So being from California, I'm still trying to find the ultimate pastrami sandwich here in the Austin Texas area so far I haven't been able to.
Here from California you're from me with The hat, pastrami, and Johnny's original pastrami pile high just like the East Coast Katz deli little more pricier, but true pastrami nowhere to be found here in the Austin area that I can see this next review covers the pastrami and the Philly cheese steak.
First off Saturday afternoon about 6 PM arrived at the shop first time here a lot of nostalgia lot of decorative pictures on the wall some plaques round rock, high school, baseball team's graduations newspaper clippings your name. It's like going back in time.
I step up to the counter order a small pastrami and a small Philly cheesesteak. I was going to get the foot-long pastrami but first I wanted to make sure something I liked and not just waste it so I tried both.
Got a Pepsi for the wait and it took about 25 minutes for my order to come through. apparently lotta orders. Ahead of me. Wasn't too busy inside but that's what I get for not calling ahead.
Make a note when you're ordering your food they will ask if you want their cherry tomato pickle sauce . I've never had it, but it's included in most sandwiches and I gave it a shot seen that Most reviewers had it on top of their sandwiches
I started off with the pastrami, hoping to see a bunch of layered pieces sticking out of the sandwich, but that wasn't the case the roll was fresh. The pastrami was neatly tucked in, and I couldn't tell it was pastrami until actually took the first bite.
Apparently, it's finally chopped up on the grill and you really can't make it out versus the pastrami I had in California where you can have layers of layers of meat with the fat on it and all that stuff like cats like top hat in California etc. look them up you'll see pictures .
So a different take on pastrami it was still hot fresh and it was about a 6 inch sub took a bite and honestly I just tasted freshness tasted good but I couldn't really delegate what the pastrami was supposed to taste like because it was so finally chopped up and mix with other things . As you can see in the pictures, it's pretty much a mix of things it's hard to pinpoint exactly what was all in there besides going off the ingredients they advertise, And that cherry pepper salsa relish.
Something was missing here and it couldn't put my finger on it maybe more cheese mustard maybe more but nothing stood out except for the relish weird but it was OK. It was good. It's a one time thing for me probably I won't probably be ordering it again, but for the most part, it was freshly made And did the job.
Philly cheesesteak and most of you are thinking layers of steak, onions, mushrooms, cheese, whiz, or white cheddar cheese however, you want that look go to Jersey Mike's , for instance does a great Philly cheesesteak is this like Jersey Mike's absolutely not. .
The steak was grilled good. I tasted the onions and I saw a few mushrooms in there, but again I think the cherry relish overpowered the sandwich. In all honestly looking back All I tasted on both sandwiches the meat and overall sub tasted close to each others. I couldn't really separate them to this was pastrami, and this was Philly cheesesteak however, we go by taste and visuals. The visuals were good. It was hot fresh And fully loaded with steak inside so I did get my moneys worth about $10 though I'm not sure I'll be back for this one either, but it was a shot to try always want to get out there and see what everybody has to offer and this is one I can check off so I'm still in the search for the best pastrami out there. I know where to get a a pretty good Philly cheesesteak at if you want just a basic one like Hoody's sells then keep going there and ordering it. I could re-order and try it without that cherry salsa relish maybe it'll taste better but overall the staff was great friendly. Definitely hopefully, we'll try them out with something different later in the future maybe a meatball sandwich but Otherwise I gave it 3 1/2 stars out of Five go out and try it. Let me know what you think.
I'm including a picture of The hat pastrami in California and Johnny's pastrami in Los Angeles Area to see My comparison .
However, we know everybody makes things different and different parts of the world so nothing against anybody just a comparison
If anybody knows where I can get a true pastrami sandwich like the hat picture I posted here please DM me read more