my first reuben.
Okay, I’ve never eaten a reuben. A friend of mine ate one too close to Cross Country practice in high school and I’ve been turned off ever since. Today I realized what a shame that was when I ventured over to Locali in Hollywood.
For the last two days, I’ve been apartment searching, without much luck. I’m still getting to know many of the area’s and have pretty high standards of living. Someone asked what I was looking for and when I replied, “hardwood floors, a good amount of natural light, and large closets,” they said, “are you from the east coast?” I didn’t know those were east coast trademarks for apartment searching, but I guess I fit that stereotype in the renter’s eyes. In actuality, that was my least favorite apartment that I viewed today, and will not be calling back tomorrow. I did fall in love with one that was a good $500 per month over budget. While driving around West Hollywood, I saw a “for rent” sign, an open door, and just had to investigate. The kind old gentleman was still working on the new tiles in the bathroom, but this two bedroom with large closets and hardwood floors was heavenly. It even had a dining room connected to the kitchen and brand new kitchen appliances. He insisted on walking me around the apartment before telling me the price. That was not a good idea. Tomorrow I will be exploring Los Feliz and Silverlake. Hopefully I will have more luck (more square footage for the amount we aim to pay).
But back to the food…
After lunching with Lynn last week, I was intrigued by Locali, after hearing her rave about their reuben. Mid apartment searching, I decided to drive over for a quick pick me up. The cute little store/cafe was filled with all sorts of veggie goodness from raw desserts, liz lovely cookies, prepared salads, and kombucha. They even had refrigerated sprouted breads, faux-meats, and lots of dry goods.
I ordered half a sandwich with a side of the special of the day side salad, a mediterranean cole slaw. While it was prepared I looked around the space (Lynn has more photos of the interior and exterior). You would never have expected to find this little gem in a strip mall, but it really surprised me.
The Reuben can be made vegetarian or vegan with marinated tofu deli slices, melted swiss (or daiya mozzarella for the vegan choice), sauerkraut, & smothered with delicious homemade vegan russian dressing. Not usually a fan of rye, I loved this marbled rye bread.
The half sandwich was all I needed. It was warm and full of flavor. This is a sandwich I will definitely return for. It was one of the first times I’ve had a vegan deli slice I’ve enjoyed, and the daiya, sauerkraut, and russian dressing were a great contrast of tastes. The menu catered to both vegans and omnivores with antibiotic and hormone free meat and non-GMO meat alternatives. The produce is organic and local, as well as the bread. Other sandwiches I will be sure to go back for:
The ExtraVEGANza Panini- grilled vegetables, fresh spinach, and artichoke tapenade on six grain
The Hungry, Hungry Hippie- hummus, red pepper, arugula, & red onion on six grain
The Vegan BLT- tempeh bacon, lettuce, tomato, stone ground mustard, & vegan mayo on lightly toasted sourdough
The Baaadasss Breakfast Sandwich- vegan sausage patty, vegan cheddar, vegan chipotle sauce & maple syrup on multi-grain english muffin
The Sprouted Hemp Bagel Sandwich- vegan cream cheese, tomato, cucumber, greens, & onion on sprouted hemp bagel
The Vegan Brekkie Burrito- multi grain tortilla stuffed with scrambled tofu, vegan cheese, black beans, bell pepper, & red onion topped with vegan sour cream & chipotle
and those are just the sandwiches…
The kale salads massaged with olive oil, sea salt, lemon, walnuts, sun-dried tomatoes, walnuts and cayenne or cranberries, walnuts, and agave are drool-worthy. There are about 5 other vegan friendly salads and specials of the day. I couldn’t believe this menu. Too good be true? I will test that theory.
Oh Locali, I will return soon. Maybe with a meat-eater in tow, who is all for the ethically raised.
Other things:
-Do you have a favorite sandwich? Is it your own or from a restaurant? I wasn’t always a sandwich person, maybe because I was never a fan of deli meats. Since switching to a plant-based diet, I’ve grown much more fond of sandwiches. Give me some good bread, a nice spread, and some mouth-watering veggies, and I am good to go.
-Do you search for places that feature organic and ethical ingredients?
A Fresh Dille 
so glad you enjoyed the reuben! it really is wonderful. not so wonderful – their quinoa salad and their tempeh BLT – you can skip those. but i’ll happily sample other ones with you!
I want a Locali in Vermont!! Seriously – I’d kill for a Hungry, HUngry Hippie. I think Hummus is a foreign concept to restaurants around here. I asked for hummus once instead of a dressing and was looked at like I had ten heads. The reuben looks amazing – that rye is picture perfect!
Lately I’ve bee loooving my buffalo tempeh sandwiches. And I definitely try to fin places with oranic/local/ethical ingredients. It’s hard around here, but we do have some gems!
That place sounds like a great find!!
Good luck apartment hunting!
I’ve never had a reuben either. And I love hearing that someone else isn’t a sandwich person! I’m not AT ALL. But I never thought about the fact that it’s probably because I don’t like deli meat! I always forget about making a veggie loaded sandwich. Bread is also key though and if I don’t have good bread on hand, a sandwich definitely ain’t happening!
I have never had a reuben before, never really was a fan nor did I ever really want to try it, but yours looks great!!! I was never a true sandwich person either besides PB and J, hahaha.
~lori
That marble bread looks so pretty. My favorite sandwich is an almond butter and jelly sandwich…I’m actually 5 years old haha
Best of luck with the apartment-hunting, my love! As I was reading your description of what you were looking for, I thought to myself: yep, that’s exactly what I’d want to. There’s example two of how it’s an east coast thing :).
I’ve never had a reuben either. In my case, it kind of grosses me out sans a x-country anecdote. But, I guess I would try it at locali. And by guess I mean I definitely would, in addition to every single one of their other options. I wasn’t kidding when I said I might move to Los Angeles. I think more and more about it every day.
I am so jealous of all your amazing food choices! That restaurant sounds amazing 🙂 I love that they offer vegetarian AND vegan options for things.
Good luck with the apartment hunt! I had no idea there was an east-coast stereotype, though what you said is exactly what I’d say I was looking for too. So maybe there is some truth to that, haha Fingers crossed that you find a great place that’s actually within your budget! 🙂
Oh lordy, I really want to go to that restaurant. I will go there. Yes..
And that reuben story has been haunting me for days.. that is actually what urged me to comment. I am impressed that you were able to set aside that memory and give the reuben a try! I actually had my first (and only) reuben last year! It was alright… Meh?
Hi! I just came across your blog and saw that you were looking for vegan/vegetarian restaurants a few posts down. There’s a cafe called Follow Your Heart in Canoga Park that is so great! It’s a little far from Topanga, but if you’re still toying with the idea of moving to the Toluca Lake/North Hollywood area, it’s definitely worth the trek 🙂
This place looks super cute!!
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