**** Banh Mi Baguette Café has closed
Last fall, "MichealW" sent me an email telling me that Bale Sandwich & Deli had closed after a very short run and was now "Baguette Café". Then of course came the crazy fall and winter….and spring……so I wasn't able to visit until recently.
I'm not sure if the name is Baguette Café or Banh Mi Baguette Café…..and then there's the sign that says "by Cali Express". Hmmmm……
And the menu looks strikingly familiar.
I'm not sure if Cali Baguette Express runs this shop, or is it a "franchise" kind of thing….. But the young man working here was really nice and friendly.
I just went with the Dac Biet….good 'ol number 1. Still a bargain at $3.75.
As I walked out of the place, I gave the banh mi a little squeeze……and nothing…..it just kinda gave way. Not a good sign. I had visions of my last to the Mira Mesa Cali Baguette Express. And upon setting the banh mi free….well, I had verification. A pale, cold, doughy banh mi.
The sandwich was the signature 10" and there were thin slices of pork and cha lua.
What was just as annoying as the bread was how it was sliced. Just the top piece….so you either had to find a knife or take you chances tearing it apart. And when the cilantro and veggies aren't sliced, you get this.
Enjoyed the sneaky jalapeno and everything else was status quo…… But what happened to the crusty, light, and yeasty banh mi?
As I've been doing recently, here's what it used to be……back in 2015 at the Convoy location.
I've got to head back to the City Heights location of Cali Baguette Express to find out if the bread I've gotten on my last two visits are now the status quo. It's what used to make them stand above the rest. Hopefully it won't be "strike three".
Banh Mi Baguette Cafe
9005 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92126
Thanks for the heads up Micheal!
🙁
It was kind of sad Kat.
That is one very sad looking banh mi. I haven’t been to any of the various restaurants at this location. I still need to go back to Cali Baguette on Mira Mesa; they’ve always been my go to place for bread. TThe Cali Baugette on Convoy is now called Cali Banh Mi, and I’m guessing it’s a different owner. I haven’t been there in awhile, either. It looks like it’s time to make a banh mi run!
Hi Sandy – Yeah, this was disappointing. Now that the weather is warming up; I’m going to start hitting all those Banh Mi places. And yes, the old Convoy location is now under different ownership.