Let's get the bad out of the way first: Brown Bag Deli has outgrown its Westheimer location. The mirrors on the back wall don't belie the fact that this place is tiny. Though there are plenty of tables, a couple of them are literally right up against the food line, meaning that if you sit there you will likely be jostled by a purse, a tray, or even another person. Therefore, no one sits there, and there aren't enough seats. If you're a little bit claustrophobic (like I am) these sort of things are a major problem.
Now on to the good: the food at Brown Bag is fantastic. You order by filling out an order sheet printed on a brown paper bag. You check off what meat, cheese, bread, and toppings you want and hand the form to the girl behind the counter, greatly cutting down on wait-time and eliminating the need to yell your order at her. Why every restaurant doesn't have you order that way is beyond me.
I went with the roast beef on wheat bread with lettuce, mayo and tomato. Nothing fancy, but Brown Bag doesn't do fancy. The most exotic thing they offer is jalapeno-cheddar rolls. What Brown Bag does is simple sandwiches very well. My bread was still warm, slightly sweet and very soft. The roast beef was perfectly cooked, without an ounce of gristle. All of the toppings were fresh, crunchy and flavorful. This was as close to a perfect sandwich as you could get.
Houston has some great sandwich shops. I've been to Potbellies over on the Southwest Freeway, and they do a good job (for a corporate place). I've been told our Which Wich is pretty good too. But Brown Bag is different; it's a local place, with only 4 locations, all in Houston. It has a local feel. It sounds cliche, but the food at Brown Bag is made with love. That isn't something you get at Subway.
