Jason’s Deli opened in December next door to Bonefish Grill in essentially the parking lot of Shopko at West Towne Mall. The chain restaurant has most of its locations in the south; Madison is the first in Wisconsin. The menu is massive, but the good news is it’s hard to go wrong: Basically everything is satisfying, and it’s easy to find something specific to your individual tastes.
Like meat? Any of the “Famous Favorites” is the way to go. For example, the Beefeater ($7.99) is a hearty French dip sandwich. The shaved beef is bursting with flavor, and I’m not convinced it requires the au jus. On my next visit, I’ll probably order the New York Yankee ($9.09), which comes with corned beef and pastrami.
Heading over to the specialty sandwiches, I picked out the Meataballa ($6.99), which is stocked full of small, tasty meatballs. I appreciate that it wasn’t drowned in marinara sauce, as you typically find at other restaurants. The specialty sandwiches, clubs, paninis and Famous Favorites all come with a bag of chips and a pickle.
Of course, a deli is going to have wraps. The turkey wrap ($6.59) didn’t have much turkey in it, but it did include a welcomed combination of guacamole and ranch dressing. You can get fruit, steamed vegetables, chips and salsa or chips and guacamole along with your wrap.
The rest of the menu is comprised of “Meatless Eats,” muffalettas, pasta dishes, soups and salads (I told you the menu was huge!). The Mighty Salmon Salad ($9.69) scared me at first, as it was so full of beans, beets and nuts that I didn’t initially see any salmon (a big chunk was indeed there). The whole ensemble was a bit bland for me, but it is a supremely healthy salad.
Jason’s Deli is open every day for lunch, dinner and carryout. It offers catering and delivery, and it has a drive-thru.
If you’re a follower of low carb, slow carb or Paleo, 
The “limited time” sandwich has remained the same since the grand opening in September, though an employee told me it will soon change each month. Currently it’s the Smoked Turkey Goddess ($7.75), which consists of a delightful combination of avocado, parsley, basil, tarragon, scallions, lemon juice, smoked turkey breast and Havarti cheese.
I’ve always been a fan of Qdoba, so I jumped at a recent invitation to try its new smothered burritos. They come in three flavors–bold red chile, smoky chipotle cream and tangy verde.
The bold red chile is made with toasted red chiles and has a strong flavor of chili powder and paprika. It can overwhelm the burrito a bit, which is why you may want to cut it with some sour cream. On the other hand, the smoky chipotle cream is very mild in flavor, and any smokiness is quite subtle. When choosing between the two, you have to ask yourself, do I want the smother to be the flavor of the burrito or simply complement it?
