Traveling Feast

Alarmingly, we may have to try even more Reubens for our progressive lunch to be truly comprehensive.  By my count, we now have TEN contenders.  One friend travels up to Deerpark for the Shagnasty’s version with shredded corned beef, and I found out that the O’Doherty’s in the valley sports a different bread than its sibiling in downtown Spokane.

Lunch at the Davenport’s Palm Court revealed a Reuben on their menu, and a restaurant owner in town tells me that his Reuben of choice is to be found at Jack and Dan’s over by Gonzaga.

Objective criteria is another concern.  It seems we need to rank the meat, the bread, the sauce, and the kraut as well as the overall impression.  Anything else we should pull out for specific comment?

We still have a space or two in the van if you want to pile in.

A Facebook request for REUBEN RUN votes produced some fun commentary.

Heather Estridge and Amanda Hyman weighed in in favor of O’Doherty’s Irish Grille.

Heather: “Ok, so it’s been a while but I loved the Reuben at the Irish pub downtown, O’Doherty’s.”
Amanda: “I vote for O’Doherty’s too…I always order it when I go there!”

Amanda also added: “Latah Bistro makes a good one too.”

Next came Mr. Benson with a vote for the Wall Street Diner on the near northside:

Kevin: “Oh! The Wall Street Diner knows how to make a good one. Let me know if you need more “reviewers”. YUM!!”

Kelley Damon confesses to regular visits to the Elk Public House for her Reuben fix:

Kelley: “My vote is the Elk. I had at least 100 during my last pregnancy! Love those cravings.”

And Blythe Thimsen suggests a second possible Reuben rivalry in close proximity.  In Browne’s Addition the Elk and Cafe Marron go head-to-head across Cannon Street.  Blythe says that the Reuben at Chaps is also a contender, and this creates a parking lot sandwich smack-down between countrified Chaps and upscale Latah.

Blythe: “No need to continue the voting, I have the answer – it is at Chaps – (across from Latah Bistro)”

Any place else we need to consider?  We have seven sandwiches on the list thus far.

Today… halfway through an animated description of a disastrous Reuben experience… I realized I need to find the absolute best Reuben in Spokane.  To do this, I need your help.  Let me know what shop in town turns out your favorite Reuben.

The plan is the recruit 3-4 fellow testers and go on a REUBEN RUN at lunch in the near future.  At each place identified as having a respectable Reuben, we will split a sandwich, make notes, and then move on… testing the top 4-5 sandwiches in town back-to-back.  So I need to know where to go to find serious contenders.  You are also welcome to let me know if you want to join in.  I’ll take as many as fit in the van.

Here are the restaurants on the list so far:

• Cafe Marron in Browne’s Addition
• The Elk Public House in Browne’s Addition
• Hill’s Restaurant and Lounge downtown
• O’Doherty’s Irish Grille downtown

O’Doherty’s calls theirs a Holligan & Hannigan and notes that if you can only eat one sandwich in Spokane, this is the baby to try.  We’ll put that to the test.  Where else do we need to visit?