Readers Choose Brian's For a Great Sandwich

Sandwich, sandwich, where to go for a good sandwich in Los Altos?

Readers chose in .

Brian's received 31 percent of the 69 votes cast (or 22 votes) in a late week surge that moved it past and , which were making strong showings. Those two downtown Los Altos restaurants tied at 11 votes, or 15 percent of the total.

Brian Whitlock, whose family first started serving many of those sandwiches in the Los Altos Coffee Shop in 1977, credits Brian Restaurant's loyal customers. Los Altos Coffee Shop closed after Brian's opened in Rancho, but the best parts of the menu moved with Brian's, along with the coffee shop's following, he said. There are more than 15 sandwiches on the menu, mostly the traditional standards people crave—Reuben, Club, French Dip and avocado—both hot and cold.

Los Altos Patch asked the owners or managers of the top three restaurants to name their favorite sandwich at their place:

• Brian Whitlock, owner, : My favorite sandwich is 'The Club'—sliced turkey breast, cheese, tomatoes, bacon, lettuce, stacked in a triple deck. "We have hot sandwiches but I like the Club. The bacon is really good."
• Mary Heffernan, owner, : "My favorite sandwich is 'Mary's Special!' A light, veggie option for lunch and pairs well with our homemade soup of the day. It's a toasted English muffin with Dijon, sliced avocado and organic cucumbers. Yum."
• Joe Lobo, manager of : "We have a 'Jamaican Jerk Chicken' sandwich that I really, really love. It has 20 different spices—we mix our own jerk chicken sauce—and it's a hot sandwich."

As Patch's inaugural poll, consider this a snapshot. We hope readers (and customers) will begin to weigh in on our weekly polls on their choice to go for all things Los Altos.

Among the rest of the restaurants that received votes:

, with 9 votes or 13 percent; in south Los Altos, which had the early lead, and ended the week with 7 votes or 10 percent; had 4 votes, or 5 percent; had two votes; and , and had one vote each.

Not satisfied by one-click polls? Have your say—in full—by reviewing your favorite spots in your own words.

yourself on on Los Altos Patch.

And you can review any of the restaurants listed here and on Patch Places by going to the page, and clicking on "Rate this business" (next to the stars) at the top.

Coming Monday: Preschools (tell us which ones you'd like to be on the poll)