Countless times over the years, I've blown past Arguello Market without giving it much thought. Usually because I'm on my way somewhere else, but I also can't say I've ever had much of a reason to come here either. Sure, it's not all that far from me, but around here, my default has always been the Safeway just down Cabrillo. However, after seeing a piece on this place on SFGATE about their "world famous turkey sandwich"? Well, let's just say that self-proclaimed title was enough to put them on my radar to check out!
Now, while there's obviously a lot more to Arguello Market than just their aforementioned sandwich, it seems like a good number of folks who come here do so just for their sandwiches. Not that I blame them - the first time I came here, I headed straight for the deli counter without looking at much of anything else. Which just so happened to include their menu board, as I already knew what I was going to get before I even set foot inside. However, as I waited for my order, I actually found their offerings interesting enough to come back to try something else. In general, it's not particularly extensive, and their sandwiches are more classic in nature, but it was also pretty cool to see fresh rotisserie chicken as a sandwich option, as well as piroshkis and calzones available to be had.
-- FRESH ROAST TURKEY SANDWICH with EVERYTHING (Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, Dijon Mustard, Mayo, and Pickles) with Swiss Cheese (+$1.50) on Dutch Crunch...$11.95
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/arguello-super-market-san-francisco?select=l1EOVV_fC8A0sbkY9PiOUw)
Thankfully, this wasn't too shabby! The sandwich as a whole felt light, but it actually had a good amount of turkey, which was surprisingly moist, save for a few pieces. That said, all together, the sandwich felt a little dry, as there wasn't much mayo or mustard (adding avocado might have helped).
-- HOT PASTRAMI SANDWICH with EVERYTHING (Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, Dijon Mustard, Mayo, and Pickles) with Swiss Cheese (+$1.50) on Dutch Crunch...$12.95
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/arguello-super-market-san-francisco?select=i4QHWj09V0JLvT2SiGzggA)
Between the two, I thought this one was better. Partly just out of preference (I love pastrami), but also with how well everything complemented each other. Plus, this one didn't seem quite as dry and the bread seemed softer.
As for the actual market portion of Arguello Market, their greatest appeal is probably the sheer convenience more than anything else. While they cover all of the basics you might be looking for, the range of their selections isn't super deep (limited cuts of meats, fewer varieties of brands, only your basic produce, etc.). What's more, their prices trend a bit high ($3 for a can of corn, for example) and parking isn't always the easiest. Given that, it's not so bad if you just need one thing and you're already here getting a sandwich or if you happen to live nearby. However, if you're looking to complete a longer shopping list, you just might be better off heading over to the likes of Lucky or Safeway.
All in all, THREE AND A HALF STARS would be perfect, but I'm rounding down for now. The sandwiches are probably closer to four based purely on taste, and you certainly won't regret what you're eating, but when factoring in the price, it's hard to ignore the fact that I can get more of something that tastes just as good elsewhere. read more