Review - The Grinder Shop

Located at 1720 Franklin Street in downtown Oakland, CA. this little shop makes a mean grinder. These hot toasted sandwiches are a perfect lunch and easy on the wallet too. A full sandwich goes for about $4.50 and a small sandwich with soup or a salad is just $5.75.

One of the things this place has going for it is really good meat. On top of having great roast beef, pastrami, and roast turkey, there's another special ingredient that makes their sandwiches one of my favorite. Its the olive spread! Mmmmm. For those olive lovers out there this is excellent. I have yet to get the recipe out of the shop owner, but I'm working on it. When I get it I'll be sure to post it here. Its different than olive salad that you'd put on a muffaletta in that its chopped more finely. It also seems to be a bit more garlicky, which may not be the best for going back to the office. But some of us just can't resist.

If you're like me and get bored with just a sandwich for lunch there's a great combo option that includes their same great sandwiches, but on a smaller roll, and either a small salad or bowl of soup. The Greek spinach salad with feta cheese is one of my favorites. They also have a hearty chef salad, shrimp salad, or chicken Caesar for those in need of even more protein. On cold days I tend to go for either the chili or the minestrone instead of a salad. They also have a good chowder. And last but not least, this place honors a frequent buyer card from another local sandwich shop, I.B.'s Cheesesteaks. I'll have to review them sometime too.