The Sentinel
Sandwich shop · Financial District ·
Made-to-order sandwiches, breakfast grub, and giant corned beef
Made-to-order sandwiches, breakfast grub, and giant corned beef
"Despite the long line, The Sentinel is a great grab-and-go option. This spot makes sandwiches seemingly at the speed of light, and unlike that bad prepackaged one you made the mistake of getting yesterday, these are genuinely tasty. There’s a range of hot and cold options, and a couple of specials happening every day." - taylor abrams, jess basser sanders, will kamensky
"Every day, this tiny counter puts out a concise menu of cold and hot sandwiches and seasonal salads. Generous cuts of meat, like roast beef and corned beef, make frequent appearances. Some of the more unusual varieties can include a deviled egg salad or lamb and eggplant. A limited number of sandwiches are available, so beat the lunch crowd to ensure you get your pick. And if you time things just right, slide into sister business House of Shields next door after your sandwich — it’s a classic San Francisco bar that’s been open since 1908." - Paolo Bicchieri
"Former fine-dining chef turned sandwich and bar pro-Dennis Leary reopened his SoMa sandwich destination the Sentinel, which means your end-of-week lunch can once again be a giant corned beef with Swiss, slaw, and Russian dressing on grilled focaccia. And if you’re not there on Friday, don’t fret, there are other excellent options ranging from deviled egg to lamb and eggplant." - Lauren Saria
"Former fine-dining chef turned sandwich and bar pro-Dennis Leary reopened his SoMa sandwich destination the Sentinel, which means your end-of-week lunch can once again be a giant corned beef with Swiss, slaw, and Russian dressing on grilled focaccia. And if you’re not there on Friday, don’t fret, there are other excellent options ranging from deviled egg to lamb and eggplant." - Lauren Saria, Eater Staff
"I usually have to wait until the end of the week to get my fix because Friday is normally the only day Dennis Leary’s cult-favorite sandwich counter at the Sentinel serves its meaty corned beef sandwich; for St. Patrick’s Day this year he made an exception and offered the corned beef on March 17 for free, giving away 50 sandwiches starting around 11:30. The sandwich is served not on San Francisco’s favorite crusty-topped Dutch crunch but on grilled slabs of made-in-house focaccia, with stacked slices of corned beef from Roberts Corned Meats, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and coleslaw; it’s been on the menu for 12 years and Leary—who was a fine-dining chef before pivoting into a bar owner and sandwich savant—says “it’s greater than the sum of its parts.”" - Lauren Saria
