You would think 15 minutes would be enough time to get a sandwich from a deli. If you're trying to get one from Star Meats, you'd be wrong. Wonderful for them that they are so popular but if you're trying to squeeze lunch into your 30 minute "lunch hour" this is not the place for you. I left 20 minutes after placing my order after learning they hadn't even started on it yet. And I was late for my 1:00 meeting. And now I'm hangry. read more

Great quality and a good sized sandwich. Fresh ingredients, never really caught what the price was tho

I love Star Meats. Jesse and staff know their meat and cheese, so if you are looking for something less styro and cling wrap packagy and something more resembling the butcher shop your grandparents probably grew up with, this is the place. Aside from meats and cheeses, they also make a mean sammich, and I have a special fondness for their chicken pies...the chicken and mushroom one in particular. All this and it's in the back of a cute as a button-for-real-retro grocery with neon and cool signs. Can't go wrong at Star. read more

Maybe the best sandwiches I've had in the East Bay! The Goodfella is my favorite but everything I've tried has been excellent -- it's $8 even, which I think is pretty reasonable given the quality. Note: The above hours are a bit misleading. You can buy meat and groceries all day, but THEY ONLY MAKE SANDWICHES FROM 11-2. I've shown up a few times after 2 and was in for a real disappointment... read more

I'm not yet at the level of boldness where I can eat food from another establishment a restaurant/cafe without any kind of shame. Having said that, there do happen to be a select few food establishments that can deflect any kind of protest against this form gastronomic invasion - an Obi-Wan Kenobi in a paper bag. That's right; this sandwich was so good, I pulled out a Star Wars reference. I don't even think Alec Guinness would mind. BF and I went to Cole Coffee with our introductory Star Meats sandwiches, $20 poorer but full of anticipation. We sat at an outdoor table and unfolded our respective sandwiches: he had the tuna glorious with its fresh tuna salad and luscious tomatoes, and I with my Goodfella: salami, coppa, provolone, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and and mayo. The sun-dried tomatoes , olive oil, and vinegar added dimension with its tart and sweetness. The tuna was enchanting - probably the best non-tuna melt tuna sandwich I've ever had. But the killer, the thing that convinced me that it was all worth it, was the constant barrage of magical words: "Where did you get that sandwich?" Over and over, people would walk by, those neighboring us would turn our way, and ask where those damn good-looking sandwiches came from. And, even though the staff at Cole Coffee acted a little stuffy about it, you can feel confident cruising into the Death Star itself when you have the Jedi of sandwiches in your lunch sack. Oh yeah, I went there. read more

This review is purely about the meat market in the back. We have been on a hunt for a good local butcher and ventured here based on some good yelp reviews. Boy do I regret it! Maybe it was because it was towards the end of the day (around 5pm) so most of the meat selection was already gone. We chose a tri tip to take home to cook for dinner that night and paid $18 for it. As soon as I got home I unwrapped it and I could immediately SMELL IT HAD GONE BAD! I was really disappointed that we paid for bad meat! And more disappointed in the butcher who sold it to us without noticing the dark spots underneath and the bad smell. Looks like we'll have to keep searching for another good butcher... read more

These sandwiches never disappoint. Great ingredients, service and very timely! I walked out of my house, phoned in my order and by the time I got to the cashier they had my food ready. Highly recommend calling in ahead if your SOLE TARGET is the sandwich. :) Have to wait? No worries. Grab a tasty beverage and chips at the Star Grocery (And YES it is a separate store with a separate cashier. Get over yourself and walk the 10 yards make this purchase). :) Oh, and great meat to boot! From the things that swim to the things that walk, probably the freshest meat/seafood in the neighborhood. Big fan of their house made sausage and bacon. Don't even get me started on their meatballs. read more

Solid sandwiches and they are usually happy to do substitutions, which is nice. I usually call ahead and then grab my sandwich 15 minutes later. read more

I am a sandwich lover. And a yelp lover. Yelp + sandwich = Star Meats lover. I seriously had to think REALLY flippin hard to remember a sandwich that I've ever come across that has been better than today's...I pondered good and hard. But NO. None can compare. NONE! Alright...well...maybe the Genova Delicatessen near 51st comes close...but this place...OMG. Wins by a 10 noses. $8 flat for the HUGEST, freshest, most deliciously balanced deli sandwich EVER. The best sandwiches (imo) consist of the freshest ingredients pressed together in the perfect proportion...and this sandwich was PURE PERFECTION in all ways human-kind can ask for. Thanks to Yelp, I ventured over here for a quick lunch where I ordered "The Goodfella": Layered on a super crusty 10'' baguette are thinly sliced-upon-ordered pleasantly salty cured meats of salami and coppa against a soft, silky, fresh, supple hunk of mozzarella and crispy arugula...all harmonized by a splash of balsalmic, a touch of mayo....oh god.... *faint* If you love simplicity in the form of a sandwich...where all of its ingredients speak for itself...come here NOW! read more

Terrible and deceitful service. They told us on the phone they would make our sandwiches, then when I showed up they hadn't started because our group in total was 8 people. The man working had a smug expression and made sure to continually repeat that the issue was our fault, not theirs. If they cared about their customers they could have said upfront that they wouldn't make the sandwiches in advance, called us back when they changed their minds, or at least apologized for saying one thing and doing something totally different. The cherry on top was us finally getting our sandwiches and the guy at the counter repeating a 4th time that it was our fault and not to order 8 or more sandwiches in the future. I used to be a loyal customer and can't imagine coming back again. read more

Update: Somehow I'd never tired their sandwiches... best deli sandwich around - though if you want a true Italian hero (not my thing) Genova may be your place. The Brian Allen is my fav... great chipotle mayo... ___ original: Maybe 3.5 stars. Great old-school vibe. Most of the guys here definitely know their meat, and the quality of their meat is generally very high. The meat is also very fresh and (though I'm not sure if it's exclusively organic) it seems to mostly by humanely produced. Positives: They turned me on to Nueskie's bacon, they try (and often succeed) in making thier own interesting proucts: Pot pies and some of the pasta salads are amazing while the sausages and salumi are hit-or-miss - but extra points for trying head cheese. Negatives: Selection is fairly small - particularly in poultry. With a fish selection this small, why bother. Surprisingly pricey. Biggest Annoyance: If you're a woman they give you a totally different level of service. A very flirtatious level of service. And when there are women anywhere around, they often aren't interested in taking the extra 60 seconds to discuss the best cooking techniques for (or background of) a piece of meat, etc - which is the main reason to go to a butcher like this. Now I don't blame them, I love women too and I'm a flirt myself, but they aren't getting the extra star from me that most other reviewers seem to give them (85% women reviewers - if you look closely). If you're a married man you might want to send your wife instead for the best service - just make sure she doesn't come back with TOO big a smile. read more

Are you kidding!!! $9 lettuce cheese and tomato sandwich. I ordered a veggie sandwich asking for cheese lettuce tomato roasted peppers and extra pickles. Yes I get that it is a meat counter, but it is a simple sandwich. What did I get??? Lots and lots of onions, very few pickles, the tiniest thinest slice of cheese and lettuce. And $9!!!!!????!!!! Seriously. When I questioned the price he just said that's what all the sandwiches are. And fine over charge for a sandwich but at least be generous and get it right! Never go there read more

If I say I'm a sandwich man, you will agree. Unfortunately, the staff who work here are duplicitous liars who promise one thing over the phone and then fail to deliver in person. I ordered sandwiches to be picked up, but when I arrived 25 minutes later, they hadn't even started working on the order. Then the smug staff gave attitude and refused to apologize for what was entirely their fault. I prefer my sandwiches without a side of aggressive rudeness. I will be taking my sandwich consuming business elsewhere henceforth. read more

Whenever my husband calls or texts me with "should I pick up a hangar steak from Star Meats while I'm over here?" my answer is always an enthusiastic "YES!" They also make the BEST beef jerky in house. Buy it by the pound and you'll never even look at the crap at the grocery store again. There is a difference between corn and grass fed beef. And it is worth the extra cash for the grass fed. Plus you are supporting local independent business by shopping here. It is the all around feel good meal. read more

Saaaandwiiiiiich, Saaaaaaannnnddddwiiiich! When the sandwich call gets too loud to ignore, head to Star. I can't believe it took me this long to write a review, but Joe, Sarah and the crew have been taking care of my carnivorous needs for a good long while. Since I care where my food comes from, I know that when Joe and the crew are making sausages they take the time and care to make them so well!! Case in point: I forgot my sisters birthday and remembered after three conversations and was mortified... I apologized with Star Meats roast beef and beef jerky cuz that's how we do it in our fam- all was forgiven!!! Joe's tutelage at some of the finer bay area restaurants serves him well, and will serve you too! read more

Hands down the best Italian subs in Oakland, nay I say the entire Bay Area. Sandwiches come big for a good price. Service can be slow, sometimes a little rude, but it's worth it. Godfather, My Cousin Vinny, Raging Bull.... I love them all!!! read more

Went to a deli to order a vegetarian sandwich..... but it was bomb nonetheless. I'd only heard about this semi hole-in-the-wall deli recently from my sister and decided to try it out with a friend. He ordered The Classic and I got the Petit Sara. -The Classic: Ham, salami, hot coppa, provolone, lettuce, onion, tomato, red wine vinegar, olive oil, spices, and mayo -Petit Sara: Portobello mushrooms, eggplant, roasted peppers, fresh mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, arugula, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil Do I regret not ordering a sandwich with meat? Definitely not because the Petit Sara was probably one of the best sandwiches I've had in the bay (alongside sandwiches from Ike's and Genova's). Both sandwiches were delicious and I'm definitely going back to try another one soon. Another plus was the helpful worker who recommended some of his favorites to us. read more

Great sandwichs; Fat albert God father Get a fat bag of chips and a d coke And get ready to get food coma serve some very good stuff here read more

I started coming here a couple years ago and the Michael Henry is now my number one favorite sandwich in Oakland. I was a big fan of Genova for many, many years, and Star Meats repaired my broken heart. The little grocery store is pretty good too and everyone that works here is super friendly. read more

I went here following the rave by another guy named Aaron B. I was looking to taste the pastrami, as I am a fan of , and was seeking a alternative to the expensive Saul's Deli. The nice guy behind the counter didn't have any pastrami. He made it clear that it's a slow process and he just wasn't ready to do it again. That told me this is a guy who takes his product seriously. He suggested roast beef, and as a matter of fact said something to the effect of "I'll fix you up a roast beef I know you will love". He was right! The roast beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender with just a hint of basic seasoning, served on a superb baguette with just a touch of hot mustard, cheese and lettuce and tomato. This was a sandwich truly worth the 8 bucks, and I can't wait to get back and try some of the homemade sausages! read more

So I frequently use Yelp as a way to look for new eateries, that are worth trying, and after reading several rave reviews about Star Meats, a friend and I decided to give it a try. First off, as we were looking for this place, we almost walked right past it as the sign that states the name of the establishment was written only on the canopy sign that hangs over the front door. It was by luck that my friend saw a poster on the front window that said something about "Star Meats". Upon walking in, you don't notice the meat counter/deli in the back, as the front of the shop resembles a liquor store of sorts--however slightly more appealing. We made our way to the back and saw the meat cases, which weren't exactly overflowing with meats, although the name of this store would lead you to believe so. Quality-wise, the cuts of meat appeared to be decent, but I wouldn't be spending my money there. I would rather spend much less at a supermarket for a slight compromise in quality. Or I'd rather go to a meat market of greater quality like Ver Brugge Meat-Fish Poultry. And I don't even want to begin with the "seafood" counter. My friend and I went there to try the sandwiches that are said to be amazingly delicious. Looking at the menu, there were only a couple sandwiches that really drew my attention, but there were no prices to denote the cost of any of the sandwiches, so I could have very well been allowing a blank check of a meal. I decided to get the Raging Bull. I have to say that for the hefty price of $8, I was not as content as I could have been. The sandwich was definitely decent--a no nonsense, no frills kind of sandwich, but I feel that something was lacking for the amount of money that I had just paid. The sandwich wasn't exactly "stacked" with meat, but I'll admit that the quality of ingredients was present in combination with the bread that was used. All in all, if the sandwich was a couple bucks or so cheaper, I would maybe consider returning for another bite, but I highly doubt that I'll be returning again for any meats or sandwiches. Not really worth the try I was hoping for. read more

There are a lot of different kinds of sandwiches out there, but it's surprisingly difficult sometimes to get that right combination of flavors and ingredients. Star Meats is definitely a hidden gem in Berkeley, in the back of a grocery store with the butcher shop. The Raging Bull is my favorite. It's filled with generous layers of very fresh turkey and a thin layer of pepper salami that adds a different meat flavor. The best part is the olive spread and sun dried tomatoes, which gives a slight sweetness that contrasts with the arugula. The provolone is also extremely fresh, nothing like generic grocery store cheese. The Brian Allen is a close second, with the chipotle mayo adding a slight kick that I love in any of my food. It has fresh tomatoes and arugula along with the same delicious turkey in the Raging Bull. I love the cheddar in this one because it's a lot more flavorful than the provolone! And of course the bread. They use baguettes from La Farine Bakery, which has some of the best bread I've had in Berkeley. The sandwich overall is huge, and the bread is ideal combination of crunchy and chewy. It pairs perfectly with the fillings, especially when drizzled with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I also love that the sandwich stays together so well when eating it. It's definitely a classy one! This is one of the best Berkeley discoveries, and luckily it's so close to where I live! I'll definitely be back continuously to feed my sandwich love. read more

Star Meats - Raging Bull - Meat Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Star meats makes the best sandwich in town, Hands down no second place. As a Long Island transplant who grew up on deli sandwiches. I was super disappointed with the bay areas pre sliced meats cold and wet sitting all day in a cooler. Star meats slices there meat "off the block" fresh for every sandwich. Quality ingredients all around. And they don't try to cover up a small portion of cheap meat with a bunch sauces and crap. It's mostly meat, I'll drive across town to get one. They only make these lunchtime and if you miss the window of time you are fucked. read more

I've been a long time lover of the Star Meats sandwiches. I love the Michael Henry, the roast beef is just delicious! Today I decided to pick up a couple fig and truffle sausages. Wow wow wow they were delicious!!! read more

So I've barely been in Emeryville now for 12hrs (moved for work) and was looking for my first local meal. I've always used yelp but never posted any reviews personally so I figured, why not start now? I was looking a local sandwich place, so of course, I went to yelp for a place. I discovered Star Meats was still open so I wanted to let them be my first local meal. I arrived around 4:30pm, but to my disappointment, the sandwich section had closed and only the meat department was still open. Their was a very nice gentleman, sorry I didn't get his name, whom warmly greeted me and gave me advice on how to prep for next time if I were to come back. He HIGHLY suggested calling ahead to avoid waiting anywhere between 20-30min. Luckily, they happen to have one last sandwich leftover from lunch, The Fat Albert! It was absolutely delicious. Only reason I didn't give it 5stars is because I'm more of a hot sub/sandwich guy (not to mention I can't give my very first place 5stars right? Lol). But I'll totally come back again during their sandwich hours, which are between 11am-2pm. So imagine the lunch rush!!! Great place! read more

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I was a little disappointed when I could not get my first choice off the menu because they were out of prosciutto and then I learned they were also out of serrano ham, also a menu item. The guy behind the counter explained that the menu written on the wall was partially defunct due to a change in ownership. He said the old owner added the more "exotic" items to the menu and he lost money on the deal. I appreciated his candor so I ordered a Good Fella off the menu wall. I was not disappointed about the sandwich! The salami and coppa were moist and excellent. The real mozzarella (still a bit wet...a good thing) just melted in your mouth and the bread was soft with just a bit of crunch, in other words, perfect. I usually hesitate to get sandwiches with sun-dried tomatoes as they sometimes overwhelm the rest of the sandwich. This sandwich was great in that the sun-dried tomatoes had a great flavor and were not overwhelming and indeed, were a perfect pairing with the fresh mozzarella. I also liked the arugula on the sandwich. This is not unique to Star Meats but I am finding rugula to be my prefered green on sandwiched lately so it was a welcome suprise. My wife and I enjoyed people watching as we ate on the benches outside but will probably get our sandwiched to go next time. This is a sandwich counter at a meat market in a grocery store and not a restaurant. Not a bad thing, it is just good to know. I look forward to an updated menu board the next time I grab a sandwich there. read more

I had the Brian Allen, WOW. My friends and I sat on the bench out front and just about died of sandwich overload and moaning. I ate the entire sandwich (after wrapping up the second half and swearing I would save it), and even though I was completely stuffed, I am jonesing for another nary 4 hours later. The Brian Allen is turkey, some sort of ham, cheddar cheese, arugula , tomato (I ordered without), and chipotle mayo. The bread is crusty and perfect, the cheese is that amazing cheddar cheese that I can't ever seem to find (smokey and non-crumbly), the meats were clearly top notch, the chipotle mayo was smokey and slightly hot. They're cut on an extreme bias, which we decided was to show off and better access the delishness. We will be back. My only wish on this planet was that they had seating, indoor or outdoor, but they are also a grocery store (who gave awesome advice on selecting beers to my friends). read more

Based on reviews, we were looking forward to grabbing some food here. It is a great market with lots of interesting foods. But the staff were unfriendly and acted as if they were doing us a favor to wait on us. We got their deli chicken salad, crackers, and drinks to go. Chicken salad was 'meh', way too mayonnaisey for us, with very little other flavors. All in all, we probably won't return there. read more

Amazing sandwiches!! Too bad that it seems like people don't really know about this place except for word of mouth, because the sandwiches are all at the very end/inside of the store. It costs $8 for a raging bull, $9 for a godfather. I got the raging bull but I thought that my boyfriend's godfather tasted better. I think that the raging bull had too much turkey and barely any salami, and that it also had a very strong olive taste. This might be just personal preference, but I don't like olives very much so the taste kind of detracted from the overall sandwich. I also think that the sandwiches could have used more sauce. The bread is amazing though! I would recommend the Godfather instead of the Raging Bull. read more

Fantastic!! I called Jesse last week and ordered a meat platter and a cheese platter for a holiday brunch after being at two small office meetings he set up food for. Oh YUMMMMMMY! The cheeses are always fantastic and the meats are tasty and finely sliced, just perfect. Add in that super walnut bread his colleague was nice enough to sell me a loaf of because I was too short on time and shit, you've got the happiest little meal ever! Never will I order a party platter from anywhere else again. read more

I love Star Meats sandwiches. I love the local grocery/deli vibe I get when I walk into the store. I feel like I'm getting transported back in time to the 60's or 70's when I walk into this grocery store. My favorites are the Goodfella and the Godfather. Everything is cold. The meats are so good...The flavors are earthy and rustic. I always end up sitting on one of the two benches out in front, people watching and catching up with a friend. Be sure to grab a bottle of pop from their wide-assortment of sodas to pair with your delicious sandwich, ranging from beef jerky flavor soda (I'm not making this up) to spicy ginger ale! The ONLY thing I feel slightly critical about is their bread. I've been here multiple times, and I feel like the quality of their bread is a hit-or-miss. A few times, I felt the bread was slightly stale....but the sandwich was still delicious! It's just way more awesome when the bread is fresh :) My favorite local deli shop in Berkeley though for sure! read more

Jessie - today you changed my life... I strolled into Star Meats today because I had an uncomfortable feeling - HUNGER! I was at the counter getting ready to order, not quite sure what I was going to order, when the gentleman in front of me mentioned Pastrami. Well, I like pastrami, and it had been a while since I had it - Why not? "I'll have a Pastrami Sandwich" Jessie took my order, and all but insisted that the pastrami was hot - of course I didn't argue. Jessie ran my credit card, passed me my sandwich and said, "Eat this sooner rather than later" I got back to the office and I set up shop to see just how good this pastrami was... "oh boy" Now I've been to New York, the unofficial pastrami capital of the world, I've eaten at Carnegie, and my father is an avid pastrami enthusiast. However, the Niman Ranch pastrami they serve at Star Meats is out of this world. Served on a fresh La Farine Baguette with a wonderful provolone cheese, this was truly something special. On top of the food, Jessie's customer service and more so, pride of work, made the meal so much more enjoyable. You see, I've worked in the Hospitality Industry, customer service is my passion and today confirmed my theory that your meal starts long before the food, it starts with the service, and the passion behind it. Thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, I will be back and I'm going to continue the revolution! -AB read more

Best sandwich I've had. Definitely get the goodfella. read more

Star Meats - Goodfella - Meat Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

Everything a deli should be. I'd been meaning to try this place for a few months now, and when it became 12:30 PM and my friend wanted to go for lunch, I knew instantly what the choice would be. I'm not sure if there's usually a line here, but when we walked in, there was nobody in line (almost 1:00 PM), and we were outside eating our sandwiches in 5 minutes. We decided to split a Godfather ($9) and a Michael Henry ($8). Very reasonable prices. The Godfather was super rich, with lots of awesome cured meats - hot coppa, salami, prosciutto, etc. The sandwich was delicious, rich, salty, everything I could want out of an Italian sandwich. My only complaint would be that the prosciutto was a bit lost amongst the more aggressive meat flavors, which is unfortunate because I tried some prosciutto by itself, and it was delightful. The Michael Henry (I think I've got the name right) was a good hearty lunchtime sandwich. They didn't go skimpy on the roast beef, either. I could eat one of these and be full for quite awhile. Not nearly as rich, so it balanced the other sandwich (I had half of each). It's tough that they only sell sandwiches from 11-2 PM, but I'll just plan ahead next time - will be back! read more

Some of the reviews here have said that Starmeats changes people's lives. I am one of those people. The Goodfella is hands down the best sandwich I have had at Starmeats and very likely the best I have had in my life. I love sandwiches and I can't think of another sandwich I'd rather eat. The sandwich is filled with hot coppa, salami, mozzarella, arugula, and sun dried tomatoes - and I say filled, because they aren't stingy (especially with the meat!). There's also oil and vinegar, which is absolutely delicious with the french baguette that they use. I've also had the My Cousin Vinny, which tasted a little too ham-my (but still good) IMO and the Raging Bull, which has a very distinct olive flavor. For $9, you get a very decent sized (and cut in half) sandwich that packs a whole lotta flavors and punch. It is a must try if you live around or are visiting the area! read more

Star Meats serves the best sandwiches I've had on the west coast, by far. I was raised on hoagies and chipped ham, so if you know what either of those are, you need to get here. If you don't, go check out what you're missing. My only beef... I wish they went a little heavier on the cold cuts. Then again, when wouldn't I say that. There's lots of signature sandwich choices, but mine would be the CLASSIC. read more

I would consider myself a regular at star meats and have been picking up sandwiches multiple times a week the past few years. Overtime, the consistency of their sandwiches has dropped dramatically. Some days I'll be satisfied and receive a sandwich that is up to par with the standard I have become accustomed to. However, all too frequently I have paid for sandwiches that are devoid of meat and are simply not enjoyable. The unrecognizable picture of a Michael Henry is an example of that. read more

I was starving after church one Sunday and Yelp'd harti sandwiches near me. Voilà! Star Meats appears and man it didn't disappoint. The overall vibe was great with most of the exterior/interior original probably opened decades ago (I like anything that has some character). Walking up to the entrance you'll see families sitting on the benches enjoying their sandwiches. My gut instant told me to go with the Raging Bull (had to have my A game for my open house). It was filled to the brim with meat that put my hangry self at ease. For only $9, you can go into sandwich heaven. Star Meats is where it's at! Go check it out. read more

Star Meats - Raging Bull. The knees! - Meat Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

So good. Awesome fresh ingredients. My favorite sandwich is the Goodfella but with fresh tomatoes INSTEAD of sundried. Makes all the difference in the world, and they're happy to accommodate! Be warned, there's nowhere to sit except a bench outside the market. So take it to-go or chill on the bench if it's nice outside and watch the Claremont crowd go by. read more

I go to star just about every day, and to the deli counter three or four times a week. Service is always superb. It's my friendly neighborhood deli. The selection is much smaller than down the street at Ver Brugge, but it's better picked and higher quality. I've converted. For example, the chicken legs are smaller and taste much better. They're not the generic Rockys. And sometimes VB just gets swamped and Star is a breath of fresh air. Pork leek sausages. Local eggs. Smoked salmon. My faves. Always helpful to explain a cut or suggest the best cooking method but go nice on them when there's only one person working. Sometimes free samples. I only go after work, so I can't speak for the sandos, which are only during lunch hours. But they've recently redesigned the counter space and upped the sandwich promotion, so go get one. I know it would be good. They want to make it! read more