Jimmy’s North Star: A Miraculous Mound of Mediterranean Flavors
This was my favorite and I ate it all on the spot. It came encased in foil to keep your eyes from its sexy self. When I opened the silver lining I was met with a miraculous mound of Mediterranean flavors (on the Mediterranean).
I received an anonymous tip to try Jimmy’s North Star. To that person, I thank you. I don’t go to the north side as much as I should and it looked really good. So I go in; I love the look of the place. Butcher block tables and bar top, corrugated aluminum, lead pipe shelves, high tin ceilings, and copper fixtures. They have done things to the place that are tasteful yet still respect a lot of what the building had to offer. The outdoor area is something I wish more places had. Nice picnic seating with a couple of cornhole setups and some tunes.
Let’s get to the food.
When I try a new place to me I like to get what the place is most proud of. They said their top sellers are Oscar, the Mediterranean, and the aptly named OMZ pesto bacon mac. The owner says I can order whatever I want because it will all be good. I like the confidence and say I’ll stick with the top three. First come two baskets, one carrying Oscar the sandwich. The other a silver sarcophagus, both served with a bag of chips.
Oscar
This is a very good balance of all the components salami, ham, roast beef, bacon, one of my favs provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, and Italian dressing. There’s not too much of any one ingredient and they all work together to give you a balanced filling experience. The bread is soft and baked fresh daily at Sam’s Club bakery. They pick them up every morning still fresh from the ovens and the soft hoagie is a really nice bite. The sandwich is big but your jaw doesn’t get tired because it’s so forgiving. I like the Italian dressing as the vinegar offers a slight bite of light to bring those savory layers in line to be refreshing instead of heavy. They also spike it with a long toothpick, which I appreciate. I hate when my sandwich innards slide around and the last bite is just the meat or just the bread. They do it right!
OMZ
More like OMG. This is a pesto mac with nice crispy bacon. Mac and cheese is a dense affair and can get really filling really quick. I don’t know if it’s the flavor or the color of the pesto that tricks me into thinking it’s healthier and lighter. Placebo or not I will gladly consume it all. Pete brought this out as a surprise and a surprise it was.
The Mediterranean
This was my favorite and I ate it all on the spot. It came encased in foil to keep your eyes from its sexy self. When I opened the silver lining I was met with a miraculous mound of Mediterranean flavors. Cucumber, red onion, tomatoes, with a healthy dusting of feta and intermixed with tzatziki. Its meat is a mix of lamb and beef well seasoned. If you have never had tzatziki (cucumber sauce) I highly recommend it. It’s light and refreshing Greek yogurt garlic and cucumber. The mound is huge and unlike sandwiches, I am ready to make a mess. If you conquer one of these without using a napkin and without any good middle bits on the plate aka an empty battlefield. I may just call you Jesus because that is lordly.
I enjoyed the place and the feel of the community there. They had a few regulars stop in, they also let me know how good their food is. The food & space is great and so are the people. I will definitely be back. I want to try their hot beef which is another of my spiritual journeys. It is not always available and that just makes me want it more. I would recommend trying this place out if you haven’t for a change of pace and good food. I mean look at the pics, balanced fresh ingredients, and great bread.
Abram Dyke
Foodie
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La Crosse Local is an arts, food, and entertainment podcast and publication for La Crosse County and its surrounding communities.
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