Lou's Cafe: This family run cafe in San Francisco's Richmond District is exactly what a good sandwich shop should be - incredibly welcoming, with fresh, filling sandwiches at honest prices.
Ramana Brodeth opened the cafe with her sons, TJ and Mark, in 2010, and you'll likely find at least one of them behind the counter, catching up with locals as they take orders and put the finishing touches on sandwiches.
And what sandwiches they are. Choose from more than a dozen options like the Ami-cado ($6.79), a decadent combination of pastrami, salami, avocado and pepper jack cheese on a sweet roll, and the LLB Special (roast beef, turkey, ham, Swiss and provolone, $6.79). Or create your own from a selection of breads and Boar's Head meats ($5.99).
Either way, Lou's will make and toast your sandwich to order, and it's the sauces that separate them from the average deli. The combination of Lou's special sauce - a garlic and herb mayonnaise - and Lou's olive-oil-based jalapeno spread gives the sandwiches a spicy, savory kick.
Lou's also serves breakfast sandwiches, soups and salads, and has a coffee bar featuring Illy espresso. Seating is limited, and many patrons opt to grab-and-go. And while it's crowded during lunch and weekends, fear not: The line moves quickly.
Lou's Cafe: 5017 Geary Blvd., S.F. (415) 379-4429. www.louscafesf.com. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
