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Eating my way through your advice, an ambitious list of vegetarian sandwiches from 24 different restaurants More Comments Come True.
Whenever my friends Mitch and Jess would visit us from Baltimore, their first request would be to grab sandwiches at Potbelly. I never understood why, and after my most recent tasting there, I still can’t comprehend their enthusiasm for the chain.
Two different commenters suggested I try Potbelly’s veggie sandwich, although Shannon clarifies her endorsement with “in a pinch.” And last-fucking-resort is right. The bread is fine. Nothing exciting. But nothing terrible. And, after a zip through a 140-degree oven, with Swiss, provolone and mozzarella melted on top, it’s barely noticeable. But what makes this the veggie sandwich is the appearance of mushrooms.
The man who made my sandwich told me the mushrooms come pre-cooked to the store, although after biting into the thing, I’m not sure they are cooked at all. Maybe just pre-sliced? The mushrooms tasted, well, how do you describe nothing? Bland. Plain.
I would have rather filled this sandwich with cheese and Potbelly’s free toppings, especially the hot peppers. Which is actually much more than hot peppers. In addition to jalapeños, the collection of well-heated goods include carrots, green olives, celery and cauliflower. So if you’re in desperate need of a meatless hoagie, ditch the mushrooms and opt for heat and cheese.
In order of appearance in the comments:
- Cork Market
- Cowgirl Creamery
- Busboys and Poets (sandwich 1) (sandwich 2)
- Taylor Gourmet (sandwich 1) (sandwich 2)
- Booeymonger
- Pret a Manger
- California Tortilla
- Jaleo (sandwich 1) (sandwich 2)
- Highland Cafe
- Jimmy John’s
- Greek Spot
- Sticky Fingers
- Earl’s
- Yum’s
- Super Taco
- Luna Grill
- Five Guys
- Sidamo
- Everlasting Life
- Au Bon Pain
- Devon & Blakely
- Corner Bakery
Potbelly- Black Squirrel
Photo by Stefanie Gans