C4 Deli – The Cure for the Common

C4 Deli is a noble option in DTSA.
I found myself in Santa Ana on business when the familiar pangs of hunger had me reaching for the iPhone to suss out my bookmark situation on the Unilocal application. C4 was 6 short blocks away and had a 4 star aggregate score? Sold.
The vibe at C4 is very cool, borderline trendy, with an attentive and welcoming staff. A fun mashup of 90’s punk was playing the day I visited which seemed to fit the feel of the restaurant perfectly. The menu is straightforward and offers all of the usual suspects in the form of deli sandwiches as well as a few surprises thrown in here and there for variety. Their bread is baked fresh on site, meats are hand cured, and produce is pickled or made from scratch each day to insure the highest of standards.
The person taking my order endorsed the Pastrami so I ended up going that route along with a Diet Pepsi. All in the damage tallied $ 11.50 which is about par for the course for a Pastrami lunch these days. The affable guy that took my order brought my lunch out within 5 minutes and it was game time.
C4 keeps is real with their Pastrami and I respect that. Here is the ingredient list: House cured Pastrami, Deli Mustard and fresh baked Marble Rye. The bread is easily the star of the show thanks to the way it becomes impregnated with the mustard without becoming soggy yet maintains it’s own unique flavor profile and mouthfeel. The quality of the ingredients is absolutely unquestionable and you can taste the love put into the product.
That said…
The Pastrami itself is decent but I would have liked more smoke flavor as all I got was the brine cutting through. Another grievance I had was with the amount of meat in the sandwich; 5 measly ounces simply doesn’t cut it in the world of Pastrami. The bread/​meat ratio was a feeble 1:1 which is disappointing. Hopefully over time they make this sandwich a bit more rotund. Oh — and the supplied house made Chips and Pickle were both notably delicious and rounded out the sandwich to a tee.
There is certainly room for improvement on C4’s Pastrami but don’t think for a minute that I will not return to try more of their offerings. The craft Beer and French Dip offerings demand it.

Everyone on this planet is a wonder of this world. Every one of us is a hero in some way or another, you will not only find the best food in town but also some of SAPD’S fines, Small victories lead to large victories, «thank you boys the city is looking good, C4 deli is unlike anything else here in dtsa «this place is just plain beautiful» speaking of beautiful Sabrina your beautiful inside & out thank you for the hospitality. «What you waiting for people» begin to live each day as if it was your last. Starting today love more, laugh more enjoy yourself more. You’ll find that all here at C4 Deli, Don’t deny your destiny make it C4Deli.

While it ended up being pretty tasty, it took just shy of 30 minutes to get a tuna salad sandwich. I can only assume that this was due to them driving to the ocean, disembarking aboard a vessel, catching a tuna, gutting it, cleaning it, returning to shore, driving back to the restaurant, preparing it and then serving it to me.

Went here this weekend for a casual lunch with a couple friends and the baby. We walked in on a Saturday during the day, after lunch and before dinner, and the bar was fairly full but there were a couple booths and few tables open. I appreciated the ambiance; it was casual but nice and seemed like a good place to grab a casual lunch, a beer with the friend, go with your family, etc. They had a good variety of beers and similarly the menu was fairly varied and had something for everybody which was certainly appreciated. I really wanted the Pastrami but my wife ordered the Brisket and I was scared if I fell in love with her brisket as I am wont to do I would be sad I didn’t get it so I got the brisket as well. It was a tasty bbq beef sandwich but fell a little short in the brisket department (versus what you would get at a bbq joint). I thought the prices for the food were reasonable, the food I had was good, and the location and overall vibe great so I will give this a four stars. I think the best thing I can say is that I will definitely come back to try a few more sandwiches and reserve the right to update my review at this time. I think there might be five star potential here.

Great sandwich awesome potato salad meatloaf sandwich was awesome. Service is questionable but overall –Hey it’s okay to get up and get your refills who cares.
Food is really good

I’m going to have to agree with my fellow Unilocal friends, and give C4 a solid four stars. I’ve had it bookmarked for some time, and while the hubby wanted to go back to Gail’s, I begged to try something new. I’m sure glad I got my way (as if I wouldn’t), because this was some damn tasty sammies. Dollar wise, we spent about five dollars more than our last visit to Gail’s, but the atmosphere and vibe of this place more than made up for the cost difference.
The hubby went with pastrami on a very nice French roll, and added some grilled onions and Swiss to it. He was very happy with this, although the portion of meat was definitely a little on the light side. I on the other hand, had the Reuben on rye, and it was ginormous. It too was tasty, and I savored every bite. We also enjoyed the house made crispy potato chips. I was actually a little bummed that I didn’t get a scoop of their awesome looking potato salad. Next time…

After waking up to a hangover, the lot of us drifted in here in order to grab drinks while we waited for our reservation to come up. Once we we sat with our drinks though and looked through the menu, we realized that we actually wouldn’t mind grabbing food here.
The brunch menu looked great so my fiancé and I ordered the AM-​panada, biscuits and gravy, and the Monte Cristo sandwich. To start, I gotta say, I love the French press coffee and their cups are cute. :D Back to the food though, everything was delicious. The empanada was perfectly doughy with a great filling. I loved how seemingly light the gravy was for the biscuits and altogether it was great. My main dish was the Monte Cristo, which I hadn’t had in a while. The side of tater tots was quite bountiful which was awesome and the French toast was a thick cut. That was a great brunch and the service was fantastic.

I’m so bummed. This was one of those bookmarked and even word of mouth recommended places on my list. We came with a group of 4 around 6, all tables open and bar had a few patrons. Menu looked awesome and of course the vibe was fantastic.
We ordered two pastrami, one meatloaf, and one caprese salad.
Pastrami in our minds should be stacked high like a jaw stretching meaty bite. There were two chewy slices in each sandwich and more mustard than meat. Fries were awesome though but the homemade potato chips didn’t taste like anything, not even potatoes.
Caprese salad was decent. I liked the crunch in the pesto. But the rest was just OK.
Meatloaf was super bland and the BBQ tasted burnt. The bread was nice but the whole thing didn’t really taste like anything. For the bacon pastrami meat combo it really fell flat. Pasta salad was hard and also just bland.
Service was great, the guy was super attentive. He earned the stars for this place.
I’m not sure if this is mostly a lunch spot and that could be it, an off night, or maybe we just ordered wrong. I really wanted to love this place.

I’ve dined in, I’ve ordered delivery through Postmastes, I’ve picked up. Suffice it to say I’m a fan. The staff is efficient and friendly. The general vibe is a retro, garage deli? I love their salads and sandwiches and on occasion the sides and soups entice me as well. C4 Deli Spicy potatoes I love you.

It is honestly my dream to own a place like this.
— Casual environment
— Hip location
— GREAT selection of brews (local and not)
— Yummy creative sandwiches
— Weekend brunch with mimosas
— TVs for the game
They really have it all. We were in here for an early lunch one Sunday, service was a bit shoddy (they forgot to bring our beers so we had to go back and check with them, finally got beer, food was delivered without the side) but other than that had a really great time and will be back.

I have been to C4 several times but it is always just for a drink or snack I have never ordered the sandwiches until yesterday. And WOW! Why did not I not order these sandwiches before? They are so good.
I got the Little Italy-​Salami, Capocollo, Mortadella, Provolone, Basil, Marinara Sauce, Toasted Baguette, with Potato Chips. The bread was so fresh, perfectly toasted and the marinara sauce is amazing add so much flavor to the dish. I love the different meats as well. Just a great sandwich.
Sundays they $ 10 endless mimosas until 2pm. There brunch menu looks amazing too. Happy Hour everyday from 3pm-​7pm.
The only sad part is there is no more charcuterie plates, I guess not enough people were ordering it. I thought that was sad, they were really good.

Food was an A but service was an A+. Extremely friendly and helpful staff.
We originally sat down across the street at Gypsy Den… Big mistake. We weren’t greeted or acknowledged for over 10mins!!! We walked out and spotted C-​4.
Bottomless mimosas for $ 10 and the food was epic. We ordered be Ruben sandwich and chilaquiles. Both amazing.
Definitely recommend this spot to anyone.

Happy find! Stumbled into this deli because the the servers across the street at Gypsy didn’t acknowledge us for 5 minutes.
Walked into C4 and was immediately greeted by two guys that were helpful and cool.
We ordered the empanadas, fries, tomato soup, and craft beers.
Everything was delicious and I loved the vinyl booths and midcentury styles chairs.
Thank you!

Short and sweet — gorgeous, modern, hip interior (someone designed the heck out of this space), with a well-​thought, side display of wines and tidbits about each vino (which acts as their sellable wine along the right side of the eatery), killer tables, nooks, and counter seating, and people who elevate deli to a whole other level.
All of their sandwiches and sides are hand made with an eloquent and hearty culinary take. This is what I’d probably call «refined deli». Plus it’s delicious! Their Reuben definitely competes with this hole in the wall German-​owned deli near my house — simply hand-​crafted and scrumptious! They also make some drinks on location, like their lavender lemonade, which they will happily refill for you before you leave (bonus!).
If the parking near C4 wasn’t so sparse and their location so far away from the 4^th street hub, I’d definitely be here more often. But if you’re looking for one of the best deli sandwiches ever, make the trek — your tummy will thank you!

This place is less than mediocre. I’ve been here multiple times because my buddies like this place, and I always leave disappointed. For the price you pay, you expect a decent amount of food. I’m not saying a ton, but I at least want to leave with a full stomach.
Not only are the portions minimal, but their service also falls short of expectations. The server may walk to your table and ask if you need anything maybe once during your meal.
Lastly, the time… Never once have I waited less than 20 minutes to receive my food. There was one morning where my friends and I (a group of 3) were the only ones in the deli, and we still waited 20+ minute to get 3 breakfast burritos.
If you have time to kill and not much of an appetite, C4 is your place. If not, go somewhere else.

Where’s my BELT.
Okay, that sounds like my mom preparing to give little Steve an ass whooping (literally), but no. It’s my question to my wife when she brings food home from C4 Deli. I love it when the wifey surprises me with some new found grub.
Here’s the rundown:
B.E.L.T. — Bacon, Fried Egg, Lettuce & Tomato. Yes, a BLT w/​an Egg. What a genius idea. I love a good BLT sandwich and this was very good. Then add a fried egg to it, Delicious! The yolk flavoring every inch of the BLT added to the creaminess along with the aioli. The squaw bread was the perfect bread for this yummy sammie. Get this one.
Reuben — «Hot pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss, Russian dressing on marble rye bread» This was just okay for me. The wrapper it came in was very greasy from the buttered marble rye bread. Not enough meat and the Russian dressing was muted.
Italian Chopped Salad «Italian Cold Cuts, Provolone, Iceberg Lettuce, Pepperoncini, Chickpeas, Diced Tomatoes, Creamy Herb Vinaigrette, House-​Made Croutons» Yum, Yum, Yum! A very filling salad with almost everything I like. The cold cuts were delicious, but more of it would have been better. The vinaigrette was money.
Home made potato chips — the sandwiches came with these and they were the best potato chip I’ve had in a long long time. Perfectly crispy and seasoned just right.
Chocolate Chip Cookie (Free) — why does anything that’s free taste so good. Lol. I’m not a cookie person, but these babies rocked.
Service was good and fast.
Price was reasonable.
I’ll take a BELT any time. The sandwich, not the one my mom has. Lmao. Just kidding Mommy =)
2015 Review #82

Simply put, C4 Deli is just wonderful. We happened upon this place by chance – we never knew it was here in Downtown Santa Ana! Located just kitty corner from the Gypsy Den, if you happen to walk on the correct side of the street, you’ll come across this place and be drawn in by the happy sounding din.
We were warmly welcomed by Michael and his friends – they were all celebrating Michael’s 50^th birthday. After declining the cake (dinner before dessert, friends!) we made our way to the bar to take a look at the menu before deciding to order two sandwiches: a Caprese sandwich and the Piggy Plank sandwich. I also ordered an Arnold Palmer while the bf had a Mexican Coke. Both sandwiches came with their house made chips and a spicy pickle spear.
While waiting for our sandwiches, we had a chance to really take in the deli. Part hipster bar with easy on the eyes but not too dim of an ambiance and part streetside café/​deli, we were impressed by the beer selection, the clean bar and TVs, and the overall comfortable atmosphere. Comfort – this is a big thing for us.
You know how sometimes you’ll walk into a bar and you feel out of place because of… well, it could be anything from the people to the choice in lighting. C4 had a fine balance of friendly people and bar service, along with good food and an impressive selection of brews.
We devoured our sandwiches and chips (very fresh chips – we wanted more). The baguettes they used were fresh and chewy, and my sandwich wasn’t overloaded with caprese thankfully, since I was wearing red lipstick. Ladies, why do we wear lipstick when we’re going out to eat?! The boyfriend absolutely loved his Piggy Plank sandwich and why wouldn’t he? Meat galore! His favorite part about it though was the pressed baguette.
If you’re wondering if C4 is kid friendly, well, that depends. There is a bar in here after all, and I didn’t see any high chairs off hand. There is a lack of seating and I doubt you’d want your kid to sit at the main bar; however, there is counter seating opposite of the bar.
There are two restrooms, both are single-​use only I believe. The women’s restroom has a changing table. A communal sink is located in between the men and women’s restrooms, and the area was quite clean and well maintained. Excellent lighting to reapply lipstick as needed.
It’s safe to say we’re coming back and next time I’m ordering a beer!

*This review is for OC restaurant week*
Their dinner menu was for $ 20 including alcohol.
For $ 20 I got their house red wine, turkey sandwich, pesto pasta salad, and the chocolate chip cookie.
My S.O. ordered the beer, bbq brisket, potato salad, and cheesecake.
I loved the décor of the place and the giant wall of beer and wine. The food was just ok. Everything tasted average. The cheesecake was disappointing. It came in a cup so there was no crust. They did have a graham cracker crumble on top but I needed more crunch. But they have a lot of pickled vegetables that I’m interested in trying.
It’s located in downtown Santa Ana so it’s all street parking or the nearby structures/​pay lots.

One step in the door and you are immediately hit in the face by the hipster vibe of this place. C4 Deli truly is a cure for the common, everything they do here is a bit out of the norm but that is what sets them apart from your average deli.
C4 is located in the heart of Downtown Santa Ana off Broadway across the street and adjacent to their sister restaurant Chapter One. C4 offers a ton of deli sandwiches and sides, offers a full scale brunch on Sundays with $ 10 mimosas (bottomless I believe) and also has an array of great happy hour deals. I had only been to C4 once before a Unilocal event a year or two back and thought the food was decent but really liked the old school feel of the place. They have just a few tables inside for guests and they do fill up quickly as well as about 10 bar stools so if you hit them during peak hours there will be a bit of a wait.
I was happy to see that C4 was participating in this years OC Restaurant Week as this gave me the chance to come back down and give them a try once again. We are very rarely in the Downtown Santa Ana area (especially since our grilled cheese restaurant closed up shop) but we planned a special trip down to give them a try.
Prior to the drive over I decided to call up the restaurant and verify the hours of the lunch deals for Restaurant Week as I wanted to make sure these ran on the weekends as they are normally in brunch at this time. The staff seemed completely lost but did do everything they could to get my question answered. I was later told upon arrival that they completely forgot about the Restaurant Week until it snuck up on them and people began to ask about the specials… oops. After a few minutes on the phone they told me that they would run both the brunch and lunch deals simultaneously and that while the brunch deals would end at 2 that lunch would run until 4.
As we arrived the place was quite busy and we quickly snatched up a table that had just emptied out. Again, after a minute of confusion on finding the correct Restaurant Week menu for lunch we were finally able to order. My wife went with the meatloaf sandwich with tomato bisque soup for her side while I went with the brisket sandwich and a side of dill pickles. My wife seemed to enjoy both the soup as well as the sandwich as both were gobbled up quite quickly. The brisket sandwich was also very good but the pickles were flimsy and a bit disappointing to me overall. Both meals also came with a bag of potato chips that were tasty as well.
All in all, I felt that the special we had was a pretty good deal and we both enjoyed our meals. I would say overall that this was a 3.5 star experience but I will round it up for them going the extra mile to get me the answers to my questions when most people probably would have simply given up. I would definitely come back again if I was in the area.

This place is solid. I came here on a Friday evening wanting something simpler than the rest of what hipster DTSA had to offer.
Their décor is very 1950s modern diner with red stools around a bar and small tables with vinyl blue chairs. They also have a wall of wines and beers, and on Friday, it’s Funky Friday with some DJs.
The beer list had local options, many of them were high gravity. You can buy bottles of beer as well to drink there or take home. Same with the wine.
I got three beef and pork meatballs with marbled rye on the side. My co-​worker ordered the B.E.L.T. and boy do I wish I would’ve had that instead. Both were good but that just looked better. Also a standout was their butternut squash mac and cheese on the specials menu. C4 constantly has specials.
If you don’t enjoy the music, they have TVs as well.