Midwesterners tell us we should be excited that South Boston is getting New England's first Jimmy John's sub shop

By adamg on Wed, 06/18/2014 - 10:54pm

The Flats on D, an apartment complex on D Street, reports it's filling one of its five retail spaces with a Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches shop.

H/t/ ClaireInBos, who says the news made her day.

Neighborhoods:

South Boston

Topics:

Dining

Free tagging:

subs

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Comments

Consistency is king!

By anon
Wed, 06/18/2014 - 11:03pm

i welcome them.
I have some neighborhood faves for different sangies but the eternal issue is consistency. For the love of God, make it right and make it right every time.

I'll exclude from my rant rand and shamelessly plug Carl's Steaks in Waltham.

They need a new category. Their steak and cheeses are truly incomparable to random nabe joints. Go. Be blown away!

Oh my god yes. They've

By erik g
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 8:27am

Oh my god yes. They've ruined every other steak-n-cheese place in the metro area for me. Unreal subs. Burritos can probably hold their own against all comers, too.

Next time you're in Revere...

By Brian Riccio
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 8:46am

Try Dimino's Subs. Best steak subs around. They're made to order and don't sit in an iron container waiting to be reheated, the way Carl's does.

Is that

By ChrisInEastie
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 10:29am

The place near Suffolk Downs and Stop and Shop? If it's the one I'm thinking, I've driven by hundreds of times and always thought about stopping. Thanks for the heads up if it is, I love a good steak sub!

Yup!

By Brian Riccio
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 1:52pm

That's it!!

Well then

By ChrisInEastie
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 5:08pm

Thank you for the heads up!

It's OK but not great. I've

By MikeA
Wed, 06/25/2014 - 2:55pm

It's OK but not great. I've never been to Carl's despite working Waltham. I'll have to try and compare the two.

If You're At The Beach, Try The Santorini ...

By Elmer
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 11:26am

... They have a large menu that includes seafood, pizza, and salads; but The Santorini (on Revere Beach, up near Oak Island) also makes excellent subs. Ask for them "toasted". A few moments in their hot pizza oven gives the bread that perfect touch of soft-crispiness!

A block away, Kelly's is more famous, and also more popular*, but the food is much better at Santorini's, and items like seafood platters can be ordered with options like rice and salad instead of just fries. The Santorini has a pleasant, air-conditioned dining room with spectacular views of the ocean, and they also serve desserts/beer/wine.

* Kelly's is open until 3:00 AM - One of the very few places you can get food after midnight!

Kelly's

By ChrisInEastie
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 5:07pm

Is great, but I prefer Royal on Bennington near Constitution Beach. Super on an onion roll, game over man.

It is great.

By Chris Rich
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 6:01pm

I was there on 2/22. https://flic.kr/p/o2VLi6

It is all you described, earnest owners and some charming local olds holding court.

Kelly's is another of those over rated local 'brands' whose mediocrity is only surpassed by their longevity.

Sub shops are a New England folk food treasure.

I found one in my old crime neighborhood in Seattle and it was owned by people from here. The use of the word 'grinder' was the tip off.

The use of the word 'grinder'

By Scratchie
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:21pm

The use of the word 'grinder' was the tip off.

Actually, they use the word "grinder" down here, too. I was gobsmacked.

Cranky yankees get around

By Chris Rich
Fri, 06/20/2014 - 4:51am

.. and leave traces of their explorations like grinder shops in places that never met such things.

There's one going into the

By Matthew
Wed, 06/18/2014 - 11:38pm

There's one going into the new Charlesview retail space on Western Ave too.

I'm not too excited. I lived in the midwest-ish area for a while. Jimmy John's is okay at first, but has a weird taste that gets to you after a while. Not sure how to describe it.

Exactly

By Nonymouse
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 11:01am

My short sojourn in the Midwest last year introduced me to Jimmy John's and the only good thing about them was the speedy delivery. The bread is weird and the sandwiches are boring. They're fine if there are no other choices, but nothing I'd seek out.

former Chicago resident, its nothing great.

By anon
Wed, 06/18/2014 - 11:45pm

Better than Subway but nothing amazing. Yelp will tell you its your typical 2-to-3 star sandwich chain. Its essentially a Subway that delivers and is slightly better. I'd choose a mom and pop shop over Jimmy John's any day though.

Weclome

By SoBoYuppie
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:11am

Welcome to Boston! It's always nice to see people from other places living in Boston. Makes Boston what it is. Thank you.

- The Original SoBo Yuppie

^^^ And this is why Boston is

By Hyde_Parker
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 10:28am

^^^ And this is why Boston is a city in spite of itself.

Nope

By anon
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 12:02am

From Chicago just moved here. You should not be excited at all. Jimmy Johns are overly bready sandwiches and worse than Subway. Potbellys is one of the better Midwest sandwich chains (if you get the right sandwich ie the wreck or an Italian).

The best thing about Jimmy Johns

By Denise
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 6:58am

is that they deliver in like 5 minutes after you hang up (in Charlotte anyway). I've never seen anything like it. Wonder how that will work in BOS traffic though.

Steak Sandwich

By bosguy22
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:46am

Is the steak cooked to order or is it reheated like they do at Subway?

No steak at Jimmy John's. I

By Scratchie
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:57am

No steak at Jimmy John's. I don't think they have any hot sandwiches at all.

Ah

By bosguy22
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 11:58am

The above poster was talking about Carl's, not Jimmy's.

Ugh, so you're saying that

By Hyde_Parker
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 10:29am

Ugh, so you're saying that Potbelly is BETTER than Jimmy Johns?? I didn't think Potbelly could be better than anything.

Color me, unexcited.

New England's first?

By leon
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 7:37am

A Jimmy John's opened up couple years ago on Weybosset St in Providence. It closed about 8 months later.

Because Geoff's.

By MattyC
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:39am

Because Geoff's.

Geoff's! I used to work

By Hyde_Parker
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 10:31am

Geoff's! I used to work around the corner from there. Not a good deal for my waistline....

But (and it's been a while since I've been to Provy, so things could have changed) Geoff's is all the way over on Benefit Street. It's quite a hike from there to Weybosset.

Come now

By MattyC
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 11:09am

10 minute walk from Weybosset and Dorrance to Geoff's on Benefit.

But I also thought there was another location. I may be mistaken, or I may be living in the past... not sure.

10 minute walk uphill, at

By Hyde_Parker
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 11:42am

10 minute walk uphill, at least one way.

The only Geoff's I can think of is the one on Benefit. But, I also might be mistaken.

Am now officially hungry for a sandwich and wondering about Amtrak schedules.... :-)

Dude that's like a half mile.

By gotdatwmd
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 11:45am

Dude that's like a half mile. Hills? C'mon now, you're going for food, exercise yo.

Yum

By SomerVillain
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 7:46am

...says people who'd eat anything slathered in ranch dressing

Blech

By Nonymouse
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 11:04am

Ah, ranch dressing. I ordered a salad at a relatively upscale restaurant in St. Louis last year that I assume had ranch as the default dressing. I ordered it with a side of balsamic vinaigrette on the side. It arrived slathered in ranch, with a tiny cup of balsamic on a separate plate.

In conclusion, ranch dressing is the devil.

Tough to get excited about

By Rob Not Verified
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 8:35am

Tough to get excited about another chain moving into that area, even if it's a good one.

Nailed it.

By SoBoYuppie
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:12am

Nailed it.

Hmmm...let's look

By Brian Riccio
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 8:49am

Jimmy John's Tuna Fish sub contains 35.5. grams of fat and 4.5 grams of saturated fat. The same sub also has a whopping 1800 mg of sodium for you hypertension sufferers, so let's get excited about a new sub shop opening kids!

Im still waiting

By anon
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:02am

For Chick-Fil-A or a Steak & Shake

In-N-Out Burger and El Pollo

By anon
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:26am

In-N-Out Burger and El Pollo Loco please!

yes!

By M
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 11:27am

*West Coast-er high-five*

I think there's a Chick-Fil-A

By Scratchie
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:26am

I think there's a Chick-Fil-A at the Square One mall in Saugus, or someplace like that.

Burlington & Peabody

By totootwo2
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 10:12am

Burlington Mall and Peabody Mall. Closed on Sundays, which is always when I crave it.

Four Chick-fil-As in Mass

By adamg
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:29am

Listing.

Northeastern University almost got one, but, you know, the chain's homophobia and all that ended that idea.

YA let me drive an

By anon
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 11:36am

hour for a chicken sandwich.

Steak & Shake

By fairlee76
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 12:59pm

Save me from myself and don't let them open here! I love their burgers and fries as a road trip treat when I am in the Midwest. Actually, driving to CO next week for family vacation and already planning my first Steak & Shake stop. Someplace in Illinois for lunch on Friday.

blah

By SoBoYuppie
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:09am

SoBo needs to step up it's game.

Lincoln Tavern = Stats = Shenanigans = Atlantic Beer Garden = Playwright = The Pizza/Sub Shops on every corner.

Maybe Lincoln is a step above...but nothing to write home about.

We need more places like Paramount and Franklin Cafe. Luckily the South End is only a short cab ride away.

- The Original SoBo Yuppie

Slightly better than subway

By Scratchie
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:14am

As someone else said, they're nothing special. There's one right outside my building now in Raleigh and I get sandwiches there when I'm in a hurry. I read a message board posting that basically said "All JJ's subs taste like bread and mayo" which is about right. Even their Italian subs are tasteless (how did they do that?) and they don't even have salt and pepper to put on them if you ask (really?).

Absolutely nothing to get excited about in Boston where you generally have at least one decent-to-excellent sub shop within any 1/4-mile radius.

Why would anybody go anywhere

By kvn
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:41am

Why would anybody go anywhere but Joseph's on K , except maybe venture over to Day Square to Spinelli's for a chicken pram, mmmm good.

The only thing I really know

By gotdatwmd
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 10:32am

The only thing I really know about the place is that you can get multiple footlong loaves of day old bread for a buck. That's good croutin' bread

This is true. One of my co

By Scratchie
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 10:40am

This is true. One of my co-workers was raving about getting a big day-old baguette for 45c or something yesterday. The bread is good -- probably the best thing about the sandwiches -- but the rest is eminently bland. A good old-fashioned Boston sub shop is one of the things I miss the most down here. There's a chain called Jersey Mike's that makes a decent Italian, but nothing to compare with what you can get at almost any sub shop or deli in Metro Boston.

I gotta say, I can't do a sub

By Hyde_Parker
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 11:46am

I gotta say, I can't do a sub (or, gonna out myself here: a grinder) from a chain operation. Nope. To me, they've got to come from a pizza place, and (for almost anything but a meatball) include shredded lettuce.

No reason to if you live in

By Scratchie
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 11:52am

No reason to if you live in Boston, or almost anywhere in New England. Y'all are fortunate to have such a wide range of sub shops, pizza shops, roast beef joints, etc. The only time I ever ate at a chain sub shop in Massachusetts was when I had a rehearsal space next to D'Angelo's in the Fenway. Where I live now, there are lots of independent places to go for BBQ, Mexican Food, and a few other things, but virtually all the sub shops and delis are chains. D'Angelo's would actually be a step up, as they can generally make a decent Italian, steak or burger sub.

Not sure you're going to see

By Hyde_Parker
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 11:39pm

Not sure you're going to see this comment, but...

I saw from another comment that you live in Raleigh. My sister and BIL live down there, and the last time I was visiting I noticed a place out on Business 64, east of Raleigh near Knightdale, that advertised "grinders." I was so shocked to see that term used outside of New England (indeed, I thought "grinder" was specifically a Western Mass term) that I asked my sister about it. She said that she knew someone who knew the people who owned it and supposedly they are from up north. She hadn't been there, but heard that the food is good. I did a google search and I think the place is called Rudinos. Turns out they have several locations, so that might be too chain-y for you.

Meanwhile, even though you can't get good grinders down there, we were impressed with the the Mexican food. Lots of really solid options that all seemed locally owned.

HEY HYDE PARKER!!

By Scratchie
Fri, 07/18/2014 - 11:54am

I just saw this comment...

We have Rudino's in my town. Bad pizza, haven't tried their grinders.

"Grinders" is actually a common term for subs down here, according to some of my co-workers. I had thought it was strictly a New England coinage but apparently not. They also call liquor stores "package stores" down here, although here, that term applies strictly to state-run hard liquor stores and not places where you buy beer and wine (which are called "supermarkets").

Used to order from there

By ChrisInEastie
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 10:33am

in Syracuse, strictly because they were one of the only places that delivered until 3 or 4am. Which I'm sure Boston would squash immediately, lest we all turn into filthy heathens with no morals or values after a late night sandwich binge.

Regardless, to me JJ's is good, not great. But I'm sure for those who do love it, it has to be pretty exciting.

Jimmy Johns is alright

By scumquistador
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 12:10pm

They're not bad for a chain sub shop, in that they're literally the only big chain sub shop i'd ever eat at.

Still would rather frequent somewhere local though. We have enough options around here that theres really no reason to go to a jimmy johns.

Unless you're a tourist

Wait you'd eat here? ZOMG! WE

By Sbarro
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 2:05pm

Wait you'd eat here? ZOMG! WE HAVE A CUSTOMER!

Oh, Sbarro

By adamg
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 2:06pm

I remember when there was one in the Dedham Mall, back when that was a semblance of a real mall, with a Santa at Christmas and everything, instead of a collection of big boxes. I think I was the only person who ate there, though.

My one and only Sbarro

By Hyde_Parker
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 11:43pm

My one and only Sbarro experience was a pizza from the Sbarro's at the Auburn Mall, c. 1981-ish. And, we all got sick. Never again.

There's a Sbarro location (yes, and an Olive Garden, and an Applebees, and a TGIFridays,) in Times Square. I don't get any of it. I don't think of Times Square being a great foody destination, but go just a wee bit in any direction from there and you can get very good Italian food.