CLOSED: Daily Grub

Driving cross-country on I-80, we stopped at the Daily Grub for lunch. There is so much that's fantastic about this place I don't know where to begin.

First, the restaurant is in a mixed industrial/commercial area with nothing going on other than what my spidey sense tells me might be some cool bars in the neighborhood after the sun sets. It reminds me of what Wicker Park in Chicago was like 20 years ago. Anyway, there is a small neon "Daily Grub" sign in the window to signal you've arrived at the right locale, that's it. Combine this with the fact that we couldn't find a published phone # for this restaurant, and it felt like an accomplishment just finding the place.

If the Daily Grub is a well-kept secret, I can see why. It oozes "hip". But not intimidating, we're too cool for school hip. It's a friendly, welcoming vibe. You order at the counter from the chalkboard menu then seat yourself. They bring food out to you.

I had the sizzling vietnamese pancake. It's a rice flour and coconut milk crepe filled with mushrooms, scallions, sprouts and herbs with a sweet hot dipping sauce. My partner had the bahni mi sandwich which was marinated tofu, vegetables, fresh cilantro and mint, ancho cashew cream on a toasted baguette. We split the samosa sope. That was made from cilantro chutney, masala chaat seasoned potatoes and peas, dried cranberries and crushed chick peas.

Every dish was prepared to mouth-watering perfection. In short, it is well worth the trip.