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.
Before I walked into 
The special of the day was too tempting to resist. Called the Bourbon Burger ($6.39), it was topped with bacon, cheese, onion straws and a bourbon mayo. Again, the bacon was awesome, and I adored the slightly sweet mayo on this overall satisfying sandwich.
Cafe Porta Alba got new life (and bigger crowds) when it moved from the building that houses Capital Fitness to Hilldale Mall. This summer, it spun off a sister restaurant on the far west side called 
Meanwhile, the Parma ($8.50) with house mozzarella, prosciutto, arugula and cherry tomatoes was a nice balance of the salty flavor from the meat and the sharp flavor from the arugula. All pizzas are 10″ and Neapolitan style, meaning you could order one for yourself, or split one along with an appetizer or dessert with a friend.
