At Cabrillo College, we have a diverse on-campus cafeteria menu packed to the brim with food offered from around the world. With so many options, choosing what to eat for lunch can be challenging, especially when on a budget. Additionally, some of us have very little money to spend when going out to eat, so if you only have $10, you want to make sure you get your money’s worth. 

That’s where I come in. With this column, I, Ruby Lee Schembari, am making it my goal to try one of everything on the cafeteria menu and write about my food opinions, so you can use this as a guide. This is part one of my column, and with this op-ed, I will review the gyro, Angus burger and chicken club sandwich.

There are a lot of sandwiches in the world, but none quite like the gyro. Specifically, the Cabrillo Cafeteria’s take on this mouth-watering Greek beauty, and for $7.99, it’s a great deal for lunch.

For starters, the meat was cooked perfectly with the spices, and the juices of the lamb and beef were mouthwatering and divine. The ground black pepper and salt mixed with the thyme left my tastebuds lusting for more. The juices of the meat complimented the Tzatziki sauce excellently. While the meat juice did add some moisture, the Tzatziki topped it off, adding the ideal amount. The chopped lettuce added a sense of crispness and crunch while aiding the humidity, while the tomato added some acidic zest to the Tzatziki.   

The pita bread was acceptable as well. The chef lightly toasted it, which gave it an even level of satisfying crunch and chew. However, if they added butter with garlic to the inside of the pita after toasting the bread, it would be the best pita I ever had. While I liked almost everything about this meal, I had one issue – the presentation could have been better. Half of the ingredients were on the left side of the pita bread, making it a hassle to eat. It felt like it was thrown together in a hurry as if there was no love for the work of art. Despite how it was presented to me, it was a delicious meal for the price, and I enjoyed every second of it. Overall 9/10 dish.

Up next is the Angus burger. I decided not to get the standard burger. Instead, I aimed for something much more glorious… A bacon cheeseburger. Simply put, there is nothing more American than a bacon cheeseburger. It’s up there with apple pie, baseball and Coca-Cola.

The presentation of this angelic American classic was stupendous. The buns could barely hold the heap of bacon sticking out from every side of the sandwich. It smelt like the ideal summer cookout when I got a whiff. The scent of the bun, the meat, the bacon and the pickles all came together harmoniously, making my nose twitch and my taste buds tingle. When I took my first bite of the mighty behemoth, I could hear bald eagles screeching as they flew across America. The taste of the patty with the bacon and cheese cried, “FREEDOM!!!” as the flavors painted a tasteful image upon my tongue.

The bun was soft, ample and lightly toasted, just the way I like it. The bacon was crispy, with just enough salt to complement the taste of the tomato, pickles and red onion. What I appreciate the most about the vegetables on this burger is the even profile of flavors. Nothing is too overpowering. For instance, the red onion’s taste isn’t overpowering, but it makes its presence known. The tomato and lettuce helped bring a little moisture into the mix, as without them, I fear this work of art may have been too dry for my liking. The patty was medium rare and quite juicy. It wasn’t super seasoned, but that’s okay because there’s so much flavor. 

A paper basket of spectacular golden fries came with the burger, perfectly fried and salted. The skins of the fries were crisp and bridle, while the insides were soft and mushy. These were the perfect type of fries to dip into a vanilla shake. 

When my plate was empty, and my tummy was full at the end of the meal, I knew this was instantly a 10/10 meal. The burger was perfectly assembled and needed no ketchup or hot sauce, and the flavor was there. However, out of curiosity, the last few bites I had left were soaked in Tapatio, and the result was this sultry, spicy, moist and heavenly combination—the perfect burger for $7.99. 

Health nuts, beware! This sandwich is greasy, cheesy and not for the faint of heart. This Philly cheesesteak is a West Coast take on an East Coast original. When I opened the to-go box, the smell of steak and cheese permeated the air. Undertones of sweet peppers and onions followed close behind. The Dutch crunch bread was golden and flakey, with bits of shredded steak coved in the grilled vegetables and melty American cheese sticking out. While holding the sandwich, I noticed its denseness; it must’ve been at least two pounds. 

The bread offered a satisfying crunch when I took the first bite of the sandwich. The sweetness of the vegetables and the charred, salty flavor of the meat banded together to make a fruity and tangy concoction that would make any East Coaster yelp for joy. The cheese was the glue that held it all together, with its gooey, warm mouthfeel. 

Overall, the sandwich is a soft, warm, sweet and delicious twist on an eastern staple, and for $7.99, it’s the best deal there is so far! Yet another 10/10.

Scorecard:

• Lamb & Beef gyro: 9/10
• Angus burger: 10/10
• Philly cheesesteak: 10/10