Sunday Sandwiches - Revisits to The Sandwich A'Fare, Philadelphia Sandwich Company, and Gaglione Bros (Point Loma)

A trio of sandwich revisits for a warm, almost summery Sunday.

The Sandwich A'Fare:

**** The Sandwich A'Fare has closed

I had a meeting finish at 1230pm and needed something, anything, before my next battery of meetings. By this time, most places in the area are just too busy. Then I thought about The Sandwich A'Fare, which is kind of hidden away in the rear of the strip mall we call the "Kearny Mesa restaurant refugee mall" because it houses Abbey BBQ and the Philadelphia Sandwich Company. I got in, one person ahead of me, got out in ten minutes with my "Godfather".

This was actually better than what I had on my previous visits. The bread seemed fresher and more yeasty and it wasn't over-dressed with too much mayo. Perhaps it was because the owner, Bud actually made my sandwich this time.

No muss, no fuss, and out the door for $6.25. I have a special place in my heart for these Mom-and-Pop sandwich shops. You can see why.

The Sandwich A'Fare
6904 Miramar Rd. Suite 107
San Diego, CA 92121

The Philadelphia Sandwich Company:

Speaking of the "Kearny Mesa restaurant refugee mall" and specifically the Philadelphia Sandwich Company. The last time I visited, was nearly 8 years ago (time does fly, huh?), during one of my Cheesesteak round-up posts.

Another crazy day of meetings stretching thru noon. It was almost 10am and I recalled that the PSC opened at 10. So why not give them a try again after all these years?

Parking in the upper lot here during lunch can be a horror show, but I had no problem just a few minutes after 10.

The young lady working here was awesome and efficient. Really very nice.

I got the 6 inch "Joe's Special" ($7.75).

For scale purposes I placed my iPhone behind the sandwich.

There's something about how they griddle the meat here; it's a rather unappetizing grey, surprisingly dry, and very bland. The cheese wasn't spread out evenly. The roll was fine; an Amoroso. Not enough mushrooms, not enough flavor, not enough lovely gooeyness for my taste.

The Philadelphia Sandwich Company
6904 Miramar Rd. Suite 207
San Diego, CA 92121
Hours:
Mon - Sat 10am - 4pm

I grappled with what I had eaten and thought about with regards to the PSC. I hadn't had a Cheesesteak in quite a while. Gaglione Brothers, especially the Point Loma location, had been a nice guilty pleasure over the years. But it had been a while. So, just for perspective, I decided to drop by.

Gaglione Bros (Point Loma):

**** This location of Gaglione Bros has closed

Well, it looks like the sign has changed.

I ordered the Mushroom Cheesesteak with Onions.

I gotta say; I was kind of bummed. While the bread was nicely toasted, yeasty, with a nice texture, the cheese and meat weren't incorporated together well. This lacked the nice gooey and gloppy mixture of meat and cheese. No singed lips and tongues from the napalm juiciness as the meat was on the dry side. The light milky flavor of the cheese was lacking....I'm wondering if they've changed this over the years or is it just how it was griddled today?

While better than the PSC, this was no trophy cheesesteak.

Gaglione Brothers
3944 West Point Loma Blvd
San Diego, CA 92110

Which lead me to wonder.......I know that Monkey Paw has changed ownership. It has me wondering how their cheesesteak is?

Comments

[Soo]

I'm looking forward to how your quest for an awesome cheese steak ends!

[Junichi]

Never understood how PSC has endured for this long. Had it once a long time ago and wasn't impressed. Monkey Paw does make a good bar cheesesteak. But I haven't had it since Coronado bought them out.

[Sandy]

It took a few minutes for me to get Kearny Mesa restaurant refugee mall! I had forgotten that the BBQ place closed (which I never went to). While I usually go to Gagliones on Friars Road, I was at the Point Loma one a few weeks ago. I'm trying to remember how my sandwich was that day.

[jason]

Hopefully the Gaglione cheesesteak was an anomaly, I also like the "cheesey meat mush" of their version. Glad Sandwich A'Fare is still going strong with that price point.

[Kirk]

I have a few places already in mind Soo!

I agree Junichi....the place is really popular. I am wondering if things have changed since Monkey Paw was sold.

I thought it kind of funny that both businesses "escaped" from Kearny Mesa and strangely ended up in the same strip mall sandy.

I hope so too Jason. I think you get your money's worth at Sandwich A'Fare.

[YK]

Steak N Fries on Garnet is really good.

[Kirk]

Thanks for the recommendation YK!

[John Nguyen]

I tried the Point Loma Gaglione's 2 or 3 times and I was always disappointed. I think the Friar's Road one is actually the better location. The meat was just really dry in comparison.

[Kirk]

That's interesting John....because my visits to the Mission Gorge location weren't that great. It's been a while though; so I'm probably due for a revisit. Thanks for the reminder.