There's quality, and then there's quality. You'll taste the best of the best when you sink your teeth into Gandolfo's Pastrami Sandwich. This gotta-have-it gourmet pastrami, direct from New York City, is sliced fresh and piled high on baked-today rye bread. Pair yours with Gandolfo's famous Sour Cream and Bacon Potato Salad and a kosher dill. Real foodies will finish the experience with an authentic Italian gelato or handcrafted cheesecake. This summer, ditch the pot luck standards and arrive with an impressive ready-to-serve New York spread that will earn you major points. Gandolfo's New York Delicatessen is located in the Hasley Canyon Shopping Center 257-8844.


What could be more American than gathering with friends and family to watch the playoffs (or UFC fights or baseball or basketball or...) in a high-energy place that rivals even the best Chicago sports bars? At Wings Pizza-N-Things Sports Bar & Grill, you'll keep your eyes on the game (nine HD flat screens!) and on the bottom line ($20 can feed a family of four). Grab a beer and order up their Jumbo Buffalo Wings. They use quality ingredients and feature 12 proprietary sauces that give their wings knock-your-socks-off flavor. Whether you like it sweet, mild, hot or HOT, this is the place for great food and even more fun - even if you are rooting for the Cubs! Wings, Pizza & Things is located in the Hasley Canyon Shopping Center
295-1000 www.wingsnpizza.com.


"El Rinconcito" means "the little corner" in Spanish, but there's nothing small about the authentic flavors you'll discover here. In the tradition of Mexican cowboys, known as vaqueros, El Rinconcito serves their freshly-prepared Fajitas with your choice of marinated sizzling steak strips or succulent grilled chicken (Or, for the indecisive, chicken and steak!). Your perfectly-seasoned meats are served with a mix of garden-fresh grilled bell peppers and onions, plus flavorful rice, beans, handmade tortillas and guacamole. You'll be craving this delicious platter through summer and beyond.
El Rinconcito Mexican Restaurant is located in the Hasley Canyon Shopping Center 702-0357 www.elrinconcitoca.com.


At Maui Wowi Hawaiian, you can combine different flavors to create your very own favorite smoothie, like this Mango Orange combination. These rich, creamy delights are created from the finest products with no artificial anything and are available in a variety of tropical flavors. Try their Maui Wowi pure Kona coffee; it'll be the richest, most flavorful cup of coffee you've ever had! Sit back and savor the aroma and flavor; let the mild acidity and nutty sweetness envelop your senses and take you away to a Hawaiian island paradise. Maui Wowi is located in the Hasley Canyon Shopping Center 775-9800.


At Akasaka Sushi, Super-fresh Sushi is combined with friendly, knowledgeable staff who happily make recommendations to novices and eagerly accommodate the special requests of sushi aficionados. Akasaka's reputation for great service, excellent food and even better prices (try the lunch combo specials that start at only $6.99 or the wildly-popular All You Can Eat service) have found a new home in Castaic. The family-run business provides a welcome, and delicious, alternative to the over-priced and hyped "designer" sushi restaurant. Akasaka Sushi is located in the Hasley Canyon Shopping Center 257-6661.