The Legendary Little Lucca

The deli sandwich. The sub. The sando. The sammie. It's the perfect picnic food, the Italian-turned-American classic, the kitchen sink. People are passionate about their deli sandwiches. They have their preferred mom-and-pop shop, choice of bread (dutch crunch, always) and order in which ingredients are piled on (mayo on the top half, mustard on the bottom half, meat, then lettuce, then tomato, then onion, then pepperoncini).

To some it's a science, to others an art. Some will argue that a sub should be warmed, if not toasted, some will argue oil and vinegar are essential ingredients and some will argue that mayo and mustard should never be put on the same sandwich. But one thing that Bay Area deli lovers harmoniously agree on is that Little Lucca's famous Original Garlic Sauce belongs slathered on like there's no tomorrow.

Little Lucca Specialty Sandwich Shop has been slinging sandwiches since 1980, quickly rising to legend status amongst the locals. With the booming success of its historic South San Francisco location, the Burlingame shop was born (thank goodness). Bright yellow walls make the wait in the ever-present line tolerable, as does the promise of outstanding deliciousness. While it may not appear that those behind Little Lucca are making the best use of the long and narrow space, I have come to the conclusion that it was the only way to accommodate their long lines of loyal fans.

This is not your typical deli. While many of the offerings are pretty standard, its items like their famous homemade Original Garlic Sauce and Hot Pepper Sauce that keep people coming back. Rumor has it they're now bottling their secret sauces for sale at both deli locations.

The menu also offers up a few surprises, like the Friday special Lucca's Fish Combo, the Lucca's Hot Bird (Sausalito turkey, roasted green peppers, pepper jack cheese and cilantro) and the Southwestern (BBQ beef brisket, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese and BBQ sauce).Of course, if you're more of a classic deli kind of person, any sandwich can be made to order.

A variety of salads (pasta, potato and three bean), pickles and other daily specials are also available adjacent to the register, and it just keeps getting better as you move down the counter. A full ice cream freezer of classic flavors is situated perfectly by the exit, enticing customers on their way out. With chips, pretzels, a variety of sodas and flavored waters, Little Lucca is one of the few places where you can get too-much-to-eat for less than $15.

Little Lucca Specialty Sandwich Shop is a legend among kids, parents, local officials and tourists alike. That's something we can all agree on.