John S.
Yelp
There needs to be an option for, like, 15 stars for this place. LOVE.
The facts are these:
1--Owned by the NICEST COUPLE EVER. They are seriously so wonderful and friendly and lovely and remembered me the second time I came in, fiending like a heroin junkie for another delicious chicken salad sandwich fix, which we'll get to in a moment. It was like being in another era where, you know, people gave a shit and stuff.
2--The sandwiches are AMAZING. I wandered in here on my way to Dolores Pk right after I flew into SF--I was tired from traveling and starving and just wanted a quick, easy, cheap sandwich to enjoy in the sun. I ended up coming back the second day because seriously? This woman's chicken salad is so good it called to me for the rest of the time I was in SF. IT IS AMAZING. No joke. She puts a touch of something in it--something similar to the yellow sauce in potato salad? (and I don't like potato salad)--that gives it just a tiny touch of something different. It is seriously SO. GOOD. And the bread is awesome. What is this Dutch Crunch bread you SF'ers eat and WHY BABY JESUS WHY do we not have it in New York?
3--THEY CARRY VERNORS GINGER ALE. Seriously, this is a Detroit (where I grew up) staple and I've never found it outside the D! So exciting. The owner has family in Detroit, so there you go. I haven't had it in years, since I was a kid in Detroit...it's not as good as it used to be, but it's drier and bitier than, say, Canada Dry--more spicy, less sweet--and it is THE SHI*. Drink it. Now. And buy it from these lovely people.
4--it's literally a block from Dolores Pk, for all your picnicking/sunbathing/gawking-at-shirtless-granola-gays needs.
5--This is the most important point and my favorite thing about this place. The owner's wife, who made the sandwiches, recoiled in HORROR when I asked if the chicken salad contained hard-boiled eggs! Yes! Outright HORROR! She actually said, "No, no, why would anyone ever put egg in chicken salad! That's disgusting!" Ma'am, I feel very strongly that you and I are soulmates. Call me.
Point being: I can only vouch for the chicken salad, because it was so good, I never bothered trying anything else. But seriously? BEST.
The next time I'm in SF, I will immediately head directly to this place and gorge myself on chicken salad.