Buy the Dip Family-owned and operated since 2009--with origins that trace back to the family's roadside stand that began in 1948--Adamson's is probably the premier place in the Bay Area to satisfy one's craving for an authentic French Dip sandwich. It has been almost ten years since my last visit here, so I figured I'd give this review an update after my latest visit. The Good: * Large shared parking lot in a strip mall * Friendly service * Outdoor dog-friendly seating * Housemade bread is terrific * The beef itself is so simple, but so delicious as you can really taste the wood-fired oven in the beef. * They make their own root beer and it's available in bottles and even on draught! They also sell root beer floats, if you're so inclined. * If it's your first time, get the OG French Dip with the jus. So simple, but so good. If you're a big eater, like myself, be sure to add a few extra ounces of meat on your sammy, for a nominal cost, of course. *Their horseradish will definitely clear your sinuses! I love it, but if you're sensitive to that, then be forewarned. * Onion Rings are very good, and slightly better than their fries imo. The Meh: * Honestly, with such great branding, I'm surprised they're just starting to venture out into the franchisee market, as they'll be officially opening a second location on S Bascom Ave by Valley Med. * A little pricey but they serve up a delicious quality product. The Ugly: * The location is kind of small and seats maybe fifteen to twenty people inside and out. Conclusion: Meat eaters need only apply. read more

Overall good, not amazing. I would not make a special trip from the upper Penn to come here. Place is tiny. Seems like everything is an add on. I hate places that nickel & dime you but I understand food costs are high. Onion rings were slightly under cooked. French dip was okay. Big staff working in cramped quarters. read more

I've been wanting to try a good French dip lately and decided to try this place. The French dip was amazing! Prime rib was juicy and I love that they had the horseradish on the side because I'm not a big fan of horseradish so having the choice to add it or not is great. read more

Adamson's French Dip - Prime Rib French Dip - Sandwiches Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Been meaning to come by here and try the french dip for some time and finally pulled the trigger (Popeyes is always a draw and Lopez used to be until I had an incident with the staff). It's a small stand with a few tables available inside and a couple outside. They had a pull up window too but didn't see a normal drive through style sign so I didn't try since I wasn't sure how that would work. They have a kiosk inside but someone took my order as it was taking the couple ahead of me some time to figure out what they wanted. I saw they had a prime rib dip and ended up going for that. I added onion rings and I'm always a sucker for root beer so went with that as well. There was a combo order available for onion rings and a drink but it doesn't include the root beer so I skipped it. If you're up for a fountain soda though, it can save you a couple bucks. I took my order to go and ended up eating in my car since I had to run. They give a good sized portion of au jus (forgot to snap a photo) and the onion rings came with either ranch or ketchup. They do sell giant pickles for $1.50 each and I skipped it but think I should have gotten it as I needed something to cut the richness. There was an option for grilled onions for $0.50 but not raw onion option available. The meat was nice and thinly sliced with some nice fat in there. The au jus wasn't too salty and the bread was soft and sopped up everything. My only wish for the sandwich was that it was a bit bigger for the price you pay. The onion rings were a tad greasy but still good and crunchy and paired well with the ranch. read more

Adamson's French Dip - Prime rib french dip - Sandwiches Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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The sandwiches here are great the meat tastes super good, but the prime rib had a good amount of fat! The service is okay, you order off a tablet. Unfortunately the inside of the restaurant is extremely small, so it's not suitable for larger groups. The prices are a bit high for how big the sandwiches are. I would at least suggest that you give it a try! read more

Adamson's French Dip - Original French Dip and prime rib dip - Sandwiches Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Lost the parking in the plaza and the restaurant is very small, it may fit about 10 people at most with no more than five tables. I believe they remodeled pretty recently because everything was brand new and extremely clean. The place itself has a long history, but sometimes history doesn't mean anything, but that . The French dip was good, but there were some flavor that was lackluster. The dip itself was great as well, but it was not anything too special, very heavy on the onions. Prices were on the higher end. read more

Adamson's French Dip - Sandwiches Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Adamson's serves a great French dip sandwich. IMO, the best in Northern California and a close contender for best in state. Better than Cole's (LA--R.I.P.),and a close second to Philippe The Original (LA). Philippe might win on nostalgia, variety (lamb, pork, turkey), and hours of operation-- but Adamson's edge could be the wood fired essence. These were also some of the best onion rings I've ever had--A must try! Small, clean location with limited inside and outside seating. The service was stellar and the staff is friendly and accommodating. read more

3.5 stars.... Onion rings were good. The ranch dressing for the onion rings was meh. But we're here for the french dip. Well the dip was flavorful and Smokey. I had the prime rib dip, there's an original dip that's about $6 cheaper. Overall it was ok, I had a tough piece in my sandwich, which was the more expensive prime rib dip. Everything cost extra for the sandwich, I just got cheese. Overall, not sure it was worth $40+ for this and a root beer after tip. Small little joint. read more

Adamson's French Dip - Prime rib French dip, onion rings and ranch - Sandwiches Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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A bit expensive but they still do french dips really well. I enjoy going here and besides the french dip I get potato salad and a house made root beer. I don't go for the service, they look at you like you're from another planet. read more

Nope. I'm sorry, I gave it a chance because it's close by home and was hoping for a good meal choice. I paid $16.95 for the sandwich only. I went through with it to see if the meat merited that cost (recognizing inflation is also crazy). This is fast food quality! so disappointing. The au jus was probably good, but I do not have anything to compare it to since it is not my normal meal. The customer service was cold, so, feeling no reason to return. read more

I wish I could eat here every day. House made root beer and the meat sandwich is so perfect. The service is very fast too.

Very pricey! First time I went here food was excellent, second time very disappointing! And kind of strange operating hours as well

I am a little surprised that a place that is open for just three hours a day serving a pretty limited menu turns enough of a profit to be around for some time as these guys. That being said, there does seem to be quite a bit a people during the times that I have been here. There used to be a time when I was younger when I LOVED French dip sandwiches but now I crave them only every once in a while. When I do, Adamson's is the safe bet to satisfy said craving. I wouldn't go so far to say that they serve up the BEST French dip sandwich ever but they do a fairly decent job. I usually get the works with a side of fries and pickle. The fries are nothing special and I am only really getting them to satisfy that potato craving that one gets when having a sandwich. I'm sure that there are better places in the greater bay area to get a great French dip sandwich but for the Sunnyvale/Mountain View area, this place is fine. I do wish that they had more options on the menu but their model has worked so far so I'm sure they aren't going to change anytime soon. read more

I've been here a few times for the original French dip. Today tried the new prime rib beef dip. So Adamson makes a pretty good French dip (original) and I can't complain. Also love their onion rings. However the New prime rib beef dip comes at a steep premium and I'm comfortable in saying that it's not worth the price. For that price I'd rather have lobster rolls. I'd say stick to the original French beef dip. But the prime is a level better if you feel spendy. Service is a little on the slow side as there are only 2-3 people behind the counter prepping. If you come here to dine-i good luck finding seating indoors as the place has maybe six tables. There is some counter space and a couple more tables outside. They are also inundated with to-go orders which slows down lunch service even more. When I come at 1PM it's still a little busy but not nearly as bad as noon. Parking is easy to find as it is in a shopping center. read more

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Take the dip into this good French Dip sandwich shop for a yummy classic style sammich piled high with smoky American hand cut beef. The roll comes toasted ever so slightly with a nice crunch but yet fluffy on the inside. Loved the free side of horseradish which is the fresh kind and direct from a jar type. The beer battered onion rings are a must and so is the their signature root beer. The service is no frills where you order at the counter and grab your food when they call your number. The interior is relatively small with about six tables but there is also outside seating. Some say the price pint is high but shelling a bit of extra cash was worth what you get. I've been to that well known LA dip spot and the price there ain't much different. read more

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Absolutely love this place, I remember when it was going in. Only thing I hate is the price. Lol. I still pay it though. :) the sandwiches are never a disappointment, the place is tiny but they have outdoor seating, and over the staff is great and super friendly. We always come back even though we say we won't. Haha. read more

We haven't visited Adamsons for a good 2 years. This visit disappointed us quite a bit. First of all, the meat was way overcooked; it was even tough to chew. No more beer options which was another reason we won't be back. They took out the restroom sign and put "office" when it's obviously a restroom; how can a restaurant doesn't provide a restroom? How do you expect customers to pee after drinking your root beer? Customer service? Almost nonexistent. I kind of regret giving them a 18% tips since we had to take our orders by ourself. Yea, not going back. read more

Adamson's French Dip - Prices - Sandwiches Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Far too expensive to return. Great taste, but on the slim side for $25. I would have expected more meat for price.

Adamson's French Dip was unequivocally the best French Dip sandwich restaurant in California over the past decade and beyond. I could proudly say Adamson's put LA's extremely overrated Philippe's and Cole's to shame. I've taken dozens of friends, family and co-workers there over the years and gotten them hooked. But after the last few times I've been there over the past six months, I'm sad to say there have been some very noticeable changes to their famed namesake dish. First, they dropped all reference to "prime rib" from their menu because it is now just plain roast beef with much less flavor and is considerably drier. Even the bread seems different, thinner. It was never that thick but now it has lost the ability to hold up to the au jus. It started breaking up when I picked it up and practically disintegrates when you dip it. They no longer offer toppings of mushrooms or pickles, just grilled onions and sliced jalapeños. Their crisp golden onion rings are also gone. I had come to recognize many of the people who worked behind the counter. Yesterday, they were all gone. I saw two new employees who looked quite overwhelmed by the lunch rush. My pickup order was almost 20 minutes late, which I wouldn't mind if the French Dip tasted the way it used to with the cuts of prime rib. They used to close near dinner time but have crunched that down an hour every couple of years (4:30, 3:30) to the point where now they only open until 2pm. Adamson's used to tout the fact that they received many offers to franchise but turned down suitors because they wanted to maintain their quality. I suppose there's something going on because along with the cost cutting of their menu items and turnover of their longtime staff, their website now says that they are actively seeking franchise opportunities on the West Coast. I understand the nature of a family-run business where the founders are looking to transition to retirement. The Adamson family certainly deserves to enjoy the fruits of all the years of their hard work. But it's difficult to see one of the great restaurants in the South Bay drop off in quality as its founders ride off into the sunset. read more

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25$ for a tiny little baby sandwich with hardly any meat and more gristle. Hows this place still open? The quality and quanity for the price is laughable read more

Adamson's French Dip - Just the tiny little sandwich with hardly any meat is $20. What a disgrace - Sandwiches Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

A genuinely terrible sandwich. Bland and soggy and somehow managed to make us question all of our life's decisions. Don't waste your time or money read more

On a lovely Saturday morning we knew we needed a French dip. Sadly, we ordered from Adamson's and received the equivalent of a cardboard sandwich- bland, tasteless, and leading one to have a poor opinion of France. read more

This review is more about the service than the food. The French Dip is still one of the best you'll find in the Bay Area, but I was really disappointed by some recent changes. They've switched to self-ordering kiosks, and with that change, the warmth and personal touch are gone. There's no greeting, no connection--it feels transactional now. What made this place special to me wasn't just the food, but the feeling of being welcomed in. Now, it feels like you're just another number. On top of that, prices keep going up, and without the customer appreciation that once set them apart, it's hard to justify coming back. read more

Still the best place for French dips. The place is small and very clean with a few tables outside. People are very friendly and helpful. Why do they seem pricey? Because they use high quality meat. You're getting high value. I dragged my husband here when he was feeling blue (his mom passed away), and we split a basic French dip and fries. The fries were crisp and not at all greasy. I asked my husband what he thought & he said the only problem was that he didn't order double meat. We'll be back. Double meat for him. Horseradish for both of us. Thank you again, Adamson's. I appreciate your commitment to quality and consistency and this sandwich was as great as the one I remembered having a few years ago when I was going to NOVA. read more

Delicious. Only open for lunch. Yummy jus and meat highly recommend. I get the regular

I recently had the chance to try some takeout that my wife's client brought over, and wow, it was great! The horseradish paired with the au jus was absolutely delicious! I can't wait to try one of their prime rib dips with cheese because, honestly, who doesn't love a cheesy version of that classic? I'm also really interested in sampling their root beer float and shakes next time.I'm already looking forward to my next order! read more

Tried the original, patty melt, onion rings, root beer float, potato salad and cole slaw. Original and patty melt are exactly the same except patty melt had onions and cheese. When I first saw the sandwich I laughed, it was so small and thin! However, when I stacked the meat all to one half of it, the sandwich felt much more substantial & was very tasty! Their onion rings are legitimately perfect. Even survived a trip back home. No slippage on the coating and the onion was soft and tasty. I wasn't a huge fan of the coleslaw and potato salad but they were small and inconsequential. Lastly the root beer float was fabulous. Who doesn't like RB floats?? Summarized, it was a fine lunch. Frankly, if I weren't watching my portions and calories I would have given this place a 3 for the lack of product or overcharging on it. read more

Adamson's French Dip - Original Dip - Sandwiches Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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RIP prime rib. They've moved to a lower grade sirloin which was overcooked. The soul of the sandwich, which was so excellent a few years ago, is gone. You wouldn't think the demise of a sandwich could hurt your heart, but it can. read more

Adamson's French Dip - Today's sandwich. Unrecognizable to the previous sandwich. Horrible! - Sandwiches Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Would have been a 4 but the draft root beer I got was really flat. Ended up ordering 2 prime rib sandwiches and the jalapeño fries. The jalapenos fries was actually not that appealing and they used canned jalapenos. The sandwich was good but nothing to brag about. It's really small for a 16$ sandwich. Only flavor it gots is salty. read more

Adamson's French Dip - Sandwiches Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

I have been coming here since it opened, but since I no longer live in the bay area probably hadn't been back in 4 or 5 years. Turns out that was a good choice. Clearly the ingredients have changed, the meat was nowhere near the quality and neither was the care and quality control. My philly dip was literally 75% gristle. Not rendered fat, but absolutely inedible gristle. Its sad when once great places forget what made them great and start cutting corners. That was my last trip to this once mighty sandwich joint. read more

Excellent sandwiches, one of a kind in Sunnyvale, highly recommend. Food is delicious

I was super excited to try this place because I love french dip but damn they are expensive, one sandwich alone with no sides or drinks was $17 or $18! The sandwich isn't that big either. Taste was fine, good but pretty on par with most other french dip sandwiches I've had. 2 sandwiches 2 drinks and 1 fry set me back $50+, for that I expected at least a bit bigger of a sandwich. a lot of the reviews recently say that the meat quality went down and even though I hadn't been here before I suspect that to me true since the meat quality I had was not the amazing meat described by others historically read more

A decent french dip. I used the au jus could have been more flavorful but the sandwich was as filling as it is delicious. Got "The Works" my friend recommended we get the house pickle, which while small for $1.50, was a pretty good pairing with the sandwich. read more

Adamson's French Dip - "The works" and house pickle in au jus. - Sandwiches Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Exactly what I wanted in a French dip.. but jezussss 25.00 a sandwich ... I highly recommend the you get the horseradish super fresh .. the sandwich was pretty full of tasty sliced ribeye.. great cheese and fantastic ahjus .. read more

Terrible sandwich. Got a smoked tri tip sandwich and added extra meat. Barely any meat. Paid $30 for the meal. Would not come back.

Food is fairly good I will say that , the service is good , the system they have starting with the kiosk to take your order actually slows the entire process down , the prices are crazy expensive for what you get while adding to insult every little thing is an extra charge and please can we get more then just 1 napkin !? I've given this place 3 chances and each time I've told myself the same thing , good food but that's about it and good god it's expensive read more

National Cheesesteak Day was fast approaching, and I didn't want the day to slip by me. So, I went here a few days before the actual day to celebrate. There's no better way to enjoy the Philly Dip Cheesesteak with onion rings, jalapeño Fries, and a Float on a national holiday. I always add extra meat, but you really don't have to; I do because I love it so much. It is a small and cozy place, but it has plenty of seating inside and outside. I do like that it's small because you have a perfect view of the behind-the-scenes operation. I don't know how the guys do it so seamlessly because this place is very business, and still, your food comes out fast, and the service is still top-notch. read more

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Each bite is tears of joy from the quality/taste but also tears of sadness from the price. 2 sandwiches and onion rings + tip was around $40. Ranch and other sauces? 75 cents each. Sandwiches range from almost $17-$15 depending on which type of meat you prefer. I mean if you're already paying more than $15, you might as well get their "Original French Dip" prime rib sandwich. They make their bread in house and it's so soft. Dipping the sandwich in the au jus and adding a bit of their horseradish is amazing but you can't help but to finish the whole thing in a few bites. Just another half sandwich and I will feel completely satisfied. Adamsons French Dip is once in a while whenever I'm craving it but not a typical lunch meal. Very tiny sandwich shop with a few tables but it does get busy so if you're eating inside you might be hovered over by everyone that's waiting in line and/or waiting for their order. read more

Adamson's French Dip - Sandwiches Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Oh how the mighty have fallen This was my favorite spot for lunch when I worked in Sunnyvale some 10 years ago. No frills, limited menu, one great product, addictive taste. Now, quality and value have declined a little. I come here every year or two and I'm signed up for email blasts with discounts. Sad to say the 15% off coupon in my inbox didn't work, so I settled for a 10% off coupon. Not sure if it expired, but the email doesn't reference any expiration or timeframe for the coupon. I ordered two sandwiches - one original, and one original with cheese and grilled onions, and side of horseradish. Each mod is +$0.50. They also charge an extra $2.00 per ounce of extra meat, but at $16.95 base price for the sandwich I didn't add meat. I'm not sure exactly how much - but these sandwiches have gotten so much smaller in the last few years. Meat quality is not as high and the velvety tender thin cuts I used to enjoy are now thicker and tougher. Rolls are thin and unfortunately came a bit smashed in the bag despite my careful handling. Hardly any cheese or onions, and the jous cup and horseradish were both under half full. Ordered fries ($2.95), onion rings ($4.95), and two bottled sodas ($3.95 each!). Our order total after the 10% discount was $50.32. The flavor of the sandwiches was still nice, boosted by the buttery soft rolls, and made for a decent lunch; but I can't say the value is there for $50 anymore. I haven't been here for a couple years and probably won't be back for a couple more. I'm left still chasing the high of the french dip sandwich that ruined all others for me some 12 years ago. read more

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4.5 stars I cant believe I only learned about this place this past year. I had been working in south bay for so long yet this never crossed my yelp path. A friend introduced me to this place and ive been here twice since then. French dip sandwich 4.5/5 meat is tender. au jus is delicious. My only complaint is that there is very little meat for almost $17. Onion rings 4/5 good but not great French fries 4/5 good but not great. Cole slaw 4/5 good but not great. Root beer on tap 5/5 I havent a root bear in so long. Comes in a nice cold mug Root beer float 5/5 Also comes in a nice cold mug. Overall this is the best french dip that is available to me. Wish you could get more meat for the price. read more