Better arrive before noon is you're hoping for a table at the popular High Street Deli in San Luis Obispo
By Dawn White
Few sandwich shops can boast the loyal following of High Street Market and Deli in San Luis Obispo.
The patrons who frequent the quaint and funky eatery on the outskirts of downtown are passionate about their sandwiches, and some adamantly argue that they are the best sandwiches around.
Owned by Doobie Coats for nearly 10 years, the sandwich shop used to be a small market that sold everything from mousetraps to canned beans. But when Coats and his sister took it over, they turned it into deli that specializes in delectable, stacked-this-high sandwiches made on fresh breads.
Prices are fair, although not cheap with many sandwiches costing between $6 and $8-but they're also gigantic, and the sandwich-makers are generous with the fillings.
On yet another perfect San Luis Obispo day, my colleagues and I headed over to High Street Deli around 1 p.m. hoping to lunch at one of its few sidewalk tables. Had we shown up at noon, an open table would likely be impossible.
We hovered outside, and when we snagged a table, we laughed at the irony of the tiny tables they provide for their gigantic sandwiches.
A popular choice
Among the many choices, the California Turkey ($7) is a crowd favorite with its sky-high pile of turkey, avocado, and bacon under melted pep-per- jack cheese and "the works" - these include mayonnaise, mustard, sliced pickles, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and oil and vinegar.
Somehow it all fits between sliced San Luis Sourdough bread, though it's another matter if you can fit it in all in your mouth. Generous chunks of avocado and ample slices of smoked bacon are a nice touch, as many places skimp on the expensive ingredients.
The Italian Sub ($7), prepared on an oversized French roll, is filled with tangy meats including ham, salami and pastrami, and then topped with the works plus provolone cheese and oregano. It's delicious and filling, although a little extra vinegar would bring out that perfect sharp flavor that pervades the best Italian sandwiches.
The barbecue beef sandwich is a toasted French roll filled with shredded beef in a sweet-and- savory barbecue sauce. This is the only sandwich we found that wasn't stuffed with ingredients, yet it maintained the high quality and flavor of the others on the menu.
Plenty of side dishes
A variety of sides are available with the sandwiches, including the usual potato and pasta salads, gourmet potato chips, and "doobie" snacks (cookie dough sponge cake with chunks of toffee). The potato salad had chunks of soft potatoes, bell peppers, celery, and red onion coated in a zesty sour cream sauce.
For sandwich lovers on a tight budget, there is a deal for you: From 4:20 to 5:20 p.m., all nonspecialty sandwiches are just $4.20-a solution that Coats created for the slowest time of the afternoon. He created the price and time in joking reference to April 20, also known as national stoners day, noting that his shop is located on High Street.
High Street Deli recently extended its hours until 7 p.m. to accommodate the increasing number of locals and college students who crave sandwiches into the evening.
This is a smart idea. As any connoisseur knows, monster sandwiches make a perfect meal any time of day.
