no gimmicks or dumb trends, just delicious sandwiches!
a friend who works in the area brought me here a couple weekends ago. amazing! in this age of yelp, it seems like people only expect gargantuan proportions, new and creative fusions of flavors or some other kind of fad or draw to a restaurant (i admit i am guilty of it too). but vince's deli is just a mom and pop, local sandwich shop with solid food and very reasonable prices. this isn't a bring-your-out-of-town-friends-here-to-wow-them kind of place, it's a if-i-lived-around-here-i-would-eat-their-sandwiches-everyday joint.
let me start off by saying that sandwiches are my favorite food. any kind of sandwich. but i'm not a fan of those overly stuffed with meat and nothing else (like another sandwich place i've tried in pasadena. ahem) or the trendy ones with novel ingredients or flavors that are different just to be different. you feel me? i don't need some kind one with an herb compound butter baked into the artisan bread with meat smoked in the back then topped with homemade mozzarella cheese. vince's deli is just the kind of classically delicious, no-frills sandwich shop that satisfies.
we got there around 1230, which seemed like the end of the lunch rush (crowded when we got there, but thinned out by the time we left). and by the other reviews, i'm sure you know that it pays to go during off-peak hours cause it can get pretty crazy. my friend and i split an avocado club sandwich on their super soft roll (btw, i'm crazy about delicious bread also) and a pastrami, mushroom with coleslaw inside. egads! for a large size sandwich (which they say is 9" or so), they are much bigger than you would think. the avocado club had a great balance of veggies, turkey, ham, bacon, cheese and gobs of avocado (who in so cal doesn't love avocado??). and supposedly they have their rolls delivered fresh every morning. my goodness, the aroma! and the pastrami and mushrooms with coleslaw was no slouch either! the hot sandwich came on a toasted roll with juicy pastrami and mushrooms (cooked with the pastrami) and cool coleslaw inside (genius!). no, the pastrami wasn't as good as langer's, but it's not $16 either. we also got a couple bags of chips (their chip selection is amazing) and a bottle of root beer (which i can't believe i forgot the name of, cause it was great).
i refuse to eat subway, cause even for a $5 footlong, you get crappy ingredients, smushed bread and a sandwich that is long, but thin and meager. for about a dollar more, you can get a huge large sub at vince's with quality meat and veggies. and way cheaper than a large sandwich at say, quizno's. i wish i lived or worked closer, cause this is the kind of place that you can frequent again and again and always have a great meal. vince's, i will be back! and next time i'll try my friend's other favorite sandwich: egg salad, avocado, cucumber, sprouts sandwich WITH BACON! how glorious!
ps. if i could, i would give them an extra star, just because they have choco taco ice cream!!! read more