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Category: Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: SOMAMon-Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
"Birley's a new favorite of mine in the FiDi. I've tried a couple of really fantastic sandwiches and will plan on working through the rest of…" read more »
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The Sentinel is a great place for a gourmet sandwich but it can cost you up to $8.50 for the just the sandwich.
So far my favorite was the tuna sandwich, unfortunately, the tuna is no longer offered because the menu is seasonal and changes weekly. I like this but I do miss the tuna :).
I have also had the chicken mole and the egg salad sandwich. The chicken mole was wonderful! The first time I had the egg salad it was great but the second time I had it I think they scrambled the eggs because it was very runny and the texture of the eggs were of scrambled eggs. Also, the egg salad was a bit warm when it should be cold. After that experience I was kind of turned off from the egg salad.
Other than the one time experience with the egg salad I have very much enjoyed their food and will continue to try new sandwiches!
This place rocks and is super delicious.
I was just told this place is a "Stuff White People Like" type place, and since I am extremely white I like it too!
First off, it is small and tight, and looks artfully "mechanical" with a chunky clock on the wall. White Point!
Second, there is a limited, changing menu of sandwiches every day and they are all about 10$. If you don't like what they have to offer then just go elsewhere and spend less. White Point!
Third, the counter girls are cute and reticent, which makes me feel like I need to be on my best behavior to gain their sandwich approval. White Point!
Fourth, it is really quick. White Point.
Lastly, the sandwiches are delicious and pretend unfancy. Today I had a mole Chicken sandwich. White Point!
Anyway, since the food is so good, I guess other ethnicities might like this place too. Which makes me feel multi-cultural and worldly on my lunch break. Golly, another White Point!
There are sandwiches, and then there's the corned beef hash sandwich at The Sentinel.
A delicious bite South of Market, the proof is in the line that will easily wrap down the block. The Sentinel dishes out gourmet sandwiches in neat lunch boxes that will definitely bring you back.
While the space is small, the woman at the counter works quickly and is an absolute joy to interact with.
The slaw draws out the sweet taste of the corned beef, and the warm buttery bread makes each bite a decadent plus.
As I continue my SOMA lunch adventures, I can confidently say that this premier spot is firmly on my hot list.
In-fill sandwich shop on an anonymous corner in the FiDi... nice.
If you don't work downtown or can't get to the FiDi during the week, you're out of luck. Otherwise, this place is a decent addition to anyone's lunch routine. My pulled pork sandwich was delicious and gave me that gourmet boost for $9. Granted its a rotating menu but on that day, it was the *ish. Sure it's pricey for just a sandwich but that's life right.
I had no idea the Sentinel was steps away from the office. Great corner spot right across the way from the Palace Hotel. Very small and very busy. I tried the Corned Beef Sandwich. Deliciousness! The Basil Lettuce Tomato Avo was also a winner.
The sandwiches are filling and there isn't an extensive menu. This is definitely something to get once in awhile since the sandwiches are somewhat pricy.
The sandwich assembly team are on point and kudos for some butterscotch candies as a mini dessert.
I walk 5+ blocks to get here. I love their selction and the tasty lunch sets are awesome. Bread's freshly baked--and the tastiest secret I've recently discovered--they have fresh baked goods in the AM. I had a cranberry muffin that tasted like heaven. and I have a pretty high expectation of what heaven should taste like.
I like the small touches like an Andes mint or a bubble gum they tuck in. the staff is extremely friendly and efficient. their watermelon lemonade was a treat all summer.
Believe it. This is why we're all spoiled to live in San Francisco. No one is in hotter pursuit of the insatiable sandwich connoisseur's approbation than the folks here.
The Sentinel has been a roughly bi-monthly indulgence for me since the beginning of the summer, but the spicy eggplant with goat cheese sandwich and cinnamon butternut squash soup the other day reminded my that I am overdue to give the staff their twice earned kudos.
Help! I"m addicted to The Sentinel! I didn't get all the fuss at first, but now I can't seem to spend a day in SF without making my way over there for one of their heavenly sandwiches.
While most of their customers seem to be all about the corned beef, I get my sentinel crack in the form of the eggplant and goat cheese sandwich. SO delicious- and the homemade bread is especially divine. And of course I wash it all down with their watermelon lemonade. A must if you're eating here!
The lines are always long and the servers have a bit of 'tude, but last time they gave us extra cookies when we complained they forgot part of our order. I can handle a bit of 'tude for cookies and tasty food.
It's really just a sandwich shop. And apparently a very popular sandwich shop judging by the lines.… Read more »
This is tough ... the food was AMAAAAZING but the service was a little bit disorganized. I would suggest that this place isn't good for groups bigger than 4 or 5 people. We were a group of 8-10 and it was just a mess! Orders were mixed up a little but - BUT they got resolved and everything eventually worked itself out.
What's more important though is that the food was great! I heard through the grapevine that the corned beef was a good sandwich. OH YES! It was delicious. The bread was good, the meat was plentiful and the general portion size was great. Almost too much to handle!
Don't forget to try their lemonades though - perhaps one of the best things about this place is their lemonade. I tried the watermelon one and it was so good I sucked it down before walking back to my office 2 blocks away.
No seating here folks, take out only! Make sure you have a sunny park bench or cozy office chair to dine on because this place is not only crowded, they don't really have the space to allow people to eat inside.
Awesome rotating menu. Show up early, and have your pick, show up late and some offerings may be sold out. The salmon sandwich and, if you haven't heard, the corned beef hash sandwich are both excellent and for under $10 it's unbeatable.
No seats, but bring your boxed lunch to 106 Second, across from the Van Heusen store, cross street Mission, and there is a glass atrium area with about 50 seats & 25 tables which is a nice place to eat and read, chat, chill, or people watch.
Oh and the pickle and Andes Mint are a great touch to your lunch.
Awesome yummy goodness!!! The Corned Beef Sandwich is a must have. They're super efficient and oh so convenient.
Do it, you won't regret it!!
Btw, I believe they have a $10 min for card charges so bring cash if you're flying solo.
I'm so lucky this place is down the street to my office because I wouldn't have noticed it if I didn't walk pass it everyday.
I don't come here that often because I'm ballin' on a budget but the corned beef sandwich is hella good! I tried the other sandwiches and it wasn't bad--I'll stick to the corned beef. The staff is nice and they gave me a free cookie here a couple of times during lunch.
The hot muffins in the morning are so delicious. My favorite is strawberry. Coffee is so-so but I come back because the muffins are huge and addictive.
This place is a great lunch for under $10. I've only had the corned beef sandwich but it is so tasty that I don't know if would switch it up. I like how they use artisinal bread instead of traditional rye. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 Stars is b/c I do think they should have more variety of sandwiches. I would try something else but nothing else on the menu appeals to me.
Also, they only accept credit cards if you spend more than $10. Although they've let me slide before.
I had the eggplant and goat cheese sandwich. The bread does help it to be a tasty sandwich. Bonus for being quick even with 15 people in line in front of me when I got there. They don't mess around.
Update: also had the egg salad. It's a winner. It's because of the bread, mostly... mostly.
I've been hearing about this place all the time. I just decided to try it out this morning and was able to grab one. I tried the cranberry muffin and I have to say. wow.
That's the best cranberry muffin I've ever had.
I'll stop by another time for more things but probably only twice a week can't make this a habit. LOL.
Most people don't relish business trips, but I love coming to San Francisco to visit the company mothership. No, not because of work, but because it's practically a paid vacation - I get to visit my cousin and sister, catch up with old friends, and check out a lot of local places. It's just too bad there are scheduled 8-hour bursts of work sandwiched between, but I guess it's a minor inconvenience to do what I'm paid to.
Speaking of sandwiches, the Sentinel has become one of the things I look forward to when visiting the city. With no shortage of lunchable options within a few block radius, the Sentinel has risen above all the other quick-lunch spots. Yes, there might be a line, but it zips along fairly quickly, and yet, once you have food in hand (and in mouth and in belly) there's no indication that the preparation is rushed, nor that you've been short-changed a quality meal.
While you almost can't go wrong with any of the menu staples, inlcuding the aforementioned sandwiches, I love trying out their daily lunch specials, because you never know if it'll appear on the menu again. Today's special was ground turkey with cabbage, mint, and sweet white corn kernels. It seemed to be lightly drizzled with a citrus vinaigrette, and I was surprised at how light of a meal it made. The tangy taste of the acid contrasted well with the sweet corn, and the turkey was meaty and yet not overly hearty. In addition the special came with a warm cranberry-apple crisp that was tart with the crumbles providing a nice crunchy texture.
I just now finished my meal, not 5 minutes ago. I normally don't rush to write a review but I wanted to write about this experience because with the Sentinel's always rotating specials menu, I don't know if I'll ever have quite the same combination again.
I love food joints in tiny spaces because I know they mean business. There's no time to get fancy with seating or flower arrangements. There's only time for a counter and some great sandwiches.
I went halfsies with a coworker because I wanted to try the corned beef sandwich and the egg salad sandwich. I preferred the corned beef, especially loving the crusty flatbread. The meat and cheese were perfectly melty and not dry at all. I liked the fluffy wheat roll of the egg salad sandwich too but was a bit turned off by the high parsley population in the egg salad.
To wash it all down I tried their famous watermelonade, and was not disappointed.
I'm hoping that they're working on some more efficient strategies to get through their many lunchtime customers. When we went the people taking our order were using post-its and seemed to be a bit frazzled. I figured they knew what they were doing since the line was moving pretty quickly. The guy who seemed to be running the show had that grumpy hell's kitchen thing about him. I didn't really like the way he was talking to his staff, almost yelling at them at some points. Halfway down the block with our lunches, we realized we were missing one sandwich. I was scared to go back, but braved it with a coworker to let them know. There was no argument, and the sandwich was up in no time, along with a huge sack of cookies that must have weighed almost a pound each. Mistakes happen in fast-paced places like that, and I like how they handled it. I just hope no one got yelled at when we left!
After being a die hard Sentinel fan for at least a year, I am happy to report that Dennis's little "have a nice day" to me when handing me my soup and lunch box yesterday actually made my day. I even called my husband to brag about it! He must have been having a good day. That one, he's so serious, but if that's what it takes to get me my damn good food in the middle of an otherwise dull work day, I'll take what I can get. Besides, I get all kinds of smiles and friendliness from the girls at the register (Monika and Teresa, both of whom rock).
All the sandwiches are super bangup delish. The daily lunch special is always such a surprise delight. But the best thing on the menu is the soup. I could kill for that soup. Every day it's something different. I think my favorites have been the mushroom, tomato parmesan, and sweet corn soups. I think he may use a little bit of a cream and butter in those soups. A touch. Those lovely soup containers covered in foil with a slice of bread and pickle and an Andes mint (along with whatever sandwich or lunch special I happen to get that day) are really setting me back quite a bit for lunch, but I DON'T CARE. I am blinded by the soup.
And, the daily rotating selection of muffins and oatmeal in the morning is incredible. I think they might be made of cake batter, as that is what I feel like I am eating every time I sink my teeth into them. God bless Dennis Leary.
WHOA-HO! 5 stars for the best egg salad sandy I've ever had, EVER. (yes, I purposefully repeated the word ever. try it!)
Here's what I've tried:
The B.A.L.T. (basil, avocado, lettuce, tomato) -- by far my fav sandy which…
Read more »
Best egg mayo sub eva! Seriously I have no idea how they do it but the bread is sweet, the filling creamy and the happiness level at maximum.
I was taken here during a trip to SF with work and we bought some sarnies from here and then sat and ate them in the sunshine. It was the perfect break from the office and meant that i could get totally involved in the eating, while making a mess and not worry about getting egg everywhere - I was outside and the grass doesn't mind egg apparently.
Mmmmmm.... I love egg!
Had a pork loin with fig, Havarti, and frisee sandwich and a honey dew-ade.
The sandwich was listed as cold but received it hot, which was a nice surprise.
Great sandwich (the bun it's served on is really, really good). Not among the best I've had but tasty.
I'll be returning to try the tuna/fennel/green bean and the corned beef sandwiches, at some point.
I just had a fantastical corned beef sandwich. Really. Delish. Worth walking through the torrential rain for a cozy, warm sandwich.
The hot sandwich selection is (I think) limited to 1 or 2 options, but whatever (just check the website before you go), the meatball sandwich looked pretty tempting.
Pluses: friendly service, lightning fast sandwich-to-customer turnaround.
Minus: $10 credit card minimum.
If what the nutty right-wingers say about Prop 8 is true and gays getting hitched means the eventual destruction of the institution of marriage, and that people will be able to marry anything they want including their dog, then LEGALIZE IT ALREADY so I can finally make an honest sandwich of the corned beef with Gruyere. For real. I've got a ring picked out and everything.
The Sentinel is a small shop with a limited menu that is committed to only one thing: getting simple, glorious sandwiches into customers' hands.
The service is efficient: Don't come here if you want coddling and tummy rubs along with your lunch. The staff doesn't care about you; they care about food. That's the kind of priorities I like from the people who make my lunch.
And don't whine about the price, either -- you'll drop around $10 just like you would on any quick lunch in the Financial District, but you'll get a burly sandwich that's so good your coworkers will hound you about it as soon as they smell it.
Why does everyone love this place so much?
I got the smoked salmon sandiwich and my friend got the special of the day. It tasted like a standard financial district sandwich to me.
It's a bit far from the office, so I probably won't be going back.
stuffmyface delicious sandwiches.
I love their simple menu, and this is a place where 8.50 gives you a FAT and delicious sandwich. news flash: better than bread and cocoa.
I love this place. Come early if you don't want to wait in line. It s ALL good, but the hot, corned beef, on focaccia with french dressing it the best sandwich I'll ever have. I also love, love their daily special plate which always makes my day b/c on top of being delicious it comes with a small dessert. They post their daily menu on line, so somedays my choice of going or not is based on what the special without me leaving my desk, 'cause it is 4 blocks from my office.
BREAKFAST~~ They have the BEST SEASONAL FRUIT MUFFINS here!! I've had their strawberry, pear, and blueberry muffins so far. They've had fig and some other fruits as well. The fruit they add into their HOT and FRESH BAKED muffins all depend on the season and the word delicious doesn't do them justice. The service is friendly and as fast as 1 or 2 people behind the counter could be. There's always a line for their coffee, espresso, and/or muffins. If you want to know what kind of muffins they have the day you're craving one, call ahead of time and have them save you one. You'll be happy you did!
NOTE: I hear their sandwiches are to die for as well. Check out their website!!
OOOOOOOOOKAYYYYYYYY!!!!!
Today I ate THE best corn beef sandwich AND bbqed beef sandwich of my entire life. I didn't eat 2 sammies, however I picked up lunch for a co-worker and I, and couldn't decide upon the 2 choices, so I got both, and we each ate half.
Their bread is so soft, and the sandwiches are really simple, but so fucking good. They seriously have it down:
corn beef + Russian sauce +scoop of sauerkraut = sandwich.
bbqed beef + caramelized onions = sandwich.
Easy, and obliterates all other sandwiches of it's kind.
Apparently they are only opened for a few hours a day, like, 12-3 or something wacky like that, but whatever. It's totally worth it. Just make sure to get there earlier than later. They tend to run out of ingredients through those few hours, and there's usually a line-up.
The Sentinel makes a mean sammie. I headed over here for lunch with Lizzie from London and was quite pleasantly surprised to see they offer a version of a BLAT that doesn't include bacon. The "B" stands for basil instead.
I know, I know. Most of you are thinking, "But, Tiffany, why would you ever be ordering a sandwich and be happy the "B" didn't stand for bacon?" It's true that I have been a big fan of bacon for my whole life. I even called myself a bacotarian previously. But, for the past two months I've been trying out the life of a pescatarian so the fact that I could have a BLAT seriously pumped me up.
Besides basil the sandwich also had tomato, lettuce and goat cheese. It was quite tasty and now I know why the lines at this shop can be so very long. Get yourself a sandwich and then take it to the park. On a sunny day not much is more delightful.
I really wish I had known about the Sentinel when I worked a street over for over a year. Oh well. While pricey, I do believe this is the single best place to get a quick bite to eat in the area. And again, while pricey-it is pretty on par to what you'd get pretty much anywhere else in downtown. But not every place tastes so fresh or so good!
While my options are a bit limited because I am a vegetarian, I've had the BALT (Actually, it was a MALT because they used mint instead-it came out GREAT!) and the egg salad. Never had egg salad like that before.
When I went with a friend they gave him a free cookie because they made him wait a bit longer than myself. It was quite good.
I normally bring a sack lunch, but is it worth splurging at the Sentinel? I think so.
Oh yeah, and the bread-it's really good.
First off, I go here about 3 x's a week. They all pretty much know my name now :) - but whatever, I'll respond to anything just to get one of these damn good sandwiches. The "specials" are always extremely unique and paired nicely. On any given day you can get scallop ceviche or some huge sausage plate. If you're new though, as everyone else recommends, I would go with one of the sandwiches.
I'm dreaming about the Pork/Fig sandwich now. It's sloppy, it tastes crazy, and it is F'ing awesome. The bbq beef is also sloppy goodness! Everyone there is "kept it real" cool - especially the owner. No nonsense, high quality food that's worth splurging on. Screw you subway and your processed meats. I would pay twice as much for half as much food when it comes to the Sentinel.
For once, I realized I could bypass the long line since it was almost 1:30PM and I needed to grab a quick lunch before a meeting. So, off to the famous Sentinel for a bite.
I took a peek at the menu, leaning towards the pork, but decided on the BBQ beef. Ordering process sounds like this:
Hipster girl: Yes?
Me: BBQ beef please and cantelopeade.
Hipster girl: We have lemonade. is that OK?
Me: Yes.
Hipster girl: Name?
Me: Dan
Paid at the register, got my lemonade, then stepped to the side and waited. Gagged on the lemonade realizing there's no sugar in it. Added 3 sugar cubes.
About 3 minutes later...
Burly counter guy: DAN
Me: Thanks.
So service kinda sucks. Pretty efficient, it seems, but it wouldn't kill you to smile and greet your customers, maybe even say thanks?
Was the sandwich good? Yes. Not the most amazing I've ever had, but solid. I've had the bbq beef at the Golden Gate Meat Co in the Ferry building, and it's almost as good, and larger too.
It's certainly not worth $8 (almost $13 once you add in the lemonade).
So 4 star food, 3 star prices, 2 star service - averages out to a perfect 3 in my book.
Corned beef sandwich was fantastic. The beef portion was a little light to meet my protein needs, but for the majority this will be a perfect sandwich. The mint was a nice touch as well.
I got my first Basil Avocado Lettuce and tomato sandwich there for my lunch and, man, I loved it!
I liked the fresh baked bread, the spicy pickle, the small chocolate mint and of course my super duper sandwich!
This place is fantastic!
Here is another fan, Sentinel!
$10 min on credit card.
Sandwiches i've tried since my last review:
- ground lamb w/ eggplant and raisins: really good. The lamb is a tad too game-y though. However still tender, served warm so it's all good. I like the sweetness of the golden raisins.
- egg salad: Nothing spectacular about it. Just your average egg salad sandwich. Still good though.
- spicy tuna w/ fennel and green beans: the tuna is really fresh and fennel with anything is good. It's a really light sandwich so after a couple of ours I found myself hungry again. It is not too spicy.
- fresh yellowtail w/ fennel: 2nd favorite after the fresh/smoked salmon sandwich. The yellowtail is slightly seared and the fennel just gives it the right amount of crunchiness. It's a messy sandwich though because it drips everywhere.
- roast beef: not my fav. It had blue cheese spread in it. I don't like blue cheese so this sandwich did not make it to the top of my list.
Best Salmon sandwich I have ever had!!! So light and fresh and the flavor is amazing! This sandwich… Read more »
Seared hamachi, avacado, butter lettuce.
Corned Beef Sandwich...
A small place with a limited seasonal menu. Sublime.
Go here. Eat Sandwich.
It's not quite living up to the hype that it's getting.
My sandwich was totally lacking and the service is a little "raw". And for $12 I would expect more.
Why 2 stars then? When my coworker got a sandwich from here, he gave me a bite and his was WAY better. Booooooo.
I'm debating about this one... The salmon sandwich was very good, but $9 is quite pricy for a relatively small sandwich from a take out place.
As far as "trendy little sandwich shops with limited menus and tiny spaces" go, The Sentinel is probably one of the best. I had the corned beef sandwich today and I must say, it was worth the 12 block jaunt from my my office on Sansome to get there. The bread was perfection, the corned beef- tender and salty, the cabbage and Gruyere were just the right mix to make this sandwich a party in my mouth. I'd say the $8 price tag is pretty good for a sandwich of this size and quality. They also give you a pickle and a piece of candy as an added treat. I'd go back for sure if I was in the mood for a trendy little sandwich. Although the name continues to elude me...
Now THAT is what I call a sandwich!
Believe what everyone says about the long line moving QUICKLY. With only a handful of menu items, they seem to be actively making everything on the list, but with such a busy lunch rush, it's not like your reuben will be sitting there all forlorn and lonely while it waits for you to order it.
Complimentary Madeleines
Neighborhood: Financial District
Happy Hour
Neighborhood: Mission
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Delis
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