By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Contributor

There are many things I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with since moving from Boston years ago. The cold winters are at the top of that list. However, there are many things I really miss: summer nights at Fenway Park watching the Red Sox is first on that list. A very close second is the access to so many good Italian deli’s.

One of my apartments was right next door to one such deli. Sadly, there is nothing like it here, or at least I hadn’t found one. This past week I went to Doc’s Sandwich Shop and Deli, 4019 Fern Ave., Suite 300, Shreveport, mainly because I heard that their Smash Burger was so good.

When we got there my companion immediately went for the Smash Burger, so now I was stuck. How could I really say a place has good food if I only tried one item?

There were so many upper-scale sandwiches to choose from, not to mention the build your own option, that I was struggling with what to order. I zeroed in on the Great Italian sandwich, as it sounded authentic, and it’s been way too long since I’ve had one. They were out of French bread, so I had mine on a Baguette.

The moment I got my sandwich, I was transformed back to Boston and those Italian delis. The high quality of the cold cuts was immediately evident. It was so good I almost didn’t get a little taste that Smash Burger I originally went in for — almost.

Smash Burgers are a weakness of mine, so the couple bites I was allowed to have helped me get over not ordering it. Well, not really! It had so much flavor, was juicy and required extra napkins just to eat it. It’s one of my telltale signs a burger is good if I need extra napkins. I am already planning my next visit to order just that.

Doc’s menu states they use high-quality ingredients and fresh-baked breads from Lowder Baking Company. Even with only having tried two items, I can attest to their high standards, all the way down to the lettuce and tomatoes; they were fresh and juicy. After reading that, I am glad they chose not to go get store-bought bread to replace being out of the fresh French Bread. Holding one’s standards and being out of an item tells me that the ownership holds their food to the highest standard.

I didn’t ask about the Italian dressing, but I’d guess it made in-house as well, or if it isn’t it’s a high-quality brand made in Italy. It was so authentic, and for an Italian sandwich it’s the first thing that makes or breaks it.

Contact David at dersoff@bellsouth.net