Between the Bread

Sports and sandwiches go hand in hand — literally. So naturally, ESPN is hosting Fanwiches contest to discover America's greatest sports-inspired sandwich. Ike's Place has two sandwiches in the running: the Matt Caine (roast beef, salami, turkey, mozzarella sticks, Ike's dirty sauce, Ike's godfather sauce, avocado, and championship onion rings) and the Jim Rome, one of my personal favorites, pictured below.

The delicious Rome, made with turkey, avocado, cheddar, and red pesto, is one of the most conquerable sammies in the contest. Which is precisely why you should vote for it. Sports, after all, are about passion, and it's much easier to feel passionate about a well-made, delicious sandwich than a mere exercise in excess. Consider the The Adam Emmenecker Challenge from Des Moines, currently in the number one spot. It includes five pounds of sandwich — pork tenderloin, Angus steak burger, Texas brisket, apple wood bacon, and fried cheese, finished with buffalo chicken tenders and fries — that customers must eat in 15 minutes. Ugh.

Ike's Place, on the other hand, knows how to make excessive sandwiches (like the Matt Caine) that still sound and taste delicious. So go Ike's, and go vote!

Ike's sandwiches make great hangover food, so how appropriate that the recently shuttered sandwich shop is now operating out of a bar. C.W. Nevius reports that Ike is reopening today for lunch in the popular Castro bar and brunch spot Lime, known for its topless bartenders and bottomless mimosas.

Until Ike finds a new place, Ike's @ Lime will be serving lunch Monday through Saturday, via phone orders only. I think this calls for a postwedding sandwich on Monday. After all, shouldn't the wedding of sandwich lovers be sandwiched by sandwiches?

UPDATE: As of last night, Ike's Place is closed, for real this time. Apparently the late-night farewell had folks waiting in line until the wee hours. I wish Ike the best in finding a new location in San Francisco soon!

I really didn't think this would happen, but apparently the NIMBYs of this city are uglier and more self-involved than I could even imagine. As of today, Ike's Place is being evicted from its cozy nook in the Castro.

By 5 p.m., San Francisco's favorite sandwich shop will be forced to shut its doors, after grumpy neighbors complained that it was basically too popular. I just cannot understand why we would want to chase out a successfully, locally owned business that's guilty of nothing but bringing people to the neighborhood and, I guess, smelling like food — 'cause, you know, that's so rare for a restaurant. Ugh. I really don't really know what else to say. I just hope Ike's can find a new home where they are appreciated. A moment of silence for Ike's Place. UPDATE: A Between the Bread tipster who just stopped by Ike's says the business has at least one more day, because the court mistakenly evicted Ike, not Ike's Place LLC. Does anyone know if this is true?

• Roam Artisan Burgers earn of a moment of silence — The Hamblogger
• The Reuben at Morty's deli keeps your wondering for hours — SFoodie
• Impressive pressed sammie: blackberry brie panini — YumSugar
• Fish sandwich faceoff: McDonald's vs. Wendy's — Serious Eats
• Ina Garten's ultimate grilled cheese induces swoons — Smells Like Home
• Caprese sandwich: no bread required — Insanewiches
• Could Ike's find a home in the Lower Haight? — Haighteration

I was really hoping that I'd never have to write about this Ike's drama again, after the beloved sandwich shop survived summary judgment in its ongoing legal battle — which is basically a lawsuit punishing Ike's for being so damn tasty and popular. But justice may not served after all.

Today, the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that Ike's faces eviction on Aug. 26. Apparently, owner Ike Shehadeh was originally granted a permit to run just a coffee store, not a sandwich shop.

The eviction was mostly prompted by the long lines and food smells that were bothering the neighbors. Unless the issue is resolved some other way — which is could might be — Ike's Place will have to relocate. I know Ike wanted to move to a bigger place, but being forced out probably wasn't his method of choice.

Swallow your sandwich and breathe a sigh of relief: Ike's Place has made it through the first round of its legal hurdles. I haven't been reporting every new development in this increasingly complicated case, in which the landlord is demanding $1 million and threatening to evict the stellar sandwich shop because its booming business creates huge crowds. But I am glad to report that today, summary judgment concluded in favor of Ike's.

That means the possibility of an eviction with just three days' notice is off the table. According to SFoodie, "Ike's landlord will have to decide whether he wants to take the case to trial, or engage in some kind of settlement." I, for one, hope this is the last we hear about it, for the sake of Ike's and sandwiches everywhere.