Oh, man, we're coming down to it--Bravo's Top Chef just keeps getting better and better. Watch this San Francisco-based series tonight at 10 p.m. before it's too late! Someone is walking away from this competition with a bunch of stuff, including money and a spread in Food & Wine. As usual, we're reminding you what happened last week to hype you up for tonight's episode.

This ep's quickfire challenge (no longer providing immunity to the winner, though): sammiches! This is judge Chef Tom C.'s bag, man -- he's got a well-known New York-based sandwich restaurant. In fact, the winning creation will be featured on the menu at Chef Tom's new SF 'WichCraft restaurant, opening soon at the San Francisco Center. The contestants' entries have mixed results. Props to Dave for evoking a cartoon we're fond of with his "Grape Ape sandwich." Lee Anne's egg, salami & sunchoke Sandwich almost makes Chef Tom choke, literally -- she didn't cut the greens, and he's got crap hanging out of his mouth on national (well, basic cable) TV. Tiffani's French toast toad-in-the-hole seems decadent -- perhaps too rich? Invoking Lex Luthor (a.k.a. Stephen)'s theme of not playing well with others, his brunch brioche sandwich has incompatible flavors. Chef Tom considers it inedible. Poor Miggy--sort of like the "street food" challenge a few weeks ago, a sandwich really needs to be eaten with your hands. He didn't remember this lesson and made an inverted falafel that required a fork. Chef Tom indicates his would have won hands down based on flavor. Alas. Instead, the victory goes to Harold's mortadella dandelion sandwich, which will live on as part of 'wichcraft's SF-store menu.

Onto the BIG CHALLENGE of the week -- restaurant wars! The contestants divide into two teams of three; each team will create a restaurant, including concept, theme, look, menu, etc., then bring it to life for some diners to judge. Ah, if only all conflict could be resolved through culinary battle with Jeffrey Chodorow as the guest judge.

That's right -- famous restaurateur Chodorow, no stranger to food-based reality television. He was featured as the sort-of-dick owner guy on that show with Rocco whatsisface. Looks like he's lost some weight since then. An extra-special prize: one member of the winning team will go with Chodorow to the Cannes Film Festival. Extra-predictable punishment: one member of the losing team goes home.

Lee Anne is distraught -- she's teamed with "the big thinker" (Lex, naturally) and the "no thinker" (Miguel). Fairly apt, if somewhat bitchy, descriptions. Despite Chunk's objections, they go for Spanish food. Mig's not so familiar with it, but he relents. They call it "Sabor."

Tiffani, Dave, and Harold go with Tiffani's concept: a family-style comfort-food sort of place called American Workshop. Ah, visions of wood shavings and safety goggles. Tiff's had this name and concept squirreled away in her brain for like six years; giving it up is her next stop on the path to martyrdom.

Stephen is at the front of the house for Sabor; Dave fulfills that role for American Workshop. Stephen drastically overestimates what his budget will buy and spends a ton of time at the store picking the plates and wine glasses, while Dave makes it back in a fairly timely manner. Stephen spends too much time "educating" (indoctrinating) guests into the world of Stephen (which mostly consists of naming the subtle differences in wines from obscure regions of Spain). Food gets cold. Folks seem to like it more or less, though. Dave is kicking ass as a host; he's attentive and friendly--his mopey personality has vanished for now. American Workshop's roast chicken also gets high marks from patrons.

Results: American Workshop wins. Tiff seems to think that the Cannes prize should be hers--she's almost expectant about it, actually, after she gave up her awesomely clever name for sake of a competition. Shocker to her, Dave gets that honor for his fabulous front-house work, which may have been the difference. Harold lauded both, but supported that honor going to Dave. Yay Dave! Since we have our doubts about his ability to win the whole competition, at least he really got a chance to shine in this episode.

Losing team: Mig took a backseat to the other two--Chef Tom says that the competition ain't called "top sous chef." Stephen's knocked for, well, being Stephen. Overeducating, as it were. Lee Anne, as the team leader, takes a spot of heat . . . but she stays, as does the epitome of evil amongst food-based reality show contestants. And, man, what a bummer--Chunk la Funk has left the building. See you, Miggy.

Tonight--who knows? Any predictions?