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Health & Fitness

FOOD REVIEW: Tutor and Spunky's Deli

Tutor and Spunky's Deli is open daily and serves a huge array of sandwiches, plus soups, salads, smoothies, and desserts at the corner of Blue Lantern and PCH.

With everyone home for the holidays, but going in a million different directions, my daughter suggested Tutor and Spunky’s Deli as an idea for take out this week. I had never been to this little deli, located at the corner of Blue Lantern and PCH. It is fairly non-descript from the outside.

Inside, I would say it is beach-y casual, with an emphasis on casual. The walls are decorated with quite a few Sports Illustrated swimsuit covers, some signed by the actual models. There is a large wooden surfboard on the wall, with the words “Submarine Sandwiches” painted on it, and nearly covered with decals. A large, plush Coca-Cola polar bear sits on a beverage refrigerator. An area of one wall is labeled “pole vaulters’ corner” and features several photos of accomplished pole-vaulters, along with the owner, who apparently also did some pole-vaulting back in the day. Most remarkable is an area in the attached dining room where there is a display of several books authored by the restaurant’s owner, which are available for sale.

After seeing all that there was to see, it was time to order. The menu is large, offering an appealing variety of sandwiches. The main options include albacore, bacon, bologna, capicolla, corned beef, chicken, chicken salad, egg salad, ham, meat balls, pastrami, peanut butter, roast beef, salami, sausage and turkey. Veggie sandwiches are also available, of course. Bread choices include baguettes, croissants, or a variety of sliced bread, including gluten-free bread. Sandwiches can be made on a tortilla as a wrap or in lettuce as a lettuce wrap.

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In addition to sandwiches, patrons can choose from five different green salads in a large or small size, including garden, chicken salad, albacore, Cobb and Caesar. They also offer fresh macaroni, potato and pasta salads.  Chili and other soups are available. For those with a sweet tooth, they have chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake (including a gluten-free version), root beer floats, milkshakes and sundaes. Bagels, fresh juices and smoothies are also featured.

My daughter had been there before and knew that she wanted Rosa’s Best, which is turkey, avocado, bacon and Provolone. My husband opted for Derek’s Special, prepared with roast beef, turkey and cheese. I selected the tuna melt. My son did not find anything on the menu that he loved, so he made up his own, and ordered turkey, bacon, lettuce and tomato on a white baguette.

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It took a few minutes for the four sandwiches to be prepared, but the ladies behind the counter carefully wrapped them for us to take home. Had we wanted to eat in, Tutor and Spunky’s has a large dining room with plenty of seating, and also offers some outside seating.

At home, we opened our sandwiches, and they all looked good. They were all quite large with lots of meat. My son’s sandwich was overflowing with bacon and was on a huge baguette. My daughter’s sandwich came with lots of fresh avocado along with all the other ingredients, and was also on a huge roll. My tuna melt, was not grilled, which surprised me. Instead, it was lightly toasted, but the cheese was melted. The tuna salad was good, and had some sweet pickle in it, which was a nice touch.

It also had large slices of tomato and shredded lettuce. My husband enjoyed his sandwich too, although I think he would have preferred his toasted bread a little more toasted.

We liked our visit to Tutor and Spunky’s. The menu has lots of choices, including some healthy options. The ingredients are fresh and the portions are large. The atmosphere is unique, fun and very relaxed. The deli is open Monday-Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For the complete menu, www.tutorandspunkys.com.

I give Tutor and Spunky’s Deli 3 ¼ Patches out of 5.

 

 

 

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