Reubens

Let's talk reubens. What's the best/worst one you've ever had? Do you prefer 1000 Island or Russian Dressing. Can you have too much Saurkraut.

My favorite Reuben is at Ramses' Diner in Lexington, KY. It's nice and sloppy. Nobody makes a worse Reuben than Arby's. Somebody should tell them to grill the bread. In my opinion the sky's the limit on saurkraut, as long as there's enough corned beef to back it up. And the dressings are like my children. I cannot pick a favorite.

Used to be a great place in my home town that served reubans open faced and piled high. Alas they closed due to tax troubles, now it's hit and miss.

The meat quantity on this one looks about right to me...

Adjudicator,

That's enough to want to swtich allegiance away from breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches!

quote:

Originally posted by Adjudicator

The meat quantity on this one looks about right to me...

The meat looks terrific but it sure does not look like a Rueben to me.

that's the yummiest sammie i have ever seen.

Leigh

To paraphrase the "Little Old Lady" at Wendy's..."WHERE'S THE KRAUT"??

And where's the cheese? And mustard on a reuben?

The meat looks more like pastrami to me.

Actually it is pastrami.

OK. A "real" Reuben...

I know I have said this before. BUT. There is a place in Ogallala,Nebraska, called the Spruce Street Sandwich Shop that makes the best I have ever eaten. Huge homemade rye bun, piled with tender, lean corned beef, sauerkraut, & thousand island dressing. Enough for two people.

All their bread is homemade, they have a wonderful selection of deli sandwiches, and homemade soups and pies, makes me hungry just talking about it

The Lady

Is that supposed to be a sandwich or a casserole

Actually a reuben casserole is not a bad idea, if you happen to be on Atkins and avoiding bread.

Oh, and for the original questions: Got to be Russian dressing; yes, there can be too much sauerkraut.

Worst I ever had was from a little place near work called Hollywood Deli, a puny little sandwich on something like the Wonder Bread version of rye with slices of that canned corned beef and maybe a couple of strands of kraut. That was my first and last visit to Hollywood Deli. They screwed something up that bad and I'm not going to give 'em a chance on anything else.

From my source; this was a sandwich...

Bread can be seen in lower left hand side of pic.

Even though I love reubens, I rarely order them out at a restaurant. I eventually learned very few places make a good one. The best reuben I've had was at Manny's in Chicago. As for dressing, I like the Russian but prefer the Thousand Island.

I've yet to find a consistent one around here. Normally the meat is over cooked and tough. A decent one (that was also hit and miss) was at the Snug Harbor in Grand Rapids, but they've been leveled years ago for one of them chain pharmacys. Around here, Thousand Island seems to be the norm, but I've seen Russian dressing being used more and more on the menus I've pondered over. (Oh, and I love kraut, can never get enough!)..

quote:

Originally posted by Adjudicator

From my source; this was a sandwich...

Bread can be seen in lower left hand side of pic.

I thought that's what that probably was. Just asking.

Wow, that first picture looks nearly perfect to me too!!! The best Ruben I ever had around here was several years ago at The Bridge Cafe in South Williamsport, PA. It was served on an oval platter and covered the entire plate. Wonderful rye bread from a local bakery delivered daily, good kraut, 1000 island, swiss cheese and great corned beef piled HIGH. I'm a big eater and dont think I ever finshed one in the restaurant. Then, alas a couple years later they had some issues, shut down and reopened. The rubens still have the great taste, but, they had to get a new bread supplier and the bread is smaller and not as crusty. They also started using some portion control to limit the amout of food that was wasted. It amazes me at the number of people who don't take their leftover half of a sandwich with them. Especially when you know who they are and that they are locals. What a waste. The rubens are still good, but, just don't compare to what they used to be.

The WORST, WORST, WORST ruben I ever had was served at a place in Milroy/Lewistown, PA. I cant remember the name but good lord what a mess came out. Cheap rye bread, done in a toaster with corned beef, american cheese and to top it all off....the kraut came from the daily dinner special....pork & saurkraut. YUK....pork and kraut on a ruben. I nearly puked at the table.

The second worst came from a little place close home. They were just starting out in the restaurant biz and didn't last too long. I knew I was in trouble when they asked what bread I wanted my sandwich on...then it came out on toast with american cheese and CANNED corned beef warmed up with the kraut. (I think in the microwave). Terrible. They are closed now...and it's no wonder.

Dan

The best Rueben i ever ate was the one served up in the cafeteria at the MIT Student Union!!---great ingriediants--starting with a wonderful fresh baked rye that was sliced from a huge loaf! and plenty corned beef--just enough really good caraway kraut and excellent swiss cheese--and a good house made thousand island. and did i mention- cheap and HUGE!!--easily fed three hippies!! ---but this was in the early 70's---i can only hope that the student union there is still serving real food??!!

as for the worst---well the mere THOUGHT of an Arby's Rueben -----gags me!

Best Reuben at Danny's Bar in Kansas City KS out by the Speedway, deeeelish!

so far, I have yet to a pic of a real reuben. (though the pics have been good looking sandwiches).
Furthermore, Reuben's shouldn't be overly sloppy - that's the most common mistake.

I rarely get a reuben because too often it's soggy and you can hardly eat it as a sandwich. You might as well get that open face version pictured above. At least in that case, you're actually served a fork.

As for Arbys' version, it's as much as a "reuben" as some places that serve corned beef sandwiches on rye and call it a reuben as well. It's a hell of a lot better than some diner versions I've suffered through (much like the holywood deli experience someone else described above). On the other hand, it's not the deli style I grew up on in NY - so it is what it is. It certainly is not the worst reuben out there; because I've had many many reubens that were much worse. But, if I ever have to go to Arby's again, I'll get the chicken salad.