La Comida Corner with Scott and Mr. Sergio

Serge Seplovich and Scott Novak / Opinion Editor and Staff Writer / The USD Vista

SS: As promised, my colleague and I ventured out past the confines of Mission Beach this week. It took a lot of courage and will power, but Scott and I finally broke free from our comfort zone shackles.

SN: Yes, readers, we even made it past Pacific Beach, traveling all the way to La Jolla for this week’s morsel of restaurant knowledge. North of Pacific Beach, just east of Mission Boulevard on Turquoise Street, we encountered a quaint little sandwich and smoothie shop that goes by the name of Chronic Smoothies.

SS: This little beach bungalow offers a variety of options to conquer both your hunger and sweet tooth. Chronic Smoothies offers both breakfast and deli sandwiches for all you deli fanatics. These sandwiches are adorned with only the finest quality of meat. Yes, that’s right. These sandwiches are made with Boars Head meat. The smoothies, their bread and butter, are all made with fresh fruit.

SN: I don’t know about you, but I prefer a thicker smoothie, one with a little more oomph, and that’s exactly what Chronic delivered. Good consistency, great fruity taste and not too tough on the wallet for under $3.

SS: Their “Cantaberry Crush” smoothie actually tasted like I was biting into a slice of cantaloupe. It was a refreshing change from the nutra-sweet tasting slush you get at other smoothie shops. For my sandwich I opted for the “C.R.B.” Cheddar and warm, thinly sliced roast beef anchored this sub. Fresh tomatoes, lettuce, onions, peppers, mustard and mayo all joined this tasty party on a soft wheat roll. How do you spell delicious? Apparently, at Chronic Smoothies it’s C-R-B.

SN: I selected Chronic’s staple sub sandwich, aptly named “The Chronic Sub.” This was a delicious composition of Sausalito turkey, provolone cheese, avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onions and, of course, the options of mayo and mustard. Although it was a fairly scrumptious sandwich, the price tag was a little exorbitant for what I got. At $7 I feel I paid almost double what this sandwich was worth. It was quite enjoyable, but I probably should have just made a sandwich at home and taken a ride on the roller coaster.

SS: My trusty associate brings up a good point. The major drawback to these otherwise tasty subs was the lack of meat. Chronic Smoothies would definitely benefit by piling on a little more of the good stuff to balance out the giant roll they give you. I understand the quality of meat here is better than your average deli, but that’s no excuse. There were some bites I took where wheat bread and mustard overpowered the turkey and cheese. This should never happen. Overall though, the sandwich delivered its promise of tastiness.

SN: Although the sandwiches were definitely on the pricey side, Chronic Smoothies’ décor was a definite plus. I was able to watch Matt Ryan lead the Falcons on their little TV, and during commercial breaks, I was thoroughly entertained by the multitude of stickers that cover every inch of the shop. The contents of their fridge were also quite amusing, with an awe-inspiring display of vitamin and energy drinks. Apparently, “Playboy” is now in the energy drink business, but I refrained from purchasing it because I don’t think Hef needs any more silk robes.

SS: The countertop was covered with fliers promoting upcoming concerts, festivals and activities around the area. Hip stickers adorned the door and walls, which gave Scott and I something colorful and fun to look at while waiting patiently for our order.

SN: Overall, Chronic Smoothies is a cool spot to get your grub on in La Jolla. However, it does more of a number on your wallet than your hunger. Don’t get me wrong, the sandwiches are good, but not $7 good.

SS: I agree. As appetizing as the food was, my bank account was not pleased with me afterward. But hey, my belly was, and that’s all that matters right?

SN: Join us next week for another stroke of culinary genius from Scott and Mr. Sergio.