The Cook and Her Farmer
907 Washington Street [Map]
Oakland, CA 94607
Ph: (510) 285-6140
Hours: Mon 9am-4pm; Tue-Thu 9am-9pm; Fri-Sat 9am-10pm
Facebook: The Cook and Her Farmer
Price range: $$ Sandwiches ($11-$17)

For When You Want All the Melts

Harissa, a North African chili paste, adds a hint of earthy flavor to Saul's turkey melts. (Jenny Oh)

Feeling indecisive? Fortunately there's three tantalizingly good melts to choose from at Saul's, the venerable Berkeley restaurant and deli that's been serving up their distinctive take on Jewish food for over 25 years. Given their emphasis on seasonal, local and sustainable ingredients, their turkey melt's stuffed with BN Ranch turkey with mushrooms, Swiss cheese and a mildly spicy roasted pepper harissa sauce on grilled Acme sourdough bread (or choose your own.) They also offer the two standard classics: a tuna melt (with Oregon line caught albacore tuna salad with cheddar or Swiss on rye) and a patty melt. Along with their complimentary pickle plate, you'll also get coleslaw, potato salad or mixed green salad as a side; or sub in latkes, knishes, fries or fruit. You can also order just half a sandwich with or without a cup of soup for a lighter meal.

Saul's Restaurant & Delicatessen
1475 Shattuck Avenue [Map]
Berkeley, CA 94709
Ph: (510) 848-DELI (3354)
Hours: Breakfast & lunch served from 8am-2pm Mon-Fri; 8am-3pm Sat-Sun; Burgers and melts served all day after 11am; Dinner served from 4-10pm
Facebook: Saul's Deli
Twitter: @saulsdeli
Price range: $$ (Sandwiches $11-$17)

A Double Cheese Extravaganza

The Peasant Courtyard's Parmesan-encrusted patty melt is a real show stopper. (Jenny Oh)

True to its name, The Peasant’s Courtyard has a welcoming outdoor space as well as a cozy, cottage-like atmosphere indoors. One of their signature sandwiches is their show-stopping patty melt. Once you're done admiring its crunchy halo of Parmesan cheese on sourdough bread, you'll appreciate its rich fillings: melted Swiss cheese, sautéed onions and a half-pound of certified Angus beef that's slathered with Russian dressing. A side salad or French fries are included, or substitute in a cup of soup, onion rings or fruit for a few more dollars. They also serve an excellent tuna melt prepared with Albacore tuna, cheddar cheese, tomato, lettuce and sliced red onion on sourdough for a simpler alternative.

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