Bay Cities Deli

Quick update, I went up to the bay area this weekend.  It was an amazing weekend and I loved it.  I had been craving some quality wine tasting and I got my fill.  But alas this means no LA adventures happened this weekend, unless you count battling the traffic from LAX to work this morning.  However, I have been waiting to post this adventure for quite some time now.  It is long overdue.

The legendary Bay Cities Deli

It just might be my favorite eatery in all of LA I have found thus far.  It is certainly the best sandwich I have had here, and maybe ever.  I know this is a huge claim, but Bay Cities can back it up.  Bay Cities is a full on Italian Deli and grocer and it is all the rage in Santa Monica.  In the hours surrounding lunch it is a mad house.  Cars turning into the parking lot can stop traffic for blocks.

So what's the big deal? What is the appeal? Well it certainly isn't the service.  Think Soup Nazi.  It is a process to get a sandwich here.  I will take you through it. Close your eyes.  Wait! Don't really close your eyes, you are reading. Unless someone is reading this to you, just close your eyes metaphorically.
You walk into the store and it is packed.  You fight your way to the deli counter, past the hordes of lucky souls that are already in the snaking line to pay for their 10 inches of heaven.  There is a frenzy of activity behind the counter as guys yell and make sandwiches.  You then grab a number. 86.  You look up to an old number counter on the wall.  42. Damn.  You have a while to go.  You start to browse the imported pastas and cookies in the next isle, but you get nervous that they might pass you by and you hurry back.

  You get a call on your cell phone, but you quickly silence it.  You painfully remember what happened last time you took a call while trying to order.  Now the guys are flying through numbers and passing them by because people are either gone or not stepping up.  You notice a guy in the corner trying to speak up but he just gets passed by.  Poor newbie.  But you are ready, you are focused. 86! You shout and hold up your number.  Now it's time to order.  And you've got it down.  Turkey sandwich on Italian with the works, spicy, cheddar cheese, hold the mustard and onions.  And then you wait, patiently, but they are pretty fast.  And finally, they pass you your sandwich and you cradle it like a newborn and fight your way to the register.  You make your way to the cash line, because you know it's much faster.  They ring you up, $8.45, yeah a little more than Subway, but then you slap yourself because Subway shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as Bay Cities.  You walk through the automatic doors and take a seat outside next to a stranger.  But he is no strange, he is your brother, bonded by your mutual love for the sandwich.  And you unwrap the sandwich and bite in.

And it tastes so F*$&ing good.

Or you can order online and skip most of the process.  But the process is half the fun.  It is an experience.  All kidding aside, the sandwiches here are phenomenal.  It is all in the ingredients.  And they have a huge selection of sandwich ingredients.  Favorites include Boars Head meats, homemade pepper relish, and the bread.  Bread really sets sandwiches apart more than anything else.  And Bay Cities' bread is special.  They bake it in house constantly throughout the day, so it is always fresh.  There is also a whole hot bar there that I haven't even experimented with yet.  They have a large selection of cheeses and a decent wine inventory as well.  The best part is that Bay Cities is only 4 blocks from my work.  And it never gets old.  If you are ready to have the best sandwich you have had in a very long time, than go ahead and hit up Bay Cities Deli.  You will not be disappointed with your food.  That is a guarantee.   I think it is pretty obvious that Bay Cities Deli gets the Schu stamp of approval.  http://www.baycitiesitaliandeli.com/