A report by Dana Eastland. We originally broke the story on tablehopper that Liza Shaw, an alum of A16 and Acquerello, is opening a new sub shop in SoMa called MERIGAN. After some construction and permit delays, the new place is set to open this Thursday November 14th (woo-hoo!). If you are a sandwich lover, pay attention: these East Coast-style subs are not to be missed.
On the menu, you’ll find either hot or cold subs, all served on a sesame roll from Pinkie’s Bakery that is neither too soft nor too chewy. Most of the meats are cured in-house (which involves some serious in-house butchery); ditto all sauces and condiments.
Cold subs include a looker of a roast beef with horseradish ricotta, provolone, pickled onions, and arugula; an Italian combo with mortadella, salami, prosciutto cotto, provolone, and all the fixings; and an egg salad. In the hot department, look for the Arista, a roasted and braised pork with provolone, hot peppers, and arugula; a meatball with provolone and mozzarella; and the vegetarian panelle with ceci bean fritters, olive salad, tomato conserva, and arugula. All the sandwiches are priced at $6-$10 for half or $13-$18 for a whole, but keep in mind that these are monsters; two people can share a whole and be quite satisfied. There are also sides, including housemade potato chips, soup, and cracklings.
For beverages, you’ll find beer and wine, plus a selection of sodas. Beers on tap are Anchor Lager and Green Flash Hop Head Red, plus additional options by the bottle. For wine, there’s a white and a red on tap; the red in Unti’s Rosso Piccino blend, and the white is Il Campo Giornata. You’ll also find four to five wines available by the bottle, including a Sicilian rosé and half bottles of Roederer Estate. They’ve also got Italian ices made on a vintage Japanese machine; current flavors are lemon, coffee, and almond, but seasonal varieties will also make appearances.
The space seats about 40, but you order at the counter and it’s definitely geared toward takeout. The ceilings are high, and concrete floors and subway tile give it an industrial vibe, but with fun bright touches like vintage institutional chairs from Germany. On the walls are large format photographs by Di Desmond of people enjoying sandwiches in a variety of situations. It turns out all of the photos are of Shaw’s friends and colleagues, including the crew at Unti Vineyards, a dear friend in a wedding dress, and three pooches stealing a picnic on Crissy Field.
Doors open on Thursday November 14th, and hours are Mon-Sat 10am-7pm. 636 2nd St. at Brannan, 415-536-2991.
The counter at Merigan. Photo: Dana Eastland. © tablehopper.com.
