Sunday Sandwiches - The Wise Ox (North Park) and Evan's Deli & Brew

Every so often I crave a cheesesteak. Actually, it's more like "cheesesteaks" as I'll usually have a couple from different places to quell the craving. It had been a while, a couple of years actually, since I've had a decent cheesesteak and opportunity knocked twice in the last couple of weeks. So, of course I answered.....

Evan's Deli & Brew:

The Missus was wanting some cookies from the Cravory, so I headed on over to Point Loma. I had heard that the shop that replaced Gaglione Bros in the strip mall also made cheesesteaks. So, after getting some cookies for the Missus I walked on over.

And as in the sign on the shop; cheesesteaks are front and center on the menu.

And they even have Tastykakes.

The couple running the place were very friendly and it as a short wait for my Mushroom Steak; I got an 8" for $10.49 which is a bargain for a sandwich these days.

   The yeasty, standard Amoroso roll stood up well. The meat was decently shaved, fairly tender, moist, and beefy, the mushrooms earthy, and the white American cheese added a complimentary, not overwhelming milky gooeyness to the sandwich.

This was a nice, standard cheesesteak. Something that's not easy to find in San Diego.

Nice owners, decently priced, I'm sure to visit again.

Evan’s Deli & Brew
3944 W Point Loma Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92110
Hours:
Sunday 10am - 7pm
Mon - Sat 10am - 8pm

The Wise Ox:

I'd heard that the Wise Ox, a butcher shop owned by the Trust Restaurant Group made a good cheesesteak. I had thoughts of checking out the place earlier, but the parking situation in the strip mall is terrible. But, since we were staying at the Lafayette, I was in walking distance to the North Park location.

I walked over and arrived just as the place was opening. I was greeted before I entered the shop by the nice gentleman getting the smoker going. The shop offers a nice variety of soy sauces and such, along with sausages and other meat products.

I went and ordered the Cheesesteak ($12.99). The friendly guy behind the counter took my number and told me he'd text me when my sandwich was ready. I started going for a stroll; but my sandwich was ready in like 5 minutes!

The meat, I was told it was New York Strip, was thinly shaved and very beefy-tender. It wasn't as moist as the stuff from Evan's, but I could tell based on the texture and beefiness that it was of higher quality.

The Amoroso roll really stood up well in this sandwich; though as you can see, there was less beef than other versions of cheesesteak I've had before. Thus making it more "bready".

I enjoyed the onions in the sandwich.

I didn't care for the pickled peppers which, in my mind detracted from the overall flavor of the sandwich, especially, at least to me, muted the cheese and beefiness. I'd probably ask not to have that next time. Still, if you go for the quality of beef, this might be the cheesesteak for you.

The Wise Ox Butcher & Deli
2855 El Cajon Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92104
Hours:
Sun - Mon 10am - 5pm
Tues - Sat 10am - 6pm

It was nice to get some decent cheesesteaks since so many places where I'd enjoyed the sandwich before like Monkey Paw, Pop's, and others have closed.

Comments

[Denver]

Holy crap, Kirk, we must be brothers from another Mother. The Wise Ox was the place I was planning on going today until I couldn’t find any street parking and aborted (and ended up going to Pancho Villa). Hahahaha This and the 8th and B Poke is getting pretty creepy hahah.
I wanted to check out their burgers and beef fries, and their BBQ And it looks like they sell Martin’s potato rolls which is hard to get on the west coast. I may subscribe to their monthly Ox Box.

Yeah I went down to Pt. loma for some Gagliones Bros. Cheesesteak and found Evan’s instead. Still went there and got the Cheesewiz Steak. It was decent but I like Gagliones a little better. The guy working there is extremely nice. And yeah glad Cravory is still there

[RedDevil]

I think Jersey Mike’s does a surprisingly decent cheesesteak. Maybe not authentic and it’s a chain but consistently decent. Gaglione brothers was not for me. Thanks for some more options.

[Kirk]

I would think of it as being "great minds think alike" Denver! ;o) Lol! I'm in the provolone/American cheese camp. In fact, I believe provolone was the original cheese used on a cheesesteak. I guess I'm just not a "whiz" kinda guy! ;o)

Hi RD - Jersey Mike's does a decent job for a chain with regards to cheesesteaks. It's a bit too much bread though. I actually did a post on that:

https://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2010/08/say-cheesesteaks-an-addendum-volteros-sodhis-lettys-bean-shack-and-jersey-mikes.html

[EW]

Gotta try the smoked bologna at Wise Ox next time. It's a... revelation. (I don't even really like bologna)

[Junichi]

Oh man. Monkey Paw. They made a good cheesesteak. Miss them.

[Kirk]

Awesome! Thanks for the recommendation EW!

We miss Monkey Paw too Junichi!

[kat]

glad you got your fix

[Kirk]

Yes, this as fun Kat!

[Dean]

i love 'gag bros' ever since my coworker introduced it to me in the late 2000's. i normally go to the one on friar's road now but i'll have to check out this place.

[Kirk]

I hope you enjoy it Dean! Lol on the "gag bros". Thanks so much for taking the time out to comment!

[Derek R]

I miss Pop's from the old days! Have you tried Big Jim's North Shore Beef in PB? It's supposed to be phenomenal.

Also, have you ever been to the Russian Georgian restaurant across from the Lafayette? It's called Pomegranate and easily one of my favorites.

[Derek R]

Also, if you ever make it back to the Wise Ox, definitely try their dry age ground beef and their house made mortadella if they have it!

[Kirk]

I miss Pop's too Derek! Cathy's done a post on Big Jim's. We haven't eaten at Pomegranate since they moved to this location, so perhaps we need to eat there next time! Thanks for all the rec's and it's really great to hear from you, it's been a while! Hope all is well!

[Som Tommy]

Not sure if you heard, but Philly Sandwich Co has changed owners. It’s much better now

[Dave]

Another rec for the Wise Ox bologna. I get some often when I am picking up my monthly meat box from them.

[Soo]

You found some good looking cheesesteaks!

[Kirk]

Thanks for the update ST!

Awesome. Thanks for the rec' Dave! Hope all is well!

Yes, these were pretty good Soo!