Sandwich Nirvana? Ikes Place San Francisco

The vegan options in San Francisco are never ending (hurrah) and I'm being kept busy (and full) peddling up and down crazy hills to extend my vegan knowledge, and to bring you pictures of food.  One recurring name on the lips of many Yelpers, Happy Cows and vegan bloggers alike is Ike's Place.  A sandwich shop on 16th and Sanchez.  All spoke of 'out of this world' flavour. All spoke of lengthy queues.  None seemed to complain, once they'd bitten into a densely packed bap.  I took note of some helpful Yelp advice and called at opening hour - 10am - and made my needs known to the server.  He was so patient and gave me all the time in the world to make up my mind (which I took) what I was going to order.  Word was 'go for the Meatless Mike - vegan 'meat' balls with marina sauce'.  The website is a great (and so fun!) source to acquaint yourself with their menu and 100's of options (not all vegan). You punch in your desires, and voila, a nice list of suggestions.  The meatless balls are not gluten free, but they offer gluten free bread so I thought 1 out of 2 isn't bad.  Usually, I veer passed anything with gluten in, but when so many people say something is AMAZING I start to think I'll throw a tantrum if I can't have it too. My curiosity won.  So I ate at noon and got ready to cycle my butt off and hack it down to the ocean to minimise the gluten grip.  I was ready to pay for my gluten dalliances.  For you.  I do it ALL for you (mostly).

The Meatless Mike in Dolores Park

Behold...no queue wormed its way down the street.  I walked in, picked up my sandwich, free lolly and huge bag of Dirty's crisps/chips.  It wasn't even worth locking my bike.  2 mins and a two-block freewheel later, I'm down the hill and hitting the grass in Dolores Park.  I unwrapped the brown paper in giddy anticipation.  Bit through the crusty, chewy bread and waited for the flavour to hit my taste buds, the smell to reach my nose, and for it all to tell my brain how it tasted...... And.... It was OK.  I will confess I'm more of a soup girl.  A poppadom thrills me and kale chips are a divine treat, so perhaps I'm not the best judge.  It needed something else...strong Daiya cheese (I don't think mine had any...not visible to the eye anyhow) or something to give it punch ....I tore open the packet of chips and they were quite something.  Cooked in peanut oil, interestingly flavoured with BBQ and vinegar.  A noteworthy combo....I stuck a few under the lid of my sandwich and squashed them down so I could fit it all in my mouth...success.  Much better. A junk food hit.

Will I go back to Ike's?....  The bread was a winner as far as I'm concerned.  The staff could teach many a food server in the UK a thing or two.... Hmmn. If, one day, Ike makes a Reuben with tempeh, I will be sure to be pushing those bike peddles all the way to his door.  But, hey, if you are a sandwich lover...Go....all those people on Yelp can't be wrong.