You know the routine, new place, new food. I’m always on the hunt, my folks know how much I love to eat, eat, eat. So much so, in fact, when I was younger, I wanted to be a chef. But I found out to cook food, you had to have money to buy quality food to work with. So the next best thing, a food critic. So here I am, critiquing food. And when moving to Sunny San Diego, one of the areas I was told to go to was North Park. Part of the reason was because of food, as it is always on the itinerary, next to lifestyle entertainment. And I love food, you love food, we all love food. Eating is one of life’s simple pleasures, and what I found in North Park was something more than just a pleasure, it was an “experience.” Located on 3382 30th Street is a well-known restaurant, “The Linkery.”

One of the first things to note before I dig into the food is the base of operations for The Linkery. Unlike the majority of the food business in the states, The Linkery does not use commodity meat. Quality in service and the food is what sets them apart from other restaurants. The meat is direct from independent farmers/co-ops and the people there really compliment the atmosphere of friendliness and hospitality. Walking in, your sense of smell is immediately greeted with the sweet aroma of the abundance of meats, spices and seasonings sweeping the whole restaurant. Following that, in a timely manner, you are greeted by smiling staff, who don’t just ask you “How many” and throw menus at you.  And, in addition to that setting them apart, is the “no-tipping rule.” The prices are fair and include food and service (bar and table), so no-tipping is required. And if that is not enough, The Linkery also donates money to their chosen charity-either by an employee or by one of their patrons-including The San Diego Coalition For The Homeless to Avert HIV/AIDS Prevention, just to name a few.
           

Now, time to get down with the nitty gritty of the various items on the menu. But first and foremost, although called “The Linkery” and making their own sausages, they also have a vegetarian friendly menu. And no, they do not serve a vegetable sausages, that is an oxymoron, not a food item. The Linkery, rather, “goes for great vegetables that look like vegetables,” as they say. And among many other things said there, item menu descriptions like “rocket,” “pork belly” or “Zaki style” can be thrown around. One popular item menu is the Pulled Pork Sandwich. The pork is hormone free, pastured and a 100% Berkshire breed from the Metzger Family farm in Seneca KS. The pork is smoked over Santa Maria Red Oak to seal in the juices and flavor. Only to be generously seasoned with their house made BBQ sauce, grilled red onions and then enclosed with a Jalapeno-cheddar roll. The sandwich is then lightly companioned by their tidewater coleslaw and house made pickles. The ingredients are fresh, healthy and free from additives and preservatives. I won’t even touch upon the sausages, there are just too many. They’re not your ordinary sausage links either, with names like the Spanish Golden Raisin Sausage or the Creamed Truffle Sausage.

The delicious food, with the enormous variety and tastes, combined with a great staff, makes The Linkery a sure stop in North Park. Your taste buds will thank you for giving them a new flavor, a different taste. It is truly a community restaurant, literally, next to apartments. It’s my type of around the way place to eat.

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