Roller's Express-O .... Yeah

It's not often that I sit down to a work-related meal, and within minutes hear some random stranger blurting out words of praise to no one in particular.

Actually, I take that last part back: the compliments seemed to be geared toward some behind-the-curtain figure who was out of eyeshot, but apparently not out of earshot.

The stranger was a longtime Roller's customer, while the behind-the-scenes figure was a restaurant employee.

So here I was, about to tackle the menu when this woman, who was enjoying an early lunch with her husband, began throwing some suggestions my way.

She appeared to be eating breakfast, (which you can apparently get all day long at Roller's Express-O), while her hubby opted for the BLT, a personal favorite, or so I'm told.

"I just love their BLT's," he told me.

While they both asked for anonymity, they were more than happy to share some meal chatter with me. It helped me decide what to order.

I eventually decided to give the corned beef Rueben a go. The sandwich happens to be one of my all-time favorites, and I can't complain about the Roller's version, which contained sauerkraut and Russian dressing.

You can choose your meat – turkey or corned beef – although the sandwich comes standard on seedless, triangularly cut rye.

The dish is served with chips, (I generally prefer fries, but didn't feel like complaining), and I decided to compliment mine with a Cesar salad, and a root beer, which, to my delight, came in one of those old fashioned bottles. The touch helped to round out the nostalgic feel, which, in the end, turned out to be one of my favorite things about Roller's Express-O.

I like to think of myself as a bit of a throwback, so dining in a place with tiled ceilings, authentic countertop seating and a wide assortment of ice cream helped to turn this stop into a positive experience.

Roller's Express-O, which is a sister establishment to Roller's at Flying Fish, also located in Chestnut Hill, serves up menu items such as the French hoagie with brie, a grilled vegetable dish with pesto and provolone, chicken pot pie, quiche, cold cuts, salads such as chicken with grapes and tuna, and more.

The restaurant even has a license to serve wine and beer. The assortment of the latter is impressive, given that on the outside, the place appears to be a mere delicatessen. Beer choices include Hoegaarden, Victory and Amstel.   

The wait staff was friendly and the ambiance reminiscent of years past. Therefore I give this establishment a thumbs-up.

But don't take my word for it. Go check out Roller's Express-O for yourself. I don't imagine you'll be disappointed.