Undercover Diner Visits West Side Deli

There are some restaurants you pass by all the time without realizing what you’re missing.

West Side Deli is one of those places for me.

Tucked away in a shopping center along Timberlake Avenue, West Side Deli isn’t somewhere I find myself frequently because it’s a little outside my usual routine. But on a recent weekday, my husband and I both had the day off and decided to do something we rarely get to do--go out for lunch.

We wanted something casual, inexpensive, and satisfying, and West Side Deli seemed like the perfect place for a sandwich.

Walking in, we were greeted and told to find a seat wherever we wanted. The atmosphere immediately felt like a classic neighborhood lunch spot — casual, unpretentious and a little bit divey in the best way.

And we weren’t the only ones who had discovered it.

There were quite a few people inside, and it seemed like a popular place for people to grab lunch during the workday. It had that comfortable, come-as-you-are feel that makes you want to linger for a while.

Since we were off work and treating ourselves, we decided to make lunch a little more fun than usual.

My husband ordered a Hazy Like a Fox IPA on draft, while I went with a Lost Coast Tangerine. Having a cold beer with lunch on a weekday is not something we typically get to do, so it felt like a little vacation in the middle of our day.

For his meal, my husband ordered the daily special, a Cuban sandwich. It came out piping hot and was loaded with pulled pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard. He absolutely loved it. The sandwich came with chips, making for a simple but filling lunch.

I decided to build my own sandwich. One of my favorite things about Westside Deli is that you can ask them to make a sandwich however you want, even if it isn't specifically listed on the menu.

I went with one of my all-time favorites: a hot, toasted sandwich with ham, turkey, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayonnaise.

I know it might be boring to always order some variation of the same sandwich, but when you know what you like, why mess with it?

I opted for the crinkle-cut fries instead of chips, and they were delicious. The sandwich was plenty filling, so I took half of it — along with some of the fries — home and enjoyed it for lunch the next day.

What stood out most about our visit to West Side Deli was how easygoing the whole experience was. There was nothing fancy or pretentious about it. It was simply good food, cold beer, reasonable prices, and a relaxed atmosphere.

And the prices really are phenomenal, especially compared with what you can spend on lunch these days.

West Side Deli feels like one of those hidden gems that locals know about, even if you might not notice it from the road. It’s the kind of place where you can stop in for a sandwich, grab a beer, sit back, and enjoy a no-frills lunch without spending a fortune.

For my husband and me, it was exactly what we were looking for on our day off.

We don't get to go out for weekday lunches very often, but our visit to West Side Deli was a reminder that sometimes you don't need anything fancy. A good sandwich, a cold beer and some time together was more than enough.

We'll be back.