EAT This Week: Third Man’s Austin Midnight Sandwich
To try and decide each week where and what to eat around the basin can be a challenge — there are so many amazing choices. In this feature we’ll dive into dishes that will surely satisfy those hunger pangs and leave you wondering where to go next.
This week’s featured dish was one of the first three items to grace the menu of newly opened Third Man Taphouse and Gourmet Deli, so you know there’s some passion behind it. And the passion for this sandwich all starts with the beef brisket.
It’s smoked, Texas-style, with a simple salt and pepper rub giving it a great crust for texture and flavor. Third Man is a throwback to east coast style delis, so the brisket is sliced and piled as high as Snoop Dog on a Saturday night – all atop a toasted Truckee Sourdough Kaiser roll.
White cheddar cheese is then melted over top as it oozes its way through the cracks of the meat stack. Onion straws, using the same breading as their wings, are added to the layer party and it is all topped with their scratch-made barbecue sauce – which is a little more spicy (but not too spicy) than sweet, and also has a bit more vinegar to give it a nice punch.
If you’ve ever ordered a sandwich and wondered just exactly where you’re going to attack this sandwich with the first bite, yeah, this is one of those. It’s huge. But, just like all sandos before it, the best way is to dive right in and not worry about the shrapnel – that’s what napkins are for.
The super tender brisket falls apart with each bite. The smokiness combined with the outer bark layer, the texture and sweetness from the onion strings, the creaminess of the cheese, and the savory-vinegar kiss from the barbecue sauce have every bite dancing on the tongue.
As a word of advice, don’t skip the fries on the side when ordering. Their seasoned batter crispy exterior and pillow-like interior make for the perfect sidekick.
If you can’t finish it in a single sitting, it’s ok. Just know when you go in for the leftovers you may have to fend off some family members for a bite, unless you are ok with eating in a dark closet. Alone. Which, for this, I can absolutely relate.
Third Man Taphouse & Gourmet Deli is located at 3668 Lake Tahoe Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe. For menu and ordering information, visit them online at thirdmantaphouse.com or by phone at 530-600-2414.
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