Cafe Shenkin

I will start this off with the caveat that although this is called a "Rubes" it is technically not a reuben. This was clear upon reading the menu:
Toasted Rye sandwich filled with Pastrami (tick);
Sauerkraut (tick);
Lettuce (eeerr...);
Tomato (what?);
Onion (now you're just messing with me); and
American Mustard served with Pickles (the pickles were not actually in the sandwich).

I didn't know how to take this. If I judge it on its resemblance to what a reuben should be then it scores an all time low. Lettuce (and a LOT of lettuce) and tomato have no place in a reuben sandwich and this coupled with the fluffy light as a feather bread is just disappointing. However, if I wanted a pastrami and salad sandwich on-the-go, this would have filled the hole.

Where is the cheese? What is the unidentified purple pickled object on the micro-plate surrounded by olives and a slice of gherkin? Why does it come with a knife and fork?

It makes me confused just writing about it so I will stop there. This cafe has great food, just skip the "Rubes".

4/10

Website: Cafe Shenkin

Single Origin - CBD

Single Origin, or "Single O" for short is one of Sydney's leaders in making the most out of the humble coffee bean. Nestled among many other quick lunch fixes along York St is the bite sized spot where you can satisfy your caffeine addiction and grab something to eat on the go.

The Reuben is listed under the N.L.T (Next Level Toasties) list, at $14, and is simply listed as: smoked wagyu, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, green salad. The lack of gherkin was a bit upsetting but the green side salad partially made up for it. The bread was king even though it was a sourdough and not rye, with the perfect balance of crunch on the outside and soft in the middle. The wagyu was good, but paled in comparison to 2042's (in Newtown) smoked wagyu and felt more like a deli pastrami style. There also needed to be more of it to really beef up the filling (pardon the pun), and the same goes for the kraut and cheese. The upside of this was that it didn't leave me with reuben regret, which is often experienced after devouring a more sizeable counterpart. The dressing was nowhere to found and seeing as it wasn't listed as an ingredient on the menu board it probably has never made an appearance.

This reuben was not designed to be a monster, but a simple lunch solution. The lack of gherkin and dressing really let this down, but the bread was spot on.

7.5/10

Website: Single Origin Roasters

Daisy's Milkbar

Daisy's Milkbar in Petersham is like stepping into a time warp back to the days of red frogs and milkshakes after school. Behind the counter are a selection of lollies for purchase just in case you don't get your fill from the free plate of mixed lollies which does the rounds to people who are waiting for a table. The free cordial stand is irresistible, offering standard flavours along with that overly sticky sweet green lime flavour. You know the one.

The Reuben ($14) is a delight and oh-so filling. I was lucky enough to dine with company who also wanted a Reuben, so we ordered one each of the fresh and toasted variety and went halvies - the toasted version came out victorious. The fresh one was also delicious, but there's something special about toasted bread and melted cheese on....almost anything. The meat is generous, layered between sauerkraut just the way it should be, gherkins and dressing. I tried to fault it, but my tastebuds knew better. 

 

Best contender so far - the only criticism is the single cheese slice. The cheese is really tasty but another slice wouldn't go astray. If you have room, the malt milkshake is highly recommended.

9/10

Website: Daisy's Milkbar