Lamb dip Throw Down

Lamb Dip Throw Down

French dip sandwiches are common in a lot of restaurants, especially for lunch.  They are especially popular at Bakersfield’s Basque restaurants.  For me the only dip at a Basque restaurant is a lamb dip.  I’ve been eating them for years and I have come up with a favorite.  I think.  For now.

The typical Basque lamb dip comes with aus jus, a salad and fries.

The Pyrenees Cafe has a good lamb dip, but I don’t like the salad or the salsa.  The salad has funky stuff in it like cucumbers.  It’s more like a vegetable medley than a salad.  And I like veggies and cucumbers in my salad, but not at Basque.   

Narducci's Cafe is like a Basque restaurant turned biker bar.  They have a nice lunch menu but lamb dips are not always available.  You might have to have a hamburger instead, which is also great.  The bartender was a cutie though and made up for any other deficiencies in the place.

I had a lamb dip at Wool Growers Restaurant last week.  I really like the salad with the side of marinated tomatoes and peppers. It’s a Woolgrower’s standard.  The sandwich however was only mediocre.  The lamb was sliced thin and was dried out in spots.  How does that happen?  The table next to me was having filet mignon for lunch.  That looked really good.  What am I doing eating a lamb dip?

Once in a while I’ll get to Noriega Restaurant & Hotel and I’ll miss the seating at noon or not want the big spread they always have.  It’s nice to sit at the bar or a table in the bar for lunch.  They’ll serve certain items like a burger or dip.  There isi no menu.  The bar tender will tell you the 3 or 4 things you can order.  They are all good.  I like Noriega Hotel.  I usually order a side of blue cheese with my lamb dip.  They serve it with a small salad with oil and vinegar and fries.  It’s always fresh and hot.  You can’t go wrong at Noriega’s.

I used to have a customer that liked to go to Chalet Basque Restaurant.  Their lamb dip is good and pretty much standard.  I don’t know why I don’t go there anymore.

I had lunch at Benji's French Basque Restaurant yesterday.  They are open on Monday when Noriega is closed.  The salad that comes with the dip is in a family style bowl with shredded carrots and a nice creamy oil and vinegar dressing mixed in.  It’s a unique dressing at Benji’s.  I think it’s the same dressing they use on the pickled tongue. And when the bowl was empty, they asked if we wanted more salad.  Again, I ordered a side of blue cheese.  It goes so well with the salad and there is enough for the sandwich also.  The lamb was sliced a bit thicker than Woolgrowers and it was more tender and moist.  The French roll was really soft and fresh.  I think this is my favorite lamb dip in town.

Each place has something unique and different in what they serve or in the atmosphere.  Sometime one place will be closed so I go to another one.  I recommend that you get to know them all and see if you can come up with a favorite.

 

For a really unique French dip you have to go the original Philippe's on Ord and Almeda in downtown L.A.  They slice the lamb right off the roasted leg to order.  And they dip the roll in the aus jus.  I order mine double dipped so they dip both halves.  And I order it with blue cheese.  It is a real classic.  And there is lots of free parking. You will not get fries and you will not get a Basque salad, but the lamb is superb.  Warning, go easy on the French mustard.  It will knock your socks off.