Right on the corner of Melrose and Sycamore lies a small hotel, with numerous little restaurants that are placed adjacent for convenience. Here, pedestrians in search of a proper meal will have much to choose from: One place in particular proudly displays a dimensional logo of the Californian flag, and to its right is lettering that reads “Hungry Bear Deli” in a bright red hue.

Located in Vista, California, this place is very close to my house which served as a convenient eatery for a review to take place. When I arrived my mouth began to water in excitement as I knew the delicacy of a sublime sandwich was just beyond the double doors.

Upon entering the sandwich shop, I was already impressed with the giant widescreen televisions that are used to display the menu. Sandwiches of all types range from turkey breast to albacore tuna and the options seemed countless and impossible to choose from. However, I eventually decided on a hearty Ultimate Italian sandwich which included salami, capicola and provolone cheese; meats that were well-seasoned and delicious between two pieces of bread.

A great thing about Hungry Bear is that all the condiments listed under “The Works”—a special subcategory particular to Hungry Bear— are free, meaning that items like tomatoes, pickles, pepperoncinis and mushrooms were included without charge. Another neat perk about the restaurant is that it had a touch-screen soda fountain on which you could chose from a plethora of different beverages, both carbonated and non-. I felt like a kid in a candy store as I excitedly browsed through the array of options for my drink. Finally I chose a sweet Strawberry Fanta and proceeded to sit outside and wait for my meal.

After about five minutes, the server came to the table and placed the sandwich before my eyes.

The sandwich was HUGE to say the least. When stood up on the bottom bun the sub was about three and a half inches high.  The meal started with a roll of white bread which was graciously spread with yellow mustard and mayonnaise. The meats were tucked into the innermost crease of the sandwich bread, almost like being stuffed to the brim with the fresh cuts of Italian delicacies. Then came my personal favorite part: the condiments. These condiments were seriously no joke as tomatoes, pickles and mushrooms were cut into cubes rather than slices, and placed liberally about the top of the sandwich.

Then, the crucial moment of any restaurant review: the first bite.

As I took this bite, I immediately noticed that the meat was freshly sliced because the cuts were not freezer-burned or hardened in any way. It had that certain airiness one experiences when they sample freshly sliced deli meat at a grocery store. The tomatoes were fresh and firm, and the pickles and pepperoncinis complimented the meal very well with their cool saltiness that seemed always present, but never overbearing. And who could forget the glue that ties all of these flavors together, the mustard and mayo? They both served as very appropriate condiments; classic, tried and true, perfect on any sandwich, really.

My sandwich and  drink came to a total of $11.88, which is not bad considering that you basically get two meals in one. Most sandwiches range from about $8-10 and can vary based on extra toppings one might get off the specialty toppings menu. The customer service seemed to be a tad off: My waiter seemed pretty cold and dissonant when taking my order and serving my food. I’ll forgive him, since they made such an excellent sandwich.

For anybody looking for a restaurant to bring their potential date to, this is a considerable option since the sandwiches are big enough for two people. Even if the more health-conscious eaters are worried about tackling a meat mountain of food, Hungry Bear offers some delectable salads for waistline watchers.

Overall the Ultimate Italian sandwich at Hungry Bear is a meat and cheese masterpiece. I recommend any sandwich lovers to drop by 2205 S. Melrose Drive 103, Vista, CA to indulge in a hearty meal.