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Tommy Pastrami
Categories: Restaurants Delis Restaurants Sandwiches Delis, Sandwiches [Edit]
8685 Irvine Center DrIrvine, CA 92618
(949) 753-7445
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 7 pm
Sat 8 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
86 reviews for Tommy Pastrami
Review Highlights
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"I tried Arnold's potato salad and that was excellent." In 14 reviews -
"I noticed that Arnold's corned beef was very lean too." In 11 reviews
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"The rye bread is perfect and the pastrami is never dry." In 6 reviews
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86 reviews in English
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Review from Sang H.
Santa Ana, CA
4/9/2012
Great spot for a good old fashioned NY sandwich. The corned beef was just right; not too sweet and not salty. This place had me at their sandwiches but I got hooked after I tasted their homemade potato chips. A little on the saltier side but perfectly crisp how real chips should be. Very appetizing with some side sauces. My girlfriend also had a turkey sandwich and steak fries, both of which were also very good.
The workers there are not overly friendly but make sure you're getting what you wanted and nothing less. Better if you get more (although it will probably be too much to eat) so the service was decent as well.
The only thing that lacks in this place is the price. Although it was worth every penny the first time out, I might reconsider going to this place just because of its price. Even then, I know I'll have to come back sometime and when I do, I'll be satisfied. -
Review from Jim T.
Updated - 5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Corned beef on rye was good. Very lean, not fatty. I got the half sandwich. A whole sandwich is for the bolemic! The side of cole slaw was missing some punch, or bite, kind of blaa. The pickle was dark, and not fresh. The self-serve drink bar has that great, 4-choice tea dispenser which I love because I can get unsweetened teas and make an Arnold Palmer if I want. The one server helping me is really committed to great customer service, only he gets kind of grouchy at his co-worker if the effeciency isn't there. For example, as he took my order, there were four indecisive women with the other server, an order came up, and he blurted out, "HEY, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE, FOUR PEOPLE NEEDING TO ORDER, AND AN ORDER IS READY AND IT'S JUST SITTING THERE!
I guess he wanted the other guy to grab the order and serve it while the four women were being decisive. Anyway, for a second there I thought I was actually in New York. LOL3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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4/6/2011
I went again today and had the "halfer" corn-beef on rye. It was so-so. It doesn't hold a candle to… Read more »
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Review from John L.
Irvine, CA
3/26/2012
When it comes to pastrami sandwiches there is no middle ground. They're either very fatty and not appetizing or amazing. That said, very few places are able to offer the later of the two. Tommy Pastrami on the other hand has amazing pastrami sandwiches. The meat is very flavorful and piled high. It's not stringy or excessively fatty so your sandwich won't pull apart when you try to bite it.
My other favorite thing about this place is that they serve steak fries. If they had curly fries I'd live here, but steak fries are the next best thing.
My only complaint is in regards to the chili fries. First off they're 6 dollars, so I'd expect a larger fry (especially from their picture in the menu) Nope, it's the same size as the regular. Next is the chili, their chili is sad as far as chilis go. The flavor is lacking and just not appetizing. That said, they also put very little on the fries (maybe a good thing since it wasn't good anyways).
All in all though, if you love good meaty sandwiches this is the place to go. -
Review from Kristin Leigh M.
Los Angeles, CA
3/4/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Owner/manager is super friendly! Bit intimidating at first, as he REALLY knows his menu (and expects me to, too?) but the staff overall is very attentive.
I know it feels strange - being a pastrami place - but I really love their Nathan's hot dogs. There are very few places on the West Coast where you can get a true, authentic Nathan's hot dog (skin on!), and this is one of them. They also have a good chili (with beans).
Their BBQ brisket is also very flavorful -
This place is a bit on the pricier side, so my suggestion? Come for a late lunch and you might still be full by dinnertime, or will likely just want something small for supper.
The shopping center where Tommy Pastrami is located isn't the most obvious place, so you'd really have to come here with this as a destination in mind. -
Review from Steve A.
Mission Viejo, CA
4/30/2012
Great pastrami! I ordered a half sandwich on a roll, got the combo with fries and a drink. It's over $10 for lunch, but it is filling and tasty. I'll be coming back.
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Review from DougieFreshOC G.
Newport Beach, CA
3/2/2012
Good Stuff for sure , they have Brisket and Chilli and of course the Pastrami!!
had it for lunch today...the cute Ashley served me up the 2fer Wrap...Pastrami on one , and brisket on the other...tortilla wrapp with coleslaw and some yummy dip ...Delish!! the Chilli was very good too!..i mean for Chili around Orange county,,its def one of the Best. thanks for the full Belly! :) -
Review from Hiep N.
Newport Beach, CA
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Located next to Fukada (YUMM Fukada) in Irvine this place is not as good as the hat, but more expensive!
My sandwich was pretty good, but I'm giving this place 2 stars because it's so expensive! This place is run by White People, and that's the only they can get a way with selling a sandwich for 14 dollars!
Service was good. The cashier was helpful, and offered suggestions to make my sandwich better.
I wouldn't come back. -
Review from Richard L.
Irvine, CA
2/4/2012
2 STARS! This place is only so-so. In a nut shell, the food here really deserves a 2 star, but I'm giving a 3 star because the staff here is very nice and helpful.
I found the meat here very dry, particularly the pastrami. The corned beef and brisket is a bit better. Both the double baked rye and French rolls are good. I do like their pickles, crunch but not too salty and sour. What I don't understand is how they are able to charge $9 for a regular sized sandwich (about 6 inches with 7oz of meat) and still stay in business. Add a drink and a scoop of potato salad or fries and you're looking at $12 plus tax. I'd understand if their sandwiches are awesome, but they're not. -
Review from Jason N.
Lake Forest, CA
3/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
The pastrami is wonderful, piled high on fresh bread. I love the chili also, its loaded with large chunks of tender beef with a great flavor. Portions are huge.
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Review from Megan M.
Pomona, CA
3/8/2012
My fiance and I have eaten here on several occasions and everything we've tried was good - pastrami, corned beef on rye, french dip, french fries and potato salad. A large sandwich w/ side can easily feed two people for lunch (or leave one person w/ leftovers to look forward to). Their meat is good and they give generous portions.
Cons:
We would eat here more often since it is so near the office but it is a little pricy (as most good delis seem to be). -
Review from Diane B.
Irvine, CA
Wow they have a friendly staff! They even took our picture for the wall. I'm giving them 5 stars since they have Black and White Cookies like the ones in New York. Actually, I think they have them shipped from New York. Anybody who's seen Seinfeld knows to, "Look to the Cookie." I'm a bit crazy about these cookies. Their pastrami was awesome too. Very lean and not overly greasy. I love, love, love their chili cheese fries too. I'm looking forward to trying their brisket.
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Review from Marla G.
Lake Forest, CA
10/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yes, this deli is a little on the expensive side. I like the Pastrami. Always on the lean side. If I get the original size sandwich I always have leftover enough for the next days lunch. I'm not a fan of their sides. But that's probably because I'm a picky person. The Chicken Soup/Matzo Ball Soup is/are good.
So glad that Tommy Pastrami is near where I live and that they are open on the weekends for lunch. -
Review from Daniel G.
Irvine, CA
11/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is pretty decent. The staff are all great and know what to recommend. Definitely a bit more then what I would spend elsewhere on a pastrami sandwich. I tried this place out while waiting for a friend's car to get finish at a shop nearby.
All in all, the food is pretty decent. I dont know if I would want to go here again though for the sake of wanting to go here. To me, its more of a place thats like 'well, i'm in the area' I guess. -
Review from Al S.
Updated - 7/17/2011 1 photo
To be very fair... my two star rating for TP's would be, if it existed, in the category of "Traditional NY-Chicago Deli Sandwiches." Remember that by strict Yelp-standards, 2-star = "...I've experienced better"........ not, this was a bad experience.
Last week, I gave the Irvine Tommy Pastrami another chance, and this time ordered a full sandwich, but one side all pastrami and the other all corned beef, with melted Swiss, cole slaw and Russian dressing on rye. The pastrami was OK. The corned beef, again, lacked flavor. For about $11.50 w/tax (not the combo, just the sandwich with a pickle on the side), I wasn't impressed... again. But hey, I did finish both halves.
But don't be turned off by my 2 star review. I'm taking yelp literally. I've experienced better, but it was OK, but not a 3-star "A-OK." I still feel Yelp needs something better than their 2 and 3 star options. I felt a little better, in that originally I didn't intend to return at all. After this visit, I've changed my mind...... "Ahl bee bach."
Would I return because I was willing to quench my thirst for deli with just a "hint" of what I could have at Brent's? Probably. But why can't someone bring "kick-ass" NY Style Pickled Beef Deli" to South Orange County? I don't know? I wish I did. If I were wealthy and stupid... I'd open a decent deli. (I did include "stupid" in my pre-qualifications, right?)
Just a thought......? I'm beginning to believe that part of the problem is that the employees, who were actually very nice, are not "deli people." The young gal that took my order was new, and got a little confused when I started to "customized" my sandwich with cole slaw and Russian dressing. She was very accomodating, but it appeared she wasn't a deli person, let alone had any history with pastrami, corned beef, brisket, etc. And if I had asked details about the Jewish Rye... I'm afraid her response would have been, "It's just rye..... I don't know about it being Jewish?" :-)
Their fast-food/sit down sales model and marketing does work. (My ex-business partner loves their pastrami) And it's not the prices that cause the issue. It's that ongoing thing about "quality." (I'm talking about taking good to great) I'd pay more for great, but maybe noone else agrees? Maybe they could vendor in the high end stuff and "feature it?"
While TPastrami doesn't satisfy my ongoing search for really decent NY style Jewish deli, it's OK in a pinch...... but if you've done Katz in NYC, for G*d's sake..... don't get your expectations elevated. You'll be in for a bit of a disappointment.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/2/2009
About a year ago I was driven (not in a car but by their nagging) to eat here by two friends; one… Read more »
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Review from j s.
Irvine, CA
10/11/2011
I love having a tough decision.
Here it comes down to two great things: pastrami vs. brisket.
If you order the massive sandwich, you can get both!!
The sandwiches are a litte pricey, but hell you're stuffed after you eat there. No question. You don't need chips, fried, potato salad, or any other side order. -
Review from Hannah E.
6/5/2011
Quick 'n' dirty psychology lesson: there is the planning part of the brain, and the doing part of the brain. The planning part is mostly rational, can weigh pros and cons, and is unencumbered by the very influential situational and emotional factors that the doing part of the brain eventually encounters when it tries to carry out the plans of the planning part. Result: doer does not always follow planner's advice.
My planner told me to go to Fukada. It was in the neighborhood, it has great reviews, it was on my bookmark list, I felt like a nice healthy Japanese lunch, I wanted to erase and replace my experience of Fukada 2 Go in my brain, and I had a book with me to read in case of a wait.
My doer, upon arriving, was all like, "Hannah hungry. Hannah see full restaurant and long waiting list. Hannah need food now. Smell of food make Hannah hungrier. Tommy Pastrami next door empty. Ergo: HANNAH WANT PASTRAMI.
Did it consider that maybe there was a reason that Tommy Pastrami was empty and Fukada was full? That there was a reason other people were on the wait list at Fukada instead of being fickle and rushing to the nearest restaurant that was capable of feeding their pie holes?
No. It did not consider these things. It propelled me to Tommy Pastrami. I ordered a half pastrami sandwich and a ginger ale: $9.50.
The sandwich was tiny, violating Rule #1 of New York Delis: "Sandwiches must be piled so thickly with meat that you cannot fit your mouth around them." They charged me 85 cents for sour cream even though I didn't ask for sour cream. Their mustard (on the side) was weak. There wasn't any dressing on it. Or any cheese. Basically, it was like they soaked the bread with au jus to try and conceal the fact that the meat was dry.
It was not the worst pastrami sandwich I've ever had, but I'll tell you, when I walked out of there and past Fukada on the way to my car, a war was going on within my brain. My planner was viciously berating my doer, and my doer, now blissfully unencumbered by hunger, frustration, and time pressures, had absolutely nothing to say for itself. -
Review from Tammi T.
4/21/2011
I got to try Tommy Pastrami because they screwed up a previous delivery so they offered to do another one. But if they can screw up the first time, they can do it a second time. This time I was the unfortunate one who received only half a pastrami and none of the potato salad I ordered. Even Tommy Pastrami thinks I should be on a diet. Oh well.
My half a pastrami tasted pretty good, though it definitely couldn't be compared to the great pastrami from Katz's deli in NY. But that's a few thousand miles away so....that's all I have to say about my half a pastrami. No comments on the pickle. -
Review from Meredith W.
Costa Mesa, CA
4/1/2011
Pastrami, coleslaw and Russian dressing are a holy sandwich trinity. Once you have been enlightened by its deliciousness, you may never eat pastrami the same again.
My body may hate me but my tummy is surely satisfied.
They bill themselves as a NY delicatessen offering things like potato pancakes, knishes, full deli platters, Nathans hot dogs....and pastrami, corned-beef and brisket sandwiches.
I opted for the Pastrami... half sandwich on rye add swiss cheese and Russian dressing. That's how i like my pastrami, and I was not dissapointed.
The pastrami was shaved thin and not fatty. It was very flavorful complimenting the dressing and coleslaw I pile on top of each bite for some holy trinity sandwich magic. The half sandwich and side of coleslaw was VERY FILLING. they pile their sandwiches very high.
Mmm. I stumbled upon this place.. and know once again, when i feel the urge to eat a pile of meat, ill go here.Listed in: Sandwiches make the world go…
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Review from Abbe W.
3/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was around the neighborhood grocery shopping. Usually I would go for Fukada but since I had missed the critical time to get in, it was impossible to dine there without having to wait insanely long. I was really low in blood sugar so I must have food in my system like quick! Hence, Tommy Pastrami was a good choice since I was always curious about the place.
I had the pastrami with French bread without the fries. I really like the pastrami. Very flavorful and not too salty. They are very generous with the amount of meat.
Service was great! Even thought it wasn't a full service restaurant, but the staff kept checking to see if everything was OK. It made my dining experience very pleasant. -
Review from Jordan E.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
2/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I came here once before because my car was getting fixed across the way. All I bought then was a soda and an order of steak fries, but because of the friendly service and amazing steak fries I had to come back.
This time I ordered the pastrami with potato salad on the side. The service was yet again out standing, the cashiers were smiling and were friendly and funny. One of the gentlemen that took my order came out from behind the counter after the lunch rush was over and asked every one if they needed anything and if everything was ok. I don't get this kind of service even when I go to a diner.
The food was absolutely amazing. The pastrami was the best pastrami I have had in years. The potato salad has a little too much onions for my taste, but was still wonderful. However, next time I will get the fries instead.
This place is Jojo approved. I will be back. -
Review from Martin T.
Foothill Ranch, CA
4/13/2011
Food is good
A Little pricey
Service a little slow even though it was 1:30 pm -
Review from Belinda S.
Los Angeles, CA
10/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not bad actually! I tried the roast beef, pastrami, and french dip. None were too salty which is a common problem with these type of meats.
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Review from YJ L.
Irvine, CA
12/27/2010
I don't understand people who come to a place called tommy "pastrami!!!" and then complain about a bad turkey sandwich. I was trying to figure out if this place is good or not before coming here because they only had 3.5 stars, but I kept reading reviews about tuna sandwiches and overdried turkey..
They are known for their pastrami and this is what my review is on.. if by chance they have yummy "others" then that's a bonus not a necessity.. anyway..I like putting coleslaw in the middle so I ordered a side of that with my meal and also got a side of steak fries. My meal was pretty delectable. Now will it ever compare to Sam Lagrassa's in boston?? heck no, nothing ever will touch Sam's! but for being 5 min away from work, this place will do just fine. love how they have hot mustard on every table. GOod solid pastrami, good fries, and pickles. Another place to add on my quest for good pastrami in so cal, I will be back =)Listed in: Things I love about the Good…
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Review from Sarah H.
Irvine, CA
11/6/2011
YUM. The pastrami is perfect. They have a thousand island with a little cayenne pepper that one of the workers insisted I try, and he was right. The workers are nice without being artificial.
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Review from Peter B.
San Clemente, CA
8/27/2011
We bought a coupon on Living Social to give this NY Deli a try. Good value for the coupon, but the food was severely lacking. The potato salad and coleslaw were very odd tasting recipes. The advertised Stacked sandwich was just a regular size meal on tw slices of bread. The owners were GREAT. Very friendly, very supportive of their brand and very helpful. They took the coupon gladly and gave outstanding service.
There are better values for the money spent ie: The Hat. -
Review from Tony M.
Orange County, CA
7/6/2011
Pastrami is great but not being much into that in general, I was really surprised at their BBQ brisket, also tuna sandwiches hit the spot and for sides I've had the steak fries and potato salad, both a huge fan of. Plus there's deli mustard on every table -- Noticed they got lemons now by the iced tea, and a ketchup dispenser I never noticed before, which is stuff like that you know they are giving great attention to detail,
Also I was personally asked by staff if the food was good, you bet!! It always is keep up the great work guys -
Review from mimi p.
Ordered the pastrami and bbq beef brisket sandwiches... about $10 each.. over priced for the sizes we received. I expected a bigger portion, but the sandwiches were okay.. side orders were extra too, for a fast food place, you're paying restaurant pricing. 2 sandwiches, 1 side and 2 beers- almost $40..
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Review from Tara P.
Irvine, CA
11/30/2010
Ughhh! I hate to even have to give this place a STAR at ALL!
As a native New Yorker, I feel this place is a slap in the face for anY authentic NY deli! Not one thing that we ordered was sufficient or tasty. The potato salad was leaning on the "fair" side, while their "Overstuffed" turkey sandwich was so dry that it stuck to the roof of my mouth! This could be attributed to either their dry turkey (no condiments) or the stale 5 day old bread it was smashed between! But wait!!! BEWARE- The chicken salad looks as though the ingredients were all placed into a blender, pureed and then packed tightly into a can of cat food. The consistency made me want to vomit.
I do not recommend ever eating at this franchise!! Worst food I've ever had! -
Review from Howard S.
Laguna Woods, CA
5/31/2011
Another very good Deli. Really enjoy the food here.
High quality, and reasonably priced.
The Matzo ball soup is also very delicious. -
Review from marlene q.
Irvine, CA
5/14/2011
Went this weekend and I would recommend this place if you want to fill up on delicious hot sandwiches and burgers. Food portions are large and the cook did a great job preparing our food. I tasted their sweet potato fries, regular french fries, and onion rings and they were fresh and tasty. Sandwiches and cheeseburgers were hot and fresh.
Note: most of the parking was marked 45 minutes and since I went on a weekend there was plenty of spaces. Might not be the same during the workweek. -
Review from Roo M.
9/29/2009 1 photo
First Visit - Rating could get better..... could get worse.
Dear Tommy .... You call your brisket sandwich "Overstuffed"?
I call the bloody thing quite malnourished
You need to take a lesson or two about "Overstuffing" sandwiches from Jason's Deli in LV. Especially if you're charging ten bucks for a freakin sandwich alone ... WTF ?!?! Double Dollar sign-status just for a simple and yet sadly executed Pastrami sandwich?
Oh and your Au Jus is Salty as hell.......... my blood pressure hates you . -
Review from Anita L.
6/6/2008 3 photos
Been meaning to try Tommy Pastrami's for as long as I can remember. Friends have told me that the portions were huge so I wanted to wait until hubby could come with me to give it a go.
We got there a little earlier than our friend so we perused the menu finally deciding upon the jumbo pastrami on rye combo ($12.25) with a side of coleslaw. Hubby also wanted to try a knish ($3.50). The combo also comes with a drink.
After our friend arrives, we put in our order and sat down to wait. It didn't take very long before our food was ready, but already, after my friend picks up our tray I realize that there was no coleslaw so I go up there and get it from the lady behind the counter.
Each table has a squeeze bottle of deli mustard and ketchup. The pastrami sandwich was really quite large for one person and it was perfect for us to share. Our friend got the pastrami with the French bread and a side of fries.
I thought the pastrami was very good -- flavorful without being overly salty. They are also quite generous with the amount they stuff between the slices of bread (see photo). The coleslaw was kinda gross though. I didn't eat it after a bite.
The knish was just borderline disgusting. I cut off a piece and ate it. My god it was greasy and had no taste to it. It was like a mashed potato pancake which was deep fried oozing with oil and just very off-putting. I thought my friend's French fries were quite good though -- crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I'm not usually a fan of the thicker 'steak cut' fries. I prefer the thin kind.
I'd say 4 stars for the pastrami sandwich but everything else was really gross so 1 star off for those. If you stick with just the pastrami sandwich then it's 4 stars all the way. I like the bread here, it wasn't mushy like the one at The Hat gets. However, I think if The Hat can get their bread right, then The Hat wins in my book. The Hat also has a lot more condiments available.
Each order comes with half a dill pickle and the one here is not bad at all -- briny and crunchy. -
Review from Ryan M.
10/26/2008
Well although I'm familiar with the other side of the freeway exit off the 405 South of Irvine Center Drive (Irvine Spectrum and the sort), there's the opposite end with an array of small corporate complexes, catering to the corporate employees and patrons on a regular basis. For one complex Myself, Kundai, and Kiwi definitely wanted to take a stroll to the infamous Fukada Restaurant.
Unfortunately after our late arrival, we come to find out the lunch hour at Fukada is closed, so we are left with either going to Spectrum, University Town Center, or Fukada's next door neighbor Tommy Pastrami. With a quick glance we walked in before their lunch hour would close. I wasn't in the mood for sandwiches but here I am in a deli to see what's the deal. The employees were thankful for our attendance and did the best they can to cater to our taste. What we ordered was the following:
3 Lite Combos:
-2 Pastrami Sandwiches, (one on French Bread, and the other with Rye)
-1 BBQ Brisket Sandwich (on French Bread)
-2 Potato Salad Side Dishes
-1 Coleslaw Side Dish
-3 Fountain Drinks
According to Kundai, his BBQ Brisket was pretty tender. And the Coleslaw, not too bad either. Kiwi, had the same sentiments as me with the Pastrami, the bread was a bit dry and the Pastrami meat was tender, but the combination didn't suffice to my liking. Perhaps I'm a bit bias, and maybe a bit too picky nowadays when it comes to food. When I've tried Subway, Canter's, and now Tommy, there's something about sandwiches that doesn't get my appeal. Maybe it's the simplicity, that comes with gathering the toppings, and making the effort to toast the bread? Spent $8.75 altogether at least for my share of the order.
Perhaps I'm not enchanted with it, considering I eat them 5 out of the 7 days a week. Yeah, that's it. So no offense Tommy, Canter's, or any other American Deli. I haven't quite found anything to suit my tastes, (unless you count Le Diplomat Cafe who has swooned me to stay faithful). I can even accept that I may be ignorant to these types of offerings when it comes to food. So, no hard feelings, ok? -
Review from Tiffany L.
Costa Mesa, CA
7/27/2009 1 photo
I have been trying to eat here for such a long time. Either they were closed or they were not available in my location.
FINALLY today I get to taste the long awaited Tommy Pastrami.
.............................**Cricket Chirping**.....................................
............DRY........ Crazy Dry........ Dry like the lips of a crack addict.
The service was okay, the place looked deserted (One elderly couple inside). I did not even smell "Pastrami" or any other type of meat aroma. Smelled like... a disinfected building. Cleanliness does not make for good food. :P
I get the Pastrami on Roll with Cole Slaw to go - The sandwich was ready in like- two seconds. I guess they had them premade? Sitting out? DRYING OUT? Where is the beautiful moisture? The drool inducing slight grease? where is this so called "Hot" pastrami? Why is my bread hard? Why is this pickle the BEST thing to eat in this combo? WTF happened to the cole slaw? Shit tasted like I was eating a small tub of Mayo. BARF!!!!
Man- I was heart broken. even now- I'm starring at half a sammy- too crappy to finish. I FREAKING LOVE MEAT and I couldn't finish this.
My heart, she is broken. I do not think even my tears could add flavor to this. **Weeps** -
Review from Dave S.
Brea, CA
7/3/2008
It was good. I had the half pastrami sandwich on wheat. It came out piled high which I was impressed with. even still.. for the price I deserve to have been stuffed.
tasty, though. -
Review from Jason H.
6/6/2008
Came here at lunch....Ordered the 1/2 pastrami combo...came out to $11. It's a little on the pricey side...
Besides the price...the Pastrami is pretty good. I've just recently started trying different Patrami's so I'm no expert (the Hat, here and the Oinkster out in Eagle Rock) but it was good here. I got the fries as my side dish, they have the thick type of fries.
We all agreed the deli mustard was good. haha who would of thunk that I would be rating mustard of all things...but it did make my sandwich taste good.
My friend ordered Knish? is that how its spelt? Well I tried some of it, well I mean I ate most of it... It tasted like a big fried potato...it was pretty good, but after eating a lot of it, it seemed a little oily, but maybe thats how its supposed to be.
It wasn't too crowded at lunch...but it was starting to fill up by the time we were leaving. (got there around 11:45am). -
Review from David W.
Tustin, CA
11/24/2010 6 Check-ins Here
Meaty! The pastrami is as thick as your fist in the sandwich. So they offer a "Lite" sandwich with "only" five ounces of meat. The Lite is more than meaty enough for me.
The secret on the menu is the chili. Tommy takes the chunks and ends left over from slicing meat for the sandwiches and tosses them into the chili 'til it's chock full of big chunks of pastrami, corned beef, and brisket. It's flavorful and spicy but not so much so that it singes the taste buds off your tongue.
But it's not the volume of the meat that makes Tommy Pastrami special, it's the quality of the ingredients. The pastrami is lean and well seasoned, the pickles are crisp and sour, the potato salad is at once smooth and chunky, the rye bread is freshly baked on site, and the deli mustard makes French's taste like pablum. -
Review from DeAnn O.
Irvine, CA
9/21/2011
QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY !!! Yes their prices are a little higher than "The Hat" but you pay for what you get. They use good quality meats. Try the pastrami chili. I was presently surprised. I always look forward to cold winter days when i order this to go and have it for dinner with corn bread. Yummy !!!
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Review from Cliff C.
10/28/2009 2 Check-ins Here
When I think of deli names, "Mort's," "Al's" or even "Wolfie's" (on Miami Beach) come to mind. These are deli names. Tommy Pastrami is a porn name. It almost sounds too goofy to be any good.
I got the combo with the original pastrami on rye and added provolone. Came with a drink and my choice of sides so I tried their homemade potato salad.
The sandwich was actually pretty good. Meat was juicy but not wet. Not too much fat or gristle. There could've been more meat for nearly $9, but, oh look, it came with a pickle. Bread was soft and fresh, too. A solid B+ on the sandwich.
The potato salad was good, but I could see where some people would say it's too salty. Me like. A- on the salad.
For a deli here in the OC, Tommy Pastrami is pretty good despite the dumb name. Bonus: it's not far from my house. Overall, I give this place a B-.
I'll likely be back when I crave a deli sandwich and don't feel like flying to NYC or S. Florida. -
Review from Kevin F.
2/24/2010
Overall, a very delicious meal from sandwich to fries. The pastrami sandwich was huge (they give you a small or large option) but even the small option is quite filling. I got my usual combo of pastrami on rye, and with some deli mustard, it was amazing. The fattiness content on this pastrami sandwich was not bad; not as overwhelming as the Hat but still more than my favorite place, Jerry's Deli. In general, a little more fat than I wanted, but still alright.
However, for a small sandwich and some fries, it cost me $10. Indeed, for a "sandwich" shop or deli, this place is not cheap. And the small portion is small; there's definitely a "this is it?" moment when you get it. What drives my decision then to get lunch at Tommy Pastrami is will my craving for a pastrami sandiwch be so much that I don't care that for $10 I could have gotten more food.
