Sammich, ‘the Cheers of sandwich shops’ in Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Love a good sandwich? Melissa McMillan has the place for you.

McMillan owns Sammich, designed to be an inviting place for everyone who loves what she loves — roasting, curing and smoking meats.

Though she spent most of her life in Chicago, she was born in Texas. Her family has a ranch and conversations with her big brothers often revolve around barbecue.

“It’s such primitive form of cooking and it’s so really easy to screw up because people want to take shortcuts,” McMillan told KOIN 6 News.

There is no shortcut for her signature Montreal-style pastrami sandwich, the Pastami Zombie.

“You can taste the love, time and quality that goes into it. It’s smoky, it’s salty, it’s juicy, it’s fatty. And the combination with the coleslaw and the texture, it’s very unassuming,” she said.

She also appreciates the locally-made ingredients, including the bread.

“We use Grand Central and Dos Hermanos,” McMillan said. “It’s so important because the bread is baked fresh every day. It changes the difference of how a sandwich is made.”

But her Chicago influence is hard to miss at Sammich. The menu has a Chicago Italian Beef and the Timbo, a Chicago cheesesteak.

“I’m obsessed with the Cubs, the Bulls, the Bears. My first two dogs were Cubby and Wrigley, and now my dogs are Deep Dish and Shortstop,” she said. “I have a Chicago tattoo. I got another one over here. This is my favorite one. That’s Wrigley Spaghetti Amatriciana Mortadella Tow Truck Tug Boat McMillan.”

There are two Sammich locations. The first one in Ashland opened in 2013 while she was working in restaurants and coaching Little League baseball.

The newer one is in Portland at 2137 E Burnside.

“This is a great spot to be in,” McMillan said. “It’s right in an awesome neighborhood. We have our regulars. It’s kind of like the ‘Cheers’ of sandwich shops and when new people come, they get frustrated that they haven’t been here sooner.”