Situated Between San Francisco And Lake Tahoe Is 'One Of America's Best Sandwich Shops'

The former gold mining town of Placerville in Northern California struck gold again when Timmy's Brown Bag — a hidden gem of a sandwich emporium on Main Street that thinks corned beef should be mixed with pickled blueberry slaw and boba bubbles on ciabatta — was ranked No. 100 in Yelp's "Top 100 Places to Eat 2023," making it one of the best sandwich shops in the country.

Subway it's not. The brainchild of former architect Timothy Swischuk, Timmy's is bringing the duopoly of form and function to sammies and creating feats of gastronomy with Asian, Indian, and Mexican flourishes. He started with about a dozen hulking sandwiches featuring everything but the kitchen sink when he opened in 2016 and has grown the menu to a daily rotation of up to 25 fetching $16.50 each (as of this writing).

With a landmark bell tower that's hard to miss, Placerville's central location between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe makes Timmy's an easy draw for locals and tourists alike, especially hungry skiers headed on Route 50 to those double-black diamonds at Kirkwood or nature lovers looking to paddleboard at Lake Tahoe's scenic shores. Some popular orders include the pulled pork sandwich with green chili mac and cheese between two Belgian waffles and chicken satay with harissa cucumber slaw, a chunky peanut butter chili sauce, and masala borugulu (spiced puffed rice). Vegetarians may appreciate a number of options including the vada pav, a Mumbai-inspired specialty with hash brown patties enrobed in spiced slaw, green olives, and pickled carrots; and a thick grilled cheese sandwich layered with Campbell's Tomato Soup vinaigrette, Cheez-Its, and Cheetos, both served on brioche Texas Toast. Sides of truffle oil fries or tater tots can round out the meal when truffle oil is in stock.

It seems like Timothy Swischuk hasn't found an ingredient he doesn't like. It's his architect mind that knows no bounds whether he uses Tang, Kewpie mayo, prawn crackers, or wasabi peas. A Texas native and fan of culinary icons Julia Child and Graham Kerr, he studied architecture at the Southern California Institute of Architecture and went on to work at the glittery firms of Frank Gehry and Richard Meier, then shifted to teaching at universities. When he was ready for a change, he and his son, Max, attended the now closed California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, where upon graduation he worked in Napa. Eventually, the entrepreneurial bug caught and he opened Timmy's with Max, who is now mostly helming operations. While the gold rush city of Placerville isn't short on good food, such as the omelets at Sweetie Pie's and the oysters at Powell's Steamer Co. & Pub, Timmy's is in a league of its own. 

The elder Swischuk told SFGate that his main objective is to not create boring sandwiches. His secret? Always include a protein, a crunchy ingredient, and a savory condiment base. While the sandwiches are huge, the shop not so much at just 192 square feet with a walk-up window for ordering and a few outdoor tables under a covered patio. Take-away is popular, with some patrons downing the sandwiches with cold beers at nearby dive bar Liars' Bench, especially since time is of the essence: Timmy's is only open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

If you have time to walk off all that grub, take a look around Placerville. Open year-round with seasonal hours, the nearby Gold Bug Park and Mine is a trip into the community's past with a tour of the mine, which started in 1888; hard hats are included. You can also step up to the trough and pan for gems and check out mine equipment at the museum.

It's hard to ignore the charm of the downtown shops and their 19th-century architecture, as well as the scent of incense which may waft from Empress. The gypsy-inspired boutique, housed in an 1859 building, is chock-full of bohemian clothes, candles, jewelry, oils, and gifts. Serving clients since 1932, Robinson's Pharmacy is in the business of medicines and vaccinations but also cheerful items like gifts, home decor, and clothes. Also give yourself time to explore The Bookery and its maze of used books while enjoying the company of roaming cats. You can keep exploring at the New England-style Apple Hill, a nearby community of orchards, vineyards, and farms, where you can stock up on refreshments such as apple cider, apple pies, and apple cider doughnuts.

For a little heliotherapy, visit the Eldorado National Forest in the Sierra Nevadas an hour away with its 297 lakes and reservoirs, perfect for fishing and kayaking. And, of course, trails with glorious views and lush greenery abound. Bassi Falls is a favorite, an easy, 4.1-mile hike that leads to a 109-foot waterfall and swimming holes. The Potholes is another accessible hike nearby that rewards with a beautiful overlook and a landscape of smoothed granite domes forming streaming pools from the Silver Fork of the American River. Dip your toe in or take a full-body cold plunge.