The Cubano @ Ironside
JEAN
Club Sandwich outing #2 took our small, but brave little group all the way over to Ironside at the intersection of 2nd Street and near-baseball-stadium street (i can't remember.) it's far enough from work that we had to cab it. but, to be fair, i think everything's at cabable distance. the interior is cool — almost like a larger version of Outer Lands in the way, way Outer Sunset.old, driftwood-y pieces of wood line the interior walls. and it operates the same way as Outer Lands, too: you order at the counter and take your number to your table.
needless to say, a bottle of white wine was in order (when isn't it?) so we toasted to our future stomach contents: the Cubano. That's what we were there for...well, all of us except for Meaghan who wanted the meatball sub because she's anti-pork. Dammit Meaghan! why don't you tell us these things before we make the official sandwich selection!
Anyway, here's my official review: pretty frickin' delicious. well worth the travel. i'd go back anytime for this or one of their other sandwiches. the only complaint is that the roasted pork was a little TOO porky. i know that's an odd thing to say, but it was. we all noticed it. it kind of robs the sandwich of it's other delicious ham and cheesey goodness and overwhelms it with porkiness. however, it was still tasty, the meat was nicely moist and the bread was nice and crispy on the outside.
incidentally, Meaghan's meatball sub was OUTSTANDING. that bitch always wins, doesn't she?
let's go back!
3.5 pickles.
TANNER
All I can remember of this day is that I was sitting at an edit house, making plans to do Club Sandwich to get the Cubano and then got a SURPRISE call from Mark Rurka who said "Remember that review you've been asking for weekly for the last year and a half.. well, it's at 2pm."
So logically one would reschedule in order to prepare for a review almost 2 years in the waiting. Luckily I've always had my priorities in order. So sandwich it was.
I thought it was quite good. I think the other members had trouble with the "porkiness" of some of the meat (as Jean stated.) I feel tho, that while the sweet clean ham was deee-recious, that the sandwich wouldn't have amount to much if not paired with that darker (greyish), roasted (dry), shredded (shredded) pork-meat. It reminded me of a lot of couples I know, a really rad person paired with someone, well darker and probably not super healthy for them. Actually no, who am I kidding? It reminded me of my own romantic patterns and how I really need to not go back down the road of dating the "bad boy."
Cos while it makes a really tasty sandwich for you, your friends will, eventually, complain about that dark meat, and then lunch just gets uncomfortable.
This lunch wasn't uncomfortable cos there was wine. And eventually they stopped judging my temporary happiness.
4.5 Pickles
MARK
What's with the unflattering pictures of me?? I know what you're thinking "But Mark, THAT'S what you look like." And my response would be "(sadface)." If I could figure out how to take them down I would, but jesus this code is insane. Seriously, you should see it back here, it's the Matrix.
I had all but forgotten about Ironside. When Jean told me she'd written a review of Ironside I said "Oh, well I'll have to go there." So, either they need to think of a catchier name or I need to stop taking so many pills. You decide!!
The place was open, airy, light. I like that. Like being outside but not. Like a summer camp for Urban Foodies. Well, there's an idea!
I wanted to love the Cuban, I really did. The bread/cheese/butter ratio was perfection. Crispy, moist. The ham was freshly cured to be just salty enough. But the Pork. A lot has already been said about the Pork already. I'm in the "no thanks" camp. I tried to get into it in the moment. I thought maybe it was me, it was MY FAULT for not liking the pork. Like I was the only kid at camp that didn't love Jesus. Or at least love him in the right way.
Maybe my palette isn't refined enough to appreciate the pork. Maybe it's just shitty pork. Maybe that pork was rancid and we are all lucky to be alive. Regardless,
I wouldn't order the sandwich again. And that's a pretty big fail in my opinion.
I wouldn't order the sandwich again. And that's a pretty big fail in my opinion.
The Meatball sandwich, on the other hand, was outta sight. Loved it. I'd like to go back and try other things on the menu, but let's be honest, the shit is far. Too far for lunch. For dinner maybe, but not for lunch. Do they serve dinner? Let me check.
ooOOoo... yes they do! Looks cute. Lamb sausage pizza, asparagus & lemon risotto. They also have a happy hour: $1 off drafts, $5 off pitchers. Very promising.
3 Pickles
