The Rolling Stoves

Update on 12/20/11: Rolling Stoves is back at the North Station food pod (N Killingsworth and N Greeley) and will re-open in January2012!

The Rolling Stoves (Gimme Sandwich) is a sandwich food cart located near the corner of SE 47th and Hawthorne in Portland, Oregon. Rolling Stoves was originally at the North Station food pod for a couple of months, then migrated to SE Portland seeking more foot traffic during the winter.

Menu (as of mid-October 2011)

Drinks menu (as of mid-October 2011)

I asked the cart operator what the inspiration was behind the name of the cart. Basically, just a tribute to the Rolling Stones. Interestingly, it's not her favorite band, but figured the playful twist on the famous band was cool. And hey, it works.

I ordered the Rolling Stoves' signature item: the Famous French Dip ($7): thinly sliced tri-tip beef, melted Monterrey Jack cheese, caramelized onions, and horseradish mayo on a toasted french baguette, with hot Au Jus on the side.

Famous French Dip (Rolling Stoves)

The thinly sliced juicy tri-tip was well-seasoned. The fully melted jack cheese provided that pleasing stringy experience. The horseradish mayo is not overpowering and instead complements the tri-tip. Perfectly caramelized onions here. Finally, the French baguette was just how I like it: lightly toasted on the outside for a slight crunch, with a soft and enjoyable inside.

The au jus had a comfort-food aura to it. It wasn't very robust in flavor, but still had that warm feeling that made me want to pick up the little container and just drink the damn thing like a shot of liquor. Rolling Stoves' French dip is a very successful sandwich.

Other popular menu items include:

Portland Cheese Steak ($7): Thinly sliced tri-tip beef, melted cheddar, caramelized onions, grilled peppers, and cheese whiz. Add crispy pancetta bacon for $1 more.

Chicken Salad Sandwich ($6): Herb-roasted chicken, mayo cranberries, celery, and green onions, with melted Monterrey Jack cheese and ripe Roma tomatoes.

Caprese Sandwich ($6): Mozzarella, Roma tomatoes, arugula, Balsamic dressing, and fresh basil.

I'm a fan of the Rolling Stoves' French dip! Hopefully, I'll have time to come back for some of their other menu items in the future. 8/10