Papas Downtown Deli

Over-rated.  Depressingly so.  I've gone here about two dozen times in the last three years.

The food is *fine*.  It approaches fresh-ish. But average and tending towards blah (meaning, offerings are unoriginal / not creative) from the start, and then aren't executed exceptionally. Nothing seems to be seasoned appropriately (except with catsup or dressing applied after the fact) as cooked or prepared.  No salt, no pepper, even.  It's all blah.

For the price, (and having to deal with the "We're H-E-R-E!  We C-H-E-E-R!!! staff, sorry.  They make me want to do myself in with the nauseating nauseous-making "Children of the Corn" bit.)  Not worth it.  

I took a risk and took an out of town friend here and was properly mortified with the result.  Spending twenty five bucks on two sandwiches on cheap Sunbeam-style white bread, crap potato chips that we didn't want in the first place, an entirely unseasoned and awful side, and one beverage.  Not good.

I eat here almost every day for lunch now.  I don't know exactly how many times I've eaten here, but I'm sure it is over 200, and I've never had a negative experience.  I have found their food to be consistently fresh, and their service consistently friendly and fast.  To top it off, they make a different dessert every day and they are good at making desserts!  Now that they are making their own bread, I buy a loaf every Monday.  The family and I like it much better than store-bought bread.

Cheesy tomato soup is the best!  They also have excellent sweet tea.  Their sandwiches are all fresh made  and the desserts are fresh homemade treats.  My favorite sandwich is the Golden Gate chicken.  For a salad, ask to substitute the lemon-almond chicken salad on the chicken salad chef.  The daily specials range from special salads to deep dish burritos.  I've had the Harry's Humongous fish sandwich, but the last time, the fish was dry.

They've recently switched from buying bread from a regional bakery to making their own.  I've been very disappointed in the switch from the great whole wheat yeast rolls  they serve with a cup of soup to their attempt at them, which were over-raised and dry.  Lately they've been using slices of wheat bread that is a little dry and lacks much flavor instead.