For part two of three for our sandwich wars, we decided to visit Potbelly’s to see how it compares to Jimmy John’s. Potbelly’s is a national chain specializing in warm and toasty subs that are made to order in an assembly line fashion. It’s a more upscale Subway or Quiznos; the menu is more limited, but the ingredients and bread are fresher.
Allyson got her usual favorite – turkey on whole wheat with lettuce, mayo, mustard and pickles. She’s loved Potbelly’s since she first discovered it in middle school near the Regal Cinema in Rockville, Md. The way the warmed mayo and mustard melt together over crispy, toasted bread, added with fresh turkey and light, fresh, crispy lettuce, combines for the perfect bite. And no flavor overpowers another. It’s like a make your own sandwich with the freshest ingredients, the perfect toasted-ness and the right portion size. The sandwich also holds together well–a great, compact sandwich. But, the sandwich should be eaten right away because when it’s not warm, it loses its essence.
Alex ordered the Italian in an attempt to conjure up memories of her favorite cold cut Italian hero in the world: the Super Italian with peppers and mushrooms from Leo’s Latticini (also known as Mama’s) in Corona, N.Y. While Potbelly’s doesn’t come close to Mama’s creation, it sure beat Jimmy John’s Italian sub. Potbelly’s version on the classic comes with four cured pork cold cuts: mortadella (kind of like bologna but more awesome), capicola (spicer, more briny ham), salami and pepperoni. There’s also provolone cheese, and lettuce, tomato and hot peppers upon request. The crunch of the roll and peppers, paired with smooth mouth-feel of the meats and cheese, results in a pleasing textural contrast. The meats are properly seasoned, though Alex would prefer them to be thicker cut. And the provolone should be sharper, in order to stand out among the rest of the sandwich components.
Jimmy John’s has a more diverse menu with flavorful, original sandwiches, but Potbelly’s sandwiches have character and are a more classic, homestyle take on hoagies. Jimmy John’s is satisfying, but Potbelly’s really makes us say “ooohhh.” Na na, na na.
Look out for part 3 of the showdown, for which we take on Jason’s Deli.
Keep it tasty,
Allyson and Alex
Man, I hate Jason’s Deli.