1170 W. Superior StreetIf you know, you know my disdain for Jimmy John’s. Every single experience I’ve had with the place has been horrible. For the most part, my Jimmy John’s experience have been catering. They send in sandwiches that really shouldn’t be called sandwiches. They’re more mayo than anything….and that is incredibly disgusting. There is nothing worse you can put on a sandwich than mayo (ok, sure that’s just MY opinion).
I was on my way to work last Thursday and running a little behind. I was incredibly hungry, but there’s not a lot of options for quick meals along US-131 between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. The default option in McDonalds and I wasn’t in the mood for that.
I do pass a couple of Subway’s, but even they have turned me off recently. The sandwiches have just been so flat and flavorless and the bread doesn’t seem to hold up
I pulled off of 131 at the Wayland exit like I do so often to get gas. I was just going to run through the McDonalds or KFC drive thru, but as I got out of my car to pump gas, I had a different thought. Why not give Jimmy John’s a try.
The Jimmy John’s in Wayland is on Superior Street right off the US-131 exit inside the Shell gas station. The order counter sort of opens up in to the rest of the gas station and there is a small dining area around the corner.
I looked up at the menu since this is the first time I’ve actually been inside of one of these in many, many years (last time was 2003 and I didn’t know not to get mayo then either….). I found a sandwich that sounded pretty good, so I ordered it.
My choice was the J.J. Gargantuan. The sandwich is Genoa salami, smoked ham, capicola, roast beef, turkey, provolone, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, and Italian dressing. Now, why in the hell would you want both mayo and Italian dressing? I don’t get that…..anyway, I asked to leave the mayo off and the dude looked at me like I was a moron.
The sandwich set me back a little over $8 and it was wrapped up tightly and handed to me just a few minutes later.
When I got to work, pretty much everyone looked at me like I just walked in with a case of beer or something. They were in total disbelief that I had a Jimmy John’s sandwich in my hand…and to be honest, I was a little shocked myself.
Everyone I know that loves Jimmy John’s goes on and on about their bread. Each store makes their own French bread which all the sandwiches are served on. I will say, it is a very firm bread that holds up to the sandwich, but other than that, it’s just bread. It’s a great vehicle for getting the rest of the delicious meats in to my mouth.
The sandwich turned out to be quite large. I guess that’s why it gets the name “Gargantuan.” Without the coveted mayo on the sandwich, I will say this was actually pretty good. There was a large stack of meat and I liked the Italian dressing on the sandwich.
Actually going to the store and being able to customize a sandwich did leave me with a much better taste in my mouth (pun intended) than the crap I’ve had whenever jobs have catered in Jimmy John’s. I still don’t know if I can become a JJ convert, but I won’t despise the place quite as much as I did before.
The J. J. Gargantuan
