Colony Sandwich Company — Restaurant in Atascadero

Today was our first visit, even though we have been aware of it for some years. We’d heard good things and Google gave them a 4.5 so we thought that we would give them a try.

I stepped up to the counter and scanned the menu board. Not seeing exactly what I wanted, I asked the gentleman at the counter which meats they offered. He asked me which bread I wanted, and I asked again about the meat choices. He insisted that we start with the bread, followed by the cheese. Rather than provoke a sandwich confrontation, I ordered a patty melt. My wife ordered a salad.

After I picked up our order, we dug in. My wife said that her salad was not great, but still good. She particularly liked the dressing. Even though I was informed in advance by the menu listing, this was not a traditional patty melt and I ruefully contemplated what was before me. The bread, not the usual corn rye, was vaguely reminiscent of sourdough. The texture more closely resembled a standard white bread, and it was sliced too thin. That fact coupled with the pressure to which iit was subjected in the griddle left it no more than 1/4 inch thick. Also, it was not in the griddle very long, as both sides were barely toasted. Poor quality white bread, cut too thinly and squashed down on the grill more closely resembled a flour tortilla. The nearly tasteless tomatoes, the out-of-place avocado, low quality bacon and chipotle dressing did nothing to alleviate the sandwiches shortcomings. The burger patty was good, but not sized well to the tortilla…er, bread.

Innovating classic dishes is most often a good idea. But, it presupposes that you will respect the attributes of the classic dish in so doing. It would be better to offer the well-loved original and the offer the innovated choice or choices as a recommended option. A side note. The price seemed high for just a sandwich alone with no included side.

To summarize, counter service with attitude, questionable recipe decisions, poor execution and a high price make passing on this eating option an easy decision. I'm sure that their business will continue--the...

I love this place! The best thing about it is the people. They make you feel like they've known you forever. Their selection of coffee drinks are very comparable to any coffee house. Their beer is ice cold and goes so well with their sandwiches. Their sandwiches are so delicious. I have tried 5 different 1s and I have no complaints. But my favorites are the Kluck and the Cubano. If you're a fan of Cubanos, this 1 is the best I've ever had. Once you try it and come back, ask for The Cubano "John" style. OMG...that sandwich is amazing. It's with the jalapeño coleslaw and BBQ sauce. But OMG the their cluck comes in 3 different styles and the "sweet kluck" in my faovrite and get it with a fried egg and grilled onions on it. Its a great "breakfast" sandwich. ...

Edit: To clarify, the sandwiches on the menu that say they come with "baked from scratch artisan roll" often actually come on sliced bread. You are not made aware of this when ordering and pay the full amount, as if you had gotten "specialty" bread. Owners response is typical of the customer service here. Somehow the sandwich being made with a different bread than on their menu is my fault?

Sandwiches often don't come with "baked from scratch artisan roll" and instead come with sliced bread, yet still cost $12.50. Sandwiches could be good but are so stuffed with ingredients that they get soggy and fall apart, leaving you with an inedible mess. Customer service is nothing to write home...