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Step into Sandwich Story and you will find a quaint little mom-and-pop shop that is bustling with noise and people.This café at 12 Harkness Ave., almost looks invisible from the lack of an attractive sign, something that might prove useful when getting potential customers ushered inside.

The decor is modest, yet scattered. There does not seem to be a theme to the setting. A green wall is embellished with a poem and at the back there is a bar counter with stools. The wall that the bar area faces looks somewhat similar to hardwood floor. Three dimly lit lamps of brown, red and green hang above. Seating can be rather limited, especially during lunchtime.

Sandwich Story’s signature items are sandwiches, but it also offers salad, breakfast, spaghetti, coffee and smoothies. The sandwiches on the menu are divided into cold and hot, but they feature a “Story Special” category, which is listed from Chapter One to Chapter Four.

Chapter Four is a turkey sandwich that comes with cranberry sauce and cream cheese. The choice of bread is the customer’s decision with an option of having it toasted. The toasted bread is tough around the crust; biting into it can be annoying, so be warned. Sandwich Story is not meager with the portion of turkey that is presented with the sandwich, so the meat ratio is decent and does not taste processed. The cranberry sauce and cream cheese seems to be an unusual combination for a sandwich, but not when you take a bite. It does not give an overwhelming taste at all, so it’s worth a try.

“I came here a couple [of] weeks ago for the first time and I was very excited to come back. I feel good after eating here, as though I’ve been reborn eating a sandwich, especially turkey,” said Tabor Allen, 20, an art major who had a turkey sandwich on sourdough.

Allen was having lunch with his friend Chris Nuwak, 19. They had decided to meet up for lunch, specifically at Sandwich Story. In fact, it was Allen who called Nuwak in the morning. Nuwak describes the cafe as a “very nice place, [with] a very impressive bathroom, friendly service and well-constructed ambiance.”

“The portions are great. I like something that won’t kill me at a reasonable price,” said Nuwak.

For those who like beef, there is Irene’s Special, which is Korean barbecue on a sandwich. It’s not too greasy and the amount of meat is decent, although it would probably taste better if there was more flavor. The Barbecue Beef sandwich is similar to the Korean barbecue idea, the main difference is that there’s a lot more sauce and the meat was a little too greasy. It’s something you would find at Arby’s.

Hot sandwich items like the Grilled Chicken are delicious. The order can take about 10 minutes. The chicken is nice and warm when it comes to you. The veggie-to-meat ratio was decent, so it doesn’t feel like you are eating a bunch of bread when you are close to finishing your sandwich.

The drinks on the menu include coffee, fountain sodas (self-serve) and smoothies. The watermelon smoothie was not too appealing to the palate. The reddish color was definitely existent, but the taste was rather syrupy and awkward. It was like drinking a tub of watermelon-flavored syrup. It did not feel like something you would order again. Irene’s Iced Coffee was a little watered-down and just contained too much ice. If you need a drink, go with water or a fountain drink; those are probably a safer choice.

Despite the disappointing drink selection, the sandwiches offered at Sandwich Story are rather appetizing and the relaxed ambiance is welcoming to customers. It’s a convenient location for those who would like to avoid fast food outlets.

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