Bowery to Williamsburg: 16 Oliver Lane Melbourne

So the whole quitting bread thing didn't last very long but oh my was the lapse worth it! The Bowery serve up some damn fine pastrami on rye with pickles and sauerkraut. The pastrami was just like what my grandma used to make (and torture Senor Gringo with - she was convinced a grown man could easily finish 1kg of meat in five days - the poor thing ate it for breakfast and lunch for the whole trip). The meat was so clearly real actual meat, you could see the grain of the meat and there was a line of fat along the edge, which was easily removed. It was so very very tasty - sweet and salty and smoky all at once. 

Senor Gringo ordered a Philly Cheese Steak. It was apparently suitably greasy without being sickly and the peppers and mushrooms nicely offset the cheesy-ness. 

Only problem is, we were not the only ones to figure out that the Bowery offeres tasty, good quality NY-esque food. The cafe is packed, you wait close to ten minutes for a table at lunch time and it can get very loud. Unless you are seated outside probably don't plan on catching up with a long lost friend for that much needed conversation. 

The staff are very accommodating, even for the fussy eaters amongst us (my sandwich needed a couple of modifications and even though they were so busy they got it right). 

Seating is mostly at a long communal bench, with a few smaller tables inside and out. The menu is on black boards on the wall and changes even during mealtimes (some dishes were added and others removed as they went). There are a couple of vegetarian options, vegans would have to survive on garden salad and celiacs would have to make it well known if they have an issue with cross contamination (there are gluten free breads available for an extra charge or the salads are gluten free). 

Two ticks. Way better than a lot of food I've had in American (although I must confess since 97% of beef in America is raised in feedlots I usually go meat free unless I can get organic). If you want a good quality sarnie for lunch & you have the time I certainly recommend the Bowery to Williamsburg.