MONDAy - FrIDAy 8:00AM - 5:30PM; SATurDAy 10:00AM – 4:00PM special. The daily menu features fourteen sandwiches, seven cold and seven hot, and the four we tried on a recent visit are way better than anything we could have invented while standing in line to place our order. Delicious ingredients in unique combinations and carefully balanced flavors set this menu apart from anything else you’ll find in the area, and in most of the East Bay. It starts with the breads, fresh from the ovens of Berkeley’s Metropolis Bakery. The whole wheat is hearty and the French roll is dense, but both are remarkably soft with a mild flavor that highlights a sandwich’s meats, cheeses and sauces. A more full-flavored potato rosemary roll is also an option for any sandwich on the menu. First the Mediterranean. This warm vegetarian sandwich ($9.95) combines mozzarella cheese, tomato, basil pesto, aioli and a chopped olive spread on a wheat roll. Served, like all sandwiches on the menu, with a fresh mixed green salad, the Mediterranean makes for an excellent light lunch with surprisingly matched southern European flavors. Jennifer confesses that the Mendo Melt, another original creation ($9.95), is probably her own favorite: roasted turkey, melted mozzarella, cream cheese, very thin apple slices and pesto on a French roll. Sweet and savory, it was a favorite of our party as well. heartier appetites will appreciate the cool Turkey Guac, where roasted turkey joins company with guacamole, jack cheese, lettuce, tomato and lemon aioli on a French roll ($8.75). Though generous, this isn’t the high-piled sandwich you often find in other delis, where thick slices of turkey overpower other ingredients. A delicious blend of flavors is the key. We paired the Turkey Guac with Franco’s housemade lime- Cilantro Cole Slaw, a refreshing, healthy option with any sandwich. Another of Jennifer’s tasty originals, this salad is the result of months of kitchen testing. Next we sampled the Cubano: pulled pork, Black Forest ham, Swiss cheese, chopped pickles and deli mustard on a toasted French roll ($12.00). Jennifer cooks, shreds and seasons the pulled pork in-house. This is a substantial, flavorful sandwich that will satisfy MArC, JENNIFEr AND AShTON FrANCO bigger appetites, and a somewhat unusual offering in local delis and restaurants. The Cubano is one of the sandwiches we ordered a week later when we returned to Franco’s to impress out-of-town guests. A few other menu items should be highlighted for those planning a visit. Franco’s creamy potato salad is unlike any I have been served in a deli. The dressing is made using buttermilk, sour cream and Dijon mustard, brightly flavored with dill. Fresh soups are made daily. The black bean soup is rich and spicy, and an excellent selection for diners who choose to sit at one of the outdoor tables on a winter afternoon.
Contra Costa Marketplace - Feb 2016
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