by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
European Street Café might just be Jacksonville's undisputed king of soups, salads and sandwiches, perhaps because it's been around for so long. Older locals remember when the place was called Mr. Dunderbak's Deli.
There are certain items that bring people back, such as the Beer-Cheese Soup served in a bread bowl, which is a favorite among local soup lovers. Locals who frequent a European Street (they are generally fiercely devoted to one location) also come back for the 2-6 pm Happy Hour. The sheer quantity and selection of beers available gives even the pickiest beer drinker enough choices. There are something like 150 bottled beers available and 20 beers on tap. Most of the beers are Euro imports, of course. The wine selection isn't too shabby either, though it isn't nearly as extensive as beers. Serious drinkers join their drink around the world club.
European Street's casual Euro-atmosphere draws its share of customers and during the holidays they get in influx of customers who are shopping for European specialty items such as chocolate. They also sell baskets, either pre-made or empty so you can customize it yourself. They always sell closeout wines that you can place in a gift basket, use as a party gift or just take home for yourself.
European Street might be a "venerable" Jacksonville institution, but they do adjust to changes. When the smoking ordinance passed a few years ago, most European Street locations added an outdoor covered area with tables.
Not all of the European Street Cafés are the same. You can find entertainment at the San Marco locale on most Thursday nights.
German food, such as bratwurst, knockwurst and a German potato salad (served warm) are part of the selections, as are Middle Eastern Dishes like kibbie and tabouleh.
The great thing about European Street is that they can place whatever ingredients they have available into your sandwich. Switch out cheeses or add cheese or double meat for just a little extra. Plus, under House Specialties, you can opt to put you sandwich fixin's on whatever you want: rye, pumpernickel, onion roll, sourdough pita, ciabotta roll, honey dark bread or honey-wheat flour tortilla.
Favorites include the Blue Max, featuring smoked pastrami, corned beef, sauerkraut, and melted Swiss cheese mixed with hot mustard and blue cheese dressing. For a twist on the club sandwich, give the Canadian Turkey Club a try.
New on the menu is the Turkey Parisian, a sandwich where you win in its struggle between sweet and savory. Turkey, brie, raspberry sauce, cucumber and lettuce all join in on a classy little croissant.
Under salads, the neighborhood choice is the shrimp salad bowl and in appetizers it's the warm brie, served with almonds, apple slices and French bread.
Don't miss the deli case on your way out. The desserts and cakes here are very, very good and they offer such strange cakes as the banana split, as well as gigantic, fresh-baked cookies.
Whatever you go for, make sure you visit a European Street Café at least once, it's a Jacksonville tradition.
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