All Star Sandwich Bar

Had another simply amazing Beef on Weck sandwich last evening at the All-Star Sandwich Bar in Cambridge, Massachusetts, before going to a show at the House of Blues across the river in Boston. Beef on Weck is a regional specialty from Buffalo, NY, that was invented around 1882-1885 when a German immigrant baker from the Palatinate region began baking a sandwich-sized variant of a Rhenish kümmelweck roll in the bakery that he and his brother established in Buffalo's German neighborhood. Kümmelweck means "kümmel (caraway) + weck (Palatinate German dialect for roll, sometimes weckerl), and kümmelweck is a slightly toothier roll similar to a Kaiser roll in shape and proportions but baked with a liberal sprinkling of pretzel salt and caraway on top of the roll. The sandwich itself is a fairly simple but amazing thing: just the kümmelweck, a large portion of thinly sliced rare to medium-rare slow-cooked roast beef, topped with a thick layer of horseradish (not horseradish sauce or horseradish aioli). The cut side of the top of the roll is traditionally dipped quickly into a hot au jus to moisten the roll but not make it completely soggy (although many places that serve Beef on Weck now serve the au jus on the side to allow the customer to pour as much or as little as they like onto the top roll before eating - unfortunately this encourages a lot of people to dip their sandwich constantly into the au jus...it's not a French Dip). There's something magical about the combination of the salt, the caraway, the horseradish and the beef that is a classic example of something that is far more than the sum of its parts. I run a strange Facebook group dedicated to this sandwich that started out in 2007 as an exercise in learning how to set up a group on social media. It now has 20,000 members, has more than 200 posts a day, gets 150,000 views a month, and we've located and mapped more than 600 places around the US and Canada that serve this once-local but now spreading king of sandwiches. (https://www.facebook.com/share/3QDLgaKniaQoztv9/?mibextid=K35XfP)Having tried Beef on Weck in many places, I can say that the All-Star Sandwich Bar's BOW is one of the best anywhere and is, in fact, better than the vast majority of "weckeries" in Western New York, where it was born and where it's hard to find a restaurant or bar that doesn't pride itself on their sandwich. The All-Star Sandwich Bar's Beef on Weck pairs a massive amount (8 oz or more) of thinly cut, melt-in-your-mouth and extremely tasty beef cooked medium-rare to rare with an amazingly rich and flavorful au jus, horseradish to clear away any allergies and bring tears to your eyes, and a roll easily 5-6" across that had just the right crunch to the crust, a body that was soft and fresh but also dense enough to take the au jus, horseradish, and meat juices without falling apart, topped with a perfect mixture of salt and caraway that had been baked onto the roll from the start rather than glued onto a bakery-bought Kaiser roll. Delicious! Served with a good dill pickle spear and cole slaw; washed down with a Harpoon IPA.The only downside was that when I arrived at 7:30 on a Sunday the staff told me they were only doing takeout from 7:00 until their 8:00 closing and asked if that was OK. I could see that they were frantically filling cups of coleslaw and other things for a big party or to prep for the next day's lunch rush, so I agreed and had a picnic in my car. Otherwise, you'd have a picture of another knock-it-out-of-the-park BOWs from one of the best weckeries in the US.The All-Star Sandwich Bar is anything but pretentious in appearance but they make 21 different sandwiches and 5 different hamburgers, 5-6 specials a day, 20 different sides, and serve beer (in cans ) and non-alcoholic drinks. And, yet, I've never wanted to try anything else on the menu because the Beef on Weck at $14.00 is worth not only the hour-long drive from home but also the horrific search for parking nearby on Cambridge's residential streets.

A long time ago, I was out at a fancy dinner and asked the waiter for suggestions on where to eat around Boston. He offered up All Star Sandwich Bar. I went a few weeks later and really liked it. I started going all the time. Then, probably because I had a son, I just stopped.Well Monday, I went back, and it is a shame I went so long without eating there because I really enjoyed my sandwich. I got the Mr. Miyagi (love the name) which is Sweet chile ginger hoisin glazed pulled pork, Thai basil, cilantro, English cucumber, pickled daikon radish, carrots, fried egg and sesame sriracha aioli on a grilled sesame brioche roll. It was excellent.My wife got the cubano which I have enjoyed in the past and she said it was very good. My son had a grilled cheese and we all shared an order of fries. Other sandwiches I liked back when I used to go more often include the Beef on Weck, The Atomic Meatloaf, and occasionally a funky burger.Even though there is table service, the atmosphere is casual and the service is relaxed, so come as you are. The sandwiches are about $15 each and come with coleslaw and a pickle. Inman Square isn't the easiest place to park but there is a lot on Springfield Street that sometimes has spots. Bottom line, if you want a good, not-so-ordinary sandwich, All Star Sandwich Bar is a good place to go. If you like it, you can thank that waiter who told me about it, whoever he was.

Second time ordering a sandwich from here and once again it was EXCELLENT! I got the island jerk chicken melt this time, 10/10 would recommend. Delivery was quick. Sandwich was $16, good size, came with pickle and coleslaw, I feel that the value is excellent for the quality of the sandwich. Absolutely would recommend All Star Sandwich Bar and would order from here again.

Food was so delicious. Jerk sandwhich is so good. Spicy and flavorful and coleslaw and pickle is perfect to cook it down. The hell fries are not for the weak. Personally they were to spicy but from the bites I had they were seasoned very well. Service is ok but makes sense for a order at counter type place

During my recent visit to All Star Sandwich Bar, I had a mid experience that didn't quite blow me away. Let's start with the service. Unfortunately, I have to admit that it was on the slower side with me really being the only one in the restaurant. There was probably a lot more take out orders that I didn't see. But still, I'm not expecting sandwiches to be one of the longer prep items out there.Now, let's talk about flavor. I have to be honest, the sandwiches at All Star Sandwich Bar didn't leave a lasting impression on my taste buds. While they were decent, they lacked that wow factor I was hoping for. I was expecting bold and distinctive flavors, but they fell a bit flat and didn't quite deliver that satisfying burst of taste.Another aspect that I found slightly disappointing was the dollar value. Considering the price I paid, I didn't feel like I got the best bang for my buck. Perhaps it's a result of the current state of inflation, but it left me feeling a little underwhelmed in terms of portion size and overall value.All Star Sandwich Bar does offer a diverse range of sandwiches, but based on my experience, it didn't quite hit the mark in terms of service, flavor, and value for money. For me, personally, I believe there are other local establishments that offer a more satisfying overall experience.

I stopped by during the Inman Square craft market. I live close by and I can't believe I haven't come here sooner! This place boasts a wide variety of classic and creative sandwiches. We got the Mr. Miyagi, Island Jerk Chicken Melt, and hell fries. I highly recommend the Mr. Miyagi if you enjoy bahn mi. Our server was quick and attentive despite the amount of diners and our food arrived quickly.

I had two sandwiches the turkey and meatloaf. Tbh I loved both of them a lot. And nothing can beat the hell fries

All Star Sandwiches in Boston is a great spot if you're in the mood for a big, tasty sandwich. The portions are huge, so definitely come with an appetite! They've got a nice range of options, including solid vegetarian choices, which is always a plus.The service was quick, which is awesome if you're in a hurry or just don't want to wait around. The ambiance is pretty laid-back--casual diner vibes, making it a comfortable place to hang out and enjoy your meal. Whether you're into classic sandwiches or something more creative, there's a lot to choose from. Overall, it's a great place to grab a filling bite!

Their mushroom burgers are awesome and the coleslaw is very good, but their fries are inedible. The fries are very mushy and tasteless. If they had better fries, this place would be 5 stars. Shake shack has much better fries.

Best sandwich shop in Cambridge, priced right, very friendly staff excellent choice for lunch