of us do) that customer service is just a memory of the old days when people cared, when businesses, workers and owners/managers alike intuitively understood that true customer service is not an extra, it's not something that can be cut due to costs, something that is second or third string to paying your staff as little as you can get away with. Nope, it's right at the top, whether you know it or not. And those who do know it, the scattered and isolated few, will see results. Customer service is about relationships, about telling people they care--and nothing is more valuable to the customer than that.
Justin told me he's always "on", whether at work or not. Someone please recognize that value, if you haven't already, and then apply it--liberally. Someone--including Justin, starting with Justin--needs to KNOW this value is a real and present danger to the mediocrity that has crept into our lives like a layer of cold nacho cheese over potential value in every nook and cranny. All that (potential) value is really there, but it doesn't get fed, recognized, celebrated, leveraged.
Eat here, enjoy it, say hi to Justin, thank the cooks for good food and caring, thank your lucky stars you found just a little bit of sunshine.
Here's to the Justins of the world--maybe there's hope.
(Oh, by the way, if it troubles you that Justin is the star of this review, even though I also said the place is good, you should ask yourself what's wrong with this world that someone who cares made such an impression and then look around and see what a difference there might be if more of us cared.) read more