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Muffuletta, Cardero Bottega

I tried this place when I first moved into the neighborhood and I found it a bit lacking. Here is the post on that. However, as I had predicted, I stopped in again to pick up some essentials and decided to try their Muffuletta.

This is by far a more superior sandwich and judging from the options, probably their best.

The olive spread is what really kicks this one up a notch, as the deli meats and cheese are all pretty standard and the bread is good, but basic. No, it's the olive spread that ties it all together, a possibly made in house concoction that distinguishes this place from the rest. Well, they don't have much competition, there's a deli two blocks over that doesn't offer sandwiches (but better meat choices) and there's really nothing of its kind in the neighborhood, surprisingly, and yet, there's no real reason to go here when everything is so close. I hope they succeed though, and maybe a few more items like this one will make it more of a destination point.

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