As you can imagine, any time the grape vine brings word of a tasty Rueben, my cohort and I make note and do our damn best to try it. This was the case with The Modern Cafe on Western Avenue on the North Side, with the source of the rumor being said establishment's own menu. "Reuben - Award Winning" right there on the paper in front of me. I've seen this particular claim before, and have always wondered "What award? And how do I sign up to be a judge?" Which was a question I intended on asking the bartender, but decided against it when he barely acknowledged my willing-to-give-him-money-in-exchange-for-food-and-drink existence.
Once ordered, the sandwich arrived quickly, and we immediately noted the structure, liking the way it was methodically built. Kraut in the middle, working out to the meat, cheese and dressing. I assume this was done to keep the bread from getting all soggy, which was the type of attention to detail that I appreciate.
The sauerkraut was really good, having a great combination of tang and texture. The corned beef was mediocre, appearing to be an average deli-style meat, though I did enjoy the thickness of the cut. No complaints about the Swiss, it was the right flavor and amount, not too sharp, but still prominent.
The Thousand Island dressing... to me this is the make-or-break component of the sandwich, needing the perfect combination of ingredients to deliver that tang that brings it all together. Sadly it was the Achilles' heel of this sandwich, and based on my limited knowledge on what makes up Thousand Island, it was extremely deficient in the relish department. It just lacked the necessary zip that marries it together, the final layer that brings it all home. The rye had a nice flavor, though I think the sandwich grill that it was prepared on may have moved the texture towards slightly over-toasted.
So with all that being said, I'm really wishing now that I had inquired about what award this sandwich had won, as it didn't really impress me or my fellow Reuben critic. We sat, we chewed, we compared notes, and came to the consensus that it had earned a 4 or 5 out of 10. A very, very middle of the road, take it or leave it sandwich, at best. Which really was a bummer, as we were both excited to be impressed.
On the upside, I highly recommend the Mediterranean Layer Dip, it was amazing and the highlight of the visit.
Upcoming: Bado's, Monterey Pub, West End Cafe, and Gullifty's to name a few.
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