Second Helpings: Deli-cious Sandwiches

Tasty, bite-sized restaurant listings compiled from new and previous reviews, guides, and poll results. This week's entries were compiled by Virginia B. Wood. When you need quick, reliable information about Austin eateries, check here.

Food, Food

2719 Exposition, 474-8515

Mon-Fri, 9:30am-8:30pm; Sat, 9:30am-7pm

Tucked into the corner of a strip center in Tarrytown, this friendly spot keeps folks coming back with 20 different sandwich options (check out the Jean Carpenter special with herb mayo), individual luncheon pizzas, and daily lunch specials in the very affordable range of $4.50-5.50 that come with a garden salad. By 3pm every afternoon, dinner specials such as a divine chicken pot pie or hearty King Ranch casserole plus a side dish and dessert are ready to be picked up for the evening. Great hospitality and consistently wonderful food.

The Kitchen Door

2504 Lake Austin Blvd., 236-9200

Mon-Fri, 7am-7pm; Sat, 7am-6pm

This 25-year-old Austin institution has settled into a just-off-MoPac location that's convenient for folks in Rollingwood and Westlake as well as the longtime Tarrytown clientele. It's well-known in Austin that the Kitchen Door's hefty hot or cold sandwiches made on homemade bread are first-rate. We're pleased to see the stellar meatloaf sandwich get some well-deserved national recognition in the November issue of Esquire magazine. You also can't go wrong with their signature chicken salad, cinnamon rolls, or a selection from their killer dessert menu.

NeWorlDeli

416 Congress, 236-8075

4101 Guadalupe, 451-7170

Daily, 10am-6pm; Thu, 10am-9pm

The eclectic sandwich menu draws us back here time after time. There are cold sandwiches on honey wheat, white, Jewish rye, or a French roll, soups and salads to mix and match, plus Thai and veggie wraps. Heartier appetites can go for hot meatball, sausage, meatloaf, or eggplant parmigiana sandwiches stuffed in a toasted French roll or corned beef, pastrami, or a traditional Reuben hot off the grill on tangy Jewish rye. The house specialty, however, is the "deliciously messy" triple-decker Sloppy Joe made with your choice of turkey, ham, or roast beef with Swiss cheese, dynamite coleslaw, and Russian dressing.

The Little Deli

7101-A Woodrow, 467-7402

Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm

The Crestview Shopping Center is the beating heart of a healthy north central neighborhood, and The Little Deli is certainly one of the reasons why. With cheerful counter service and the very best roast beef sandwich in the city, this friendly little eatery is a magnet for true sandwich lovers. In addition to daily Blue Plate specials, they offer soul-satisfying renditions of such Mom-style standards as egg salad, BLT's, and perfect deviled eggs, plus an overstuffed vegetable sandwich that will please even the most discerning vegan palate.

Avenue B Grocery

4403 Avenue B, 453-3921

Mon-Sat, 8am-7pm

The historic Hyde Park neighborhood is home to Austin's oldest surviving grocery. Ross Mason's turn-of-the-century store harkens back to the days when there was a little Mom & Pop shop in every neighborhood and kids bought bubble gum and baseball cards with the change left over from a quart of milk or loaf of bread. In addition to groceries, these days the store offers a menu of delicious sandwiches, daily homemade soups, and fresh salads. The Saturday treat is Frito Pie made with Ross' special chili.

Brenna's Deli

3509 Hyridge, 502-1351

Fax orders, 502-1349

Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm

Busy northwest office workers depend on Brenna's for lunch whether they have time to dine in, dash by to grab a quick bite, or need a midday meal delivered to the conference room. Hot and cold sandwiches, subs, soups, and salads are the regular fare and they'll also let you build your own baked potato feast with such additions as grilled chicken, BBQ, meatballs, or steamed broccoli. Fresh baked cookies and assorted flavors of decadent cheesecake round out the menu. Save room for a pineapple-mango-peach smoothie!

Garden Spot Deli & Catering

9415 Burnet, 835-1985

Fax orders, 835-1907

Mon-Fri, 8am-2:30pm (deli)

Catering daily

The lunch menu at this very busy far-north eatery features an inviting selection of hearty specialty sandwiches, hot subs, wraps, jumbo spuds, and salads alone or in a variety of combinations. Ask about daily lunch specials, and don't overlook the dessert offerings. These hardworking folks are also available for catering seven days a week with breakfast selections that include juice and coffee service, plus pastries, tacos, or fresh fruit and a list of hot buffet items such as lasagne, pot roast, ham, or different chicken breast preparations that come with side dishes and salads. Dessert trays with sweet breads, cookies, brownies, layer-and cheesecakes are a must.

Jo's

1300 S. Congress, 444-3800

Daily, 7am-9pm

This unique little joint will eventually be the coffee shop for the renovated San Jose Motel, but it's already the best outdoor dining and people-watching spot in the whole 78704 zip code, hands down. Chef/owner Lou Lambert keeps the delicious food coming from the Liberty Pie commissary kitchen a few blocks up the street. We love the sweet-tangy pulled pork sandwiches with a bag of Zapp's Cajun crawtaters, and the selection of baked goods make perfect midday or early evening nibbles. Cappuccino, espresso, lattes, and sodas.

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