In the mood for a traditional deli sandwich? Then try
The Promenade, left, a classic,
deli-style turkey sandwich,
features a balanced com-
bination of components. In
comparison, the MegaTsu-
nami Pastrami, right, with
its pound of pastrami, is too
absurdly meat-heavy to be an
enjoyable, practical or tasty
sandwich.
Tsunami
Sandwich Company
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Just a stone’s throw from the sand, Tsunami
Sandwich Company features a mural depicting
Seaside’s iconic Lewis and Clark monument and
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scene appears peaceful. But in the distance, an
enormous tidal wave looms, big enough to engulf
the entire town.
At Tsunami, that tidal wave comes in the form
of pastrami.
While promotional photos often exaggerate
portion size, the giant heaping of pastrami fea-
tured on Tsunami’s advertisements is no ruse.
The shop’s “MegaTsunami Pastrami” sandwich
($18.25) is huge. I ordered it, and the cheerful
staff got busy, placing handful after handful of
thin-cut pastrami onto a
scale until the weight of
the meat alone totaled
one pound.
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fun. And, in a way, it
was. When the sandwich
arrived at the table, pas-
trami stacked high and
spilling out the sides, I
couldn’t help but smile.
Then there was the mat-
ter of getting it into my
mouth. Like an elephant
stepping on a banana,
pastrami exploded in all
directions as I bit down.
The taste was enjoyable,
but not enough to make
me forget my favorite
Jewish deli.
Quickly
though,
charm gave way to ab-
surdity, as the mass of
pastrami soaked the mar-
ble rye bread. Though the
horseradish mustard was
peppy enough to peak
through all that meat, the
Swiss cheese all but van-
ished. It was more akin to
easting a pile of pastrami
with a bit of mustard than
an actual sandwich. And
while I only ate half —
along with half of another, a lighter, turkey sand-
wich — my gut was bombed. All that beef left me
less than limber, lumbering an hour later, even after
a two-mile walk. Indeed, why anyone would seri-
Let’s be clear:
The majority
of Tsunami’s
hot and cold
sandwiches hem
more to the
Promenade’s
model — an
even mix of
meat, cheese
and veggies,
lean enough
not to weigh
you down
but generous
enough to fi ll
you up.
14 | May 7, 2015 | coastweekend.com
ously want to consume an entire pound of pastrami
along with bread and cheese remains a mystery.
Rather than opting for novelty, I opined for the
tried and true. I wished I’d ordered the Lewis and
Clark ($9.75), a regular-sized pastrami sandwich
leavened with sauerkraut, Thousand Island dress-
ing and Swiss cheese.
The Promenade ($8.75), however — a classic,
deli-style turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato,
red onion, and a subtly elevating olive spread —
was right on. The serving of turkey was hearty, as
was the multi-grain bread.
And let’s be clear: The majority of Tsunami’s
hot and cold sandwiches hem more to the Prome-
nade’s model — an even mix of meat, cheese and
veggies, lean enough not to weigh you down but
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And though it wasn’t what I expected, I also en-
joyed the Hot Chick ($8.75). Described as a buffalo
chicken breast with bleu cheese, what emerged was
more like a turkey melt. The chicken — if it was
chicken and not turkey — was sliced like deli meat
Described as a buff alo chicken
breask with bleu cheese, the
Mouth found the Hot Chick,
with its sliced deli meat, light
buff alo sauce and melted
cheddar cheese, to be more
akin to a turkey melt.
rather than a whole breast, and light on the buffalo
sauce. Still, with the buttered, nicely toasted bread
and melty cheddar cheese, it worked.
Besides sandwiches, Tsunami offers hot dogs
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Dog ($8), a quarter-pound, all-beef dog with
sauerkraut, pastrami and horseradish mustard.
Crammed in a sizable bun, the dog itself stuck out
nearly an inch on both ends. It was, however, a
little over-boiled and could’ve been juicier. The
serving of pastrami was ample, though I would’ve
preferred a more equitable ratio of kraut, which
seemed more of an afterthought. (Apparently cus-
tomers of this sandwich shop can’t have enough
beef.)
Locally owned, Tsunami carries a few region-
mouth
OF THE COLUMBIA
COAST WEEKEND’S LOCAL RESTAURANT REVIEW
Story and photos by THE MOUTH OF THE COLUMBIA • mouth@coastweekend.com
Tsunami Sandwich Company
Rating:
11 Broadway
Seaside, OR 97138
503-738-5427
tsunamisandwiches.com
HOURS: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday through Thursday;
and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
PRICE: $ – Most sandwiches between $8 and $9.
SERVICE: Smiling and helpful.
VEGETARIAN / VEGAN OPTIONS: There are sand-
wiches made without meat or cheese. Gluten-free bread
from Udi’s is also available.
DRINKS: Many diff erent soda options, as well as bot-
tled beer and single-serving wine.
al ingredients and products, including Tillamook
cheese and ice cream, plus Buoy Beer. To their
credit, Tsunami proudly displays the signage of
their providers, making no attempts to confuse
what is or isn’t made in-house. The pastrami and
other meats come from Thurmann’s (New Jer-
sey); the breads from a bevy of bakers, including
Oroweat, and a gluten-free option from Udi’s.
The clam chowder comes from Ivar’s (Seattle).
How that chowder makes the cut, though, I fail
to understand. It was generic, thin and overpriced
($4.75 for a cup). And though I didn’t try it, a peek
at the chili didn’t make me want to.
By and large, the sides at Tsunami fail to match
the thoughtfulness, taste or value of the sandwich-
es. At around $8 or $9, sandwiches are served
with a tiny bag of name-brand chips (Doritos,
Lay’s, Cheetos, etc.), with soup or chili available
at a $3.50 up-charge. I would’ve appreciated some-
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slaw. There’s room for improvement here.
But in the balanced, traditional deli sandwich-
es, Tsunami makes a fair case against the burgers
and fried foods that dominate Broadway. The tidal
waves of pastrami, however, simply bowled me
over.
KEY TO RATINGS
poor
below average
good & worth returning
excellent
outstanding, the best in the
Columbia-Pacific region
