When I was a student at DLI, my favorite place to eat when the mess hall fare was questionable was Compagno's Deli, just a few blocks away from campus. The place was friendly and inexpensive, and served the most amazing deli sandwiches. They were probably the biggest sandwiches I'd ever seen!I am happy to say that when I visited the Monterey Peninsula last December with my family, I found Compagno's still there and still serving their phenomenal food! The atmosphere is that of a friendly neighborhood shop - the owners are friendly and they obviously still cater to the DLI crowd. It does get a little crowded around lunchtime, but to me, that's just a sign of great food! My husband and I decided to split a roast beef sub and some broccoli salad. There is also a great selection of drinks, some definitely quirkier than others. We got this whole meal for around $12. The sandwich was as good as I remembered - served on a large squarish roll with fresh meat and plenty of onions, just the way I like it!
Compagno's is a great choice for tourists planning a picnic, a walk on the beach, or maybe a drive down to Big Sur. It is off the beaten path, on the top of a hill up from Fisherman's Wharf, about a block away from the Presidio. It is totally worth finding, though!