PDX Sandwich Week 2022 - Day 2 (No Day 1)

(Note: I had my list ready for the Sandwich Week hit list a week-plus prior to launch, but on account of SF Bay Area trip for Juneteenth Weekend, and not arriving back to PDX until evening of Day 1, I didn't get my first PDX Sandwich Week sandwich until Day 2.)

My first Sandwich Week sandwich was from the food cart Marty's Sandwich Shop, which is entirely out of the way for me for where I live (4+ miles way).  But, it worked out as a late lunch option after swinging by my storage unit out on SE 82nd Ave.

Marty's Sandwich Shop is in the Carts on Foster food cart pod on the 5200 block of Foster Street, in SE Portland. I had never been out for eats this way as a resident, other than for Portland Mercado Food Cart (7200 block of SE Foster). 

Per Sandwich Week, the following was the breakdown for the Bread over Alice Waters sandwich:

What's on it?: Lemon herb whipped feta, seasonal sautéed veggies, fresh greens dressed with balsamic vinaigrette, finished with garlic paste and olive oil.

The Inspiration: This sandwich was inspired by my culinary heroine, Alice Waters! She cooks with love and the ingredients speak for themselves! Highlighting the culinary bounties that surround us!

Address/Hours of Availability: 5205 SE Foster Rd / Tue, Thur, Fri 11 am–6 pm, Wed & Sat 12–6 pm

The Fine Print!

Allow Minors? Yes
Allow Takeout? Yes
Allow Delivery? No
Purchase Limit? Yes - 2 per customer; total of 30 sandwiches available daily
Meat or Vegetarian? Vegetarian

As a consumer I like supporting vegetarian-forward spots as well as LGBTQIA+ -supporting spots.  And, while I've to-date never been to Chez Panisse (Alice Waters restaurant in Berkeley, CA), I've been curious for more thoroughly understanding what she has created and her legacy.

So all that said, I was ready for my veg sandwich!

Driving up SE Foster I drove past the food cart pod and was able to park just one block back on a residential street.  The food cart pod itself had quite a few different options, but many were closed for Tuesday midday eats.

I found Marty's soon enough and was greeted nicely enough, and got to the point of ordering the Sandwich Week sandwich.  I was given the option of ordering the "half" sandwich for $8 (the Sandwich Week pricing) or ordering a whole sandwich for $13.  I went ahead and ordered a whole sandwich, figuring 2x sandwich for less than 2x the price was the better option.

So I paid.  And then... I waited.  Over 25 minutes total, from the point where I sat down at the nearest pod cart bench from their cart.

(View from where I was sitting, looking towards their cart and a utility building behind.)

At maybe 15 minutes past the girl who had taken my order came out of the pod to apologize for the wait and tell me that my sandwich would be coming soon, which was nice.

Notwithstanding that, (1) there were zero ppl waiting when I ordered my sandwich, (2) only a total of 3 separate ppl came up to order from them after I ordered, the 3rd duo right at when I got my sandwich no less, and (3) the older guy that ordered 2 Sandwich Week sandwiches after me (maybe 5 min after I sat down) got his two sandwiches maybe 2 minutes BEFORE I did.

With all that complaining out of the way, the sandwich itself was pretty underwhelming, once I finally got home and ate half of it.

I am glad I checked the seasonal veg in the sandwich -- ended up pulling out some unexpected onions.

 

Overall it ate like a VERY bread-forward... salad sandwich.  The sauteed veg got lost in the dressed greens and the overall quantity and thickness of the bread.  I got the tang of the feta cheese, I tasted the balsamic... but otherwise, was very forgettable.

Also, 2nd half eaten later evening after residing in the fridge for some hours (wrapped up decently enough), rendered the bread tough and kinda hard to eat.

Overall, wanted to like this place, but not going back any time soon even when in the area.  This place has stellar reviews online so I'm not sure why I had such a mediocre experience.  And I'm 2nd guessing myself for wondering if tipping "only" 15% for point of sale transaction landed me with this, but sorry... ppl are not getting more from me unless it's a sit-down restaurant with through-meal service, and I'm getting actual good service.  

So, on to the next.  Tomorrow awaits.