Another after-farmers market meal, this time at Mean Sandwich, a counter service sandwich and burger shop. This was for Sunday lunch and it wasn't too crowded at all, although a couple more customers came in while we were eating. They actually have quite a large space - a bunch of indoor seating as well as outdoor seating in the back. We were deciding between The Mean, WTF and D.A.M Burger, and the cashier managed to convince us to go with the former two.
The Mean ($19) - I'm usually hesitant to order corned beef sandwiches - I'm used to the staggeringly salty, thinly shaved gigantic beast-sized sandwiches of the Midwest that are completely unwieldy to eat and just way too salty for my tastes. The cashier heartily recommended this sandwich, and I decided to give it a try in spite of my misgivings. Man I am happy I ordered this. Firstly, they use larger chunks of corned beef rather than thin slices. This makes it so each bite is more cohesive and allows them to control the spice levels much better - with these being perfectly not too salty. They top it with a thick layer of pickled red cabbage - it adds nice crunch and is tangy, but not too much. Above that is a thick layer of fresh mint. When I read the menu, I thought it would be just a leaf or two but they really pile it on. And above that is a layer of mustard. The flavors really do work well together and everything melds into a super delicious bite. I found the bun to be a bit strange though - nothing wrong with quality, but they add so much to the sandwich that it compresses the interior of the bun until it shrinks enough to almost resemble pita bread! Strange, but it works well! (5/5)
WTK? ($19) - I found this sandwich to be a little weaker than The Mean. It starts with a toasted Vietnamese-style baguette, complete with crackly thin crust. Inside, they slather a spicy chili relish and a hot lemon pepper mayo and add pickles. These three ingredients all exhibit a very robust tangy flavor profile with a bit of heat from the chilis and mayo. It's a very vigorous tart and tangy flavor that's completely different from the lighter acidity from the pickled vegetables that are typically included in Banh Mi. For me, at least, it's a little too strong and there isn't enough fat to help balance the flavors. Otherwise, the chicken is pretty good - seems like cubed thigh meat bits fried until crisp. Good flavor and not dry inside. There's plenty of lettuce as well, which is then sprinkled with additional pepper. It's still a good sandwich, but all the tart flavors just didn't work that much for my tastes. (4/5)
Sandwiches come with a side of the Salt-n-Pepa Skins. They are very generous with the potatoes - it's probably double or more of what I usually expect, making the $19 paid for each sandwich way more palatable in terms of pricing. These potato skins are the definition of inconsistent - all pieces completely different sizes and shapes, filled with nooks and crannies. Some pieces are crunchy with skin full on, some pieces are almost to the point of being bitter and burnt, while other pieces are lighter in color. Some are fluffier, some are harder but cooked through. None are as fluffy as the inside of a typical french fry. The uniqueness of each skin makes each one delicious in its own way. The amount of salt added is much less than the typical french fry as well, making these less of a sodium bomb. I love this method of potato prep. (5/5)
I think one of the owners came out and basically went to every every table to ask how everyone was doing. What a great gesture to see!
Mean Sandwich serves some very solid sandwiches and I especially love the fried potatoes. I will definitely be back!
Bathrooms - Single unisex room. read more