On a recent lunch excursion from work, I found myself at Mandy’s Family Restaurant in El Segundo. Off of the main strip of Main Street, Mandy’s is a little gem tucked away into the corner of a strip mall.
As I walked in, I saw a sign proclaiming the lunch special of the day, a hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes, gravy and a soft drink. I kept this special in mind as I sat down and perused the massive menu. Everything looked good, but I remained intrigued by the turkey sandwich. My friend had mentioned that the seasoned fries were amazing, so I asked my waitress whether they were better than the mashed potatoes and she agreed with my friend. I made the substitution and awaited my meal.
When it came, it looked beautiful. The sandwich was covered in a tasty gravy, and both sandwich halves were greeted on the plate by a pile of perfectly crispy seasoned fries. It looked great at first glance, but something about the sandwich itself caught my eye. No crust! Wow, it really is a family restaurant. The sandwich had to be eaten with a knife and fork, but it was worth the extra cutting effort. The turkey was juicy and the gravy was thick. There were no surprises, and that’s a good thing.
Mom and pop-style family restaurants are often hit-or-miss, but Mandy’s is definitely a hit. The prices can’t be beat and the food is also damn good.