I've been meaning to try Jimmy John's for a long time. Since I was at the county office to renew my car registration today, I gave it a shot.
My overall impression is that it's a good sandwich. They seem to have a good variety, the quality of ingredients is good, and they had it done and handed to me within a minute or two of ordering it - even with the long line of people in front of me!
On the other hand... it's still just a sandwich. I'd choose Jimmy John's over Subway or other sub-sandwich shops that we currently have, though.
As a low-carber, I sometimes feel wasteful when I ignore the bread on entrees, but not at Jimmy John's! I got a hearty Country Club Unwich and was pleasantly surprised that it was actually wrapped in several pieces of lettuce (not just a couple of slivers, like some places). It was plenty of food and very tasty.
I visited Jimmy John's because friends were excited Waco was getting one. Knowing nothing of it, I tried it. Twice. And both times left me feeling like it was over-rated. The sandwiches are heavy on the bread (which normally I don't mind) and heavy on the lettuce. There was some meat in mine and other good flavors. But I was disapointed and let down since I expected a lot more. Don't get me wrong, it was still good. But I can find a similiar sandwich somewhere else.
I am gluten intolerant, which means that sandwich joints are generally to be avoided. Jimmy John's offers the lovely, low carb substitute of "The Unwich". Honesty compels me to say that The Unwich is not my favorite food, and in my pre sans-gluten days JJ's was not my favorite sandwich shop. However, we do go there once every week or two, and I alter my order slightly every time, sometimes to it's betterment and sometimes not. It's nice to be able to order something at a sandwich shop, even if it is just a glorified salad minus the bowl. So, take that for what you will. I always get the vegetarian unwich, because not only am I gluten intolerant, I am not very fond of lunch meats. Jimmy John's is fast, but a little expensive, especially if you aren't getting any bread. I love the people who work there, though there is never anywhere to sit, and you can't eat your food there, which means no refills on your drink. So, eh. Sandwiches.
As far as chains go, I'm going to have to disagree with my friend GGPeel and say that JJ's is brilliance. They had me at the finely shredded lettuce.
They're meats are fresh and plentiful. Great cheese. And the bread is wonderful.
And to top it all off, if you're doing the low carb thing, they'll put every sandwich on a lettuce wrap. If you get the Italian on lettuce, it's like eating a rolled up antipasto salad! Amazing.
For me, Subway can't compete. And as a road warrior, Subway is a staple. I will also say that it's not fair to compare chains with local establishments.
Jimmy John's is good. Real good. And the fine lettuce = MONEY.
I have eaten there twice now. Of course i'm into all things downtown so I had to give it a whirl. The people were very nice and the sandwich was fast but when I bit in I was not sold. The bread is weird and kind of chewy, the lettuce overwhelmed the Beach Club I got and there was very little flavor over all.
The chips were good and I like that they have lemonade though that is not what they are mainly selling. I see it busy all the time but I just don't get it. Delivery doesn't make it ok, I can get the Olive Branch delivered and that always rocks!!!
What can I say, I love me some JJ's. Luckily, I've had it in the previous years, but when I heard it was coming to Waco I was probably more excited than most. If you've had it, and then it got taken from you, then you may have been just excited as I was!
I have to stand up and say it's never been noisy or overcrowded when I go, even on Sundays after the church rush. I'm sure if you had that experience it was because it was new, and like all new things in Waco, everyone must try it at exactly the same time.
Anyways, I usually get the Beach Club or the Country Club. Every now and again I'll branch out, but those two have always been delicious. The delivery option is also AMAZING. C'mon, how many places besides pizza joints deliver around here?! Maybe I'm just lazy....(or work 7 hours a day without lunch), but this is a great option.
I will pick this over Subway any day.
Wow! These guys are fast!! I love receiving my food almost as soon as I'm finished at the register. That's fast and awesome! The sandwiches are great too!
I've been in here multiple times, and the only thing that kind of stinks is that there's never been an open seat, haha. I usually go outside and sit on the rocks, which turns out being pretty cool.
Tried this place today. It was very noisy and crowded. I got the Hunters Club sandwich. It had a lot of lettuce, and very little of anything else except bread. For my drink I had a sweet iced tea. Even that was pretty bad. It was an expensive lunch for me, (over seven dollars), for a so-so sandwich and bad iced tea. Couldn't wait to get out of the noisy atmosphere. I'll stick with Subway.
I'd heard the buzz about Jimmy John's, and had to check it out for myself. On Wednesday, my buddy Chad (aka Papa Fork) and I met for lunch at JJ's, on the sandwich shop's second day of operation.
Naturally, they were doing bang-up business, as most long-awaited new entrants to the Waco eating scene seem to do. And I thought the sub I had -- the Italian Night Club, which included genoa salami, Italian capicola, smoked ham and provolone cheese -- was very good. It actually reminded me of a popular sub shop in my wife's hometown of Buffalo, N.Y., named John and Mary's.
That said, I've had just as tasty sandwiches at Schmaltz's or even Quizno's, for that matter. I've got a co-worker who was already a Jimmy John's addict even before their arrival in Waco and plans to eat there every day. (I wouldn't put it past this guy). But I'm not to that point. They must have left the heroin out of my sandwich.
