Ventura Sandwich Company

Ventura Sandwich Company

2700 Loma Vista Road

Ventura, CA 93003

Open 11am-6pm Mon-Fri, and 11am-3pm on Saturday.

Call to place your order: (805) 641-1915

The Ventura Sandwich Company has been off the parking lot of the Main Street branch of the $.99 Store for the last year, and though I've almost gone a few times, I'd never made it in until my Saturday visit.

To give you some reference, my favorite sandwiches here in town are from the Vons', where you can pick what you want on it and every 7th one is free. I don't really care for Subway, and though I think Jersey Mike's is okay, I don't generally feel compelled to go there.

The place was crowded when I walked in, but I think that at least four of the people I saw were working there. It was hard to tell, though, because it isn't a big place and two of the people, including one with her son, weren't behind the counter initially.

There were some people eating, though, and a short line to order. I felt like a hot sandwich, and even though I had a pastrami burger from The Hat a week before-which was great-I opted for the Hot Italian, an $8 sandwich that had pastrami, salami, and provolone. It comes with a pickle spear and a side salad, which I swapped for chips. No fountain drinks and the lack of Coca-cola products saw me drinking a bottled Pepsi, something that doesn't happen often.  

The girl at the counter seemed to be new and not overly friendly. Not unfriendly, but more concerned with trying to work the register. The two men behind the counter were the same way, making a sandwich but not really happy about it. Overall, the whole vibe was just, well, indifferent. 

The space itself was nothing special. There was some local photography for sale on the walls, but nothing that wowed me. It was all clean, almost sterile. I don't remember if music was playing or not, but if it was it made no impression on me. Plastic chairs and wooden tables, not a lot of eating space, the shop was ordinary.

My sandwich was good, the Boar's Head pastrami and salami working well together. The cheese was melted, and the lettuce, tomato and onions were all fresh, as was the wheat roll. But the question in my mind, even a week later, is, "Was the sandwich $8 good," and to that, I don't think so. The food was good, but the presentation was weak. On my way out, I tried to strike up a small conversation with the counter girl, but that fell kind of flat, and no one else who worked there looked interested in chiming in. In the end, it was $12 for lunch, and to me, if I'm spending more than $10, it better be special.

I prefer Coke or Dr. Pepper to Pepsi, and fountain drinks with lots of ice over bottles. If I really need a sandwich, I might go back. It just seemed a bit pricey for what it was.