I’ve heard quite a few things about Ike’s place, or colloquially, just Ike’s. It has a reputation for messy, delicious, sandwiches among high school students at both San Ramon, and Monte Vista. But I decided to take a look for myself whether or not Ike’s could make such a claim to such a reputation.

I did a little research and found that Ike’s is a chain. It may be new to Danville, but Ike’s has a much deeper heritage in San Francisco. While mild-mannered Danville is quite a change from the hustle and bustle of SF, no one ever told Ike’s. The menu sprawls across the walls and windows. If you’re next in line you better know what you want! Ike’s draws in the crowds, and certainly knows how to handle them. But don’t be intimidated by the occasional shout to keep things going, or the rigorous adherence to line protocol, the employees at Ike’s are really nice, and love to talk- after their shift. The only real hiccup I found in my ordering experience was the creeping emptiness of $22 leaving my wallet.

The sandwiches themselves were fantastic. I ordered the Matt Cain, and the Super Mario. They were both messy, and the experience was somewhat marred by the lack of accommodations. There were too few tables, and only by sheer luck did I manage to snag one just as a couple was leaving. Also, while Ike’s claims a passing health rating, those who are picky about who handles their food may want to stare out the window until their sandwich is ready.  I’m not very picky about such things, but there were little things here and there that may be off-putting such as a trash can directly touching the cutting board, sloppy preparation (which is to be expected, to a degree), and a possible lack of hairnets. But it was nothing that seemed too condemning.

Its taken me two trips to fully take in the extensive menu, (which all employees seem to have memorized) and it truly is extensive. With 80+ different sandwiches, some with differences as slight as, “hold the mustard” and some extravagantly unique. Each one is named just as differently from the “SF Giants” to the “Ménage A trois” to the “Barry Z.” it’s fairly probable you’ll find one you like. Their Dirty Sauce, a soon to be patented ingredient, is the equivalent of In N Out’s “secret sauce”. The Dirty Sauce adds a little something extra, they practically saturate some of their sandwiches with it. While I’m not crazy about The Dirty Sauce, it does seem to, in my experience, balance out the flavors. Without giving too much away, it can be said that a “secret menu” may exist, but I can’t reveal too much.

Ike’s is a one of a kind, sloppy sandwich shop. With its own definite culture, and hole in the wall appearance, it definitely stands out. The only real problems were a lack of seating, possible hygiene violations, and a mildly inflated price point. The sandwiches truly do carry the shop from C to an A grade shop. And they have quite a few sandwiches to choose from. So, if you focus only on the flavor, and don’t mind taking it to- go, and don’t mind a mess, Ike’s is the place for you.