Reuben Sandwich, The Grill vs. Langer's

I probably shouldn’t have ordered a Reuben sandwich at the Grill. The Grill is a place to get filet mignon with bordelaise sauce while you ogle the Alyssa Milano look-alike sitting at the bar. Or is that the Alyssa Milano? Oh, my secret crush, should I say hello to her? I am in love. No, not with Alyssa, with the sandwich. It comes with a salty corned beef with a salt finish. It is squeezed between this marvelous bread with a serious crust. Purists would scold me for favoring this deli sandwich over the prime New York steak or Veal Rib Chop the place is actually known for. But I have had this food envy for quite some time after watching my friend gulp down a Reuben from Langer’s. I finish my sandwich, wave goodbye to Alyssa and head out the door to MacArthur park. Oh no he didn’t, is he going for two Reuben’s in one day? Oh yes he did. I stroll into the classic deli in perhaps the worst part of LA and I order the Reuben. There are no Alyssa Milano look-alikes but there is a brunette with coffee breath who pops her gum sitting next to me at the counter. The Reuben comes to me fairly quick and God bless the chef for placing the Russian dressing on the side without me asking him. I don’t do Russian dressing, I decide, as I look and smell it sitting sadly in a little dish. But the rest of the sandwich? Aye, even without the B-list actresses, Langer’s by a mile.