Jerry's Sandwiches - Chicago, IL (original) (raw)
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Chicago, IL 60607
Aberdeen St & Carpenter St
West Loop, Near West Side
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I have had Jerry's a number of times but today was first time I visited the place myself. All the other times someone else always picked it up. The list of 100 + sandwiches is amazing. I always make sure I try a different one every time.
The place is great every sandwich I have had has always been great. I love going here!
I wanted to give this place high marks, I really did. I was hungry and passed by this place. I'm usually in the area at night so it was always closed and any sign that reads "Someone's something or other" piques my interest enough to mark it in my mental map. After grabbing a menu I wanted to like it since the sandwiches have names like you read on Yelp. However, it was so overwhelming, Hot or cold? Chicken or turkey or beef? The Melissa P. or the Steven L.? I'm making those up but they are presented as such.
I downgraded them one star when the lady taking counter orders all of a sudden decided to go wrap up sandwiches that had been sitting there for a while, leaving me and a woman behind me to stand at the counter like we were watching a museum exhibit or something. There was another lady at the counter taking a massive order over the phone, and she finished before sandwich wrapper got done. I ordered the blackened chicken, grilled onions, lemon mayo, provolone and some hot sauce and a cup of broccoli cheese soup. I got the soup first and immediately started chowing down. How disappointing! The broccoli was wilted, the soup was watery and flavorless. I figured with a handcrafted place like this it would be a better showing.
The sandwich came and I got a side of the potato salad which looked wonderful but was just okay and very small and bland with an occasional burst of flavor from the mustard seeds-it reminded me of a weak version of German Potato Salad. The sandwich, was also okay, not great, not good but just okay. $17 dollars for all that plus a bottle of Green Honest Tea.
To recap:
Marginal to poor service: -1 star
Poor soup:-1 star
Food to value ratio:-1 star
Sorry, Jerry's, in my mind you're not in the same league as Jim's original or Nick's Beer Garden, or another someone's something or other.
Jerry's has been serving creative sandwich combos and tasty soups for a few years in the West Loop and always one of my favorite lunch spots. Living right around the corner, I have been here a bunch and want to address some of the negative reviews that I've seen.
Yes, they make sandwiches here. That is where any similarities to typical lunch options cease. Really when was the last time you got to choose from chipotle chutney, Carolina vinegar sauce and roasted portabellas? The menu has about 50 combos to choose from and there are always daily additions. Just have enough sense to grab a menu and decide before you are in line. There are always great soups and I love the kitchen sink chili with all the goods. I've had everything from blackened chicken, steak and blue cheese, buffalo chicken to the muffaletta. You can also create your own meal too.
Jerry's has chips and drinks that I don't find in many places. A bit pricey and expect it to be crowded for lunch and plan ahead. Know what you are in for because this place is a treat. There are usually about a dozen different breads to choose from. So please don't show up with a bunch of co workers and mill about looking over the menu and bitch about the bread being out. They are usually out of rellenos at Frontera after the first seating. Capiche?
Went to this place at about 6pm. I order 2 french fries. The clerk mumbled something to me, to which I had to say "what" 3 times- he said they were out of fries. Then I asked for something else, guess what? They were out of that too.
The menu is enormous; they could learn a little "More is Less" or take a page out of the book "Paradox of Choice: why more is less". So after they were out of my 2 first choices I am sure that I stood there for a few minutes dumbfounded about what my next move would be. I should have walked away hungry, I would have saved money at the very least.
I ordered a tuna salad sandwich. At the end I was able to choose 1 of 3 or 4 sides that were listed. Amazingly, they were out of my first two choices again, and I had trouble hearing the guy as he mumbled more.
The food wasn't worth the price. The tuna salad was middle of the road because it leaked tuna / mayonnaise juice all over the place.
If you are excited by the fact that tattooed grungy looking dudes are making your food- good for you. I would prefer the dreadlocks and spiderweb tattoos stay away from my french fries, er, tuna sandwich. i do not recommend this restaurant; service is bad, price is wrong and the food was okay.
Having enjoyed the Division location a couple of times, I was taken aback to walk into this Jerry's and find it a bare-bones hole-in-the-wall. That's not necessarily a criticism, but it makes this place useful mostly for carryouts.
They make the same great sandwiches and sides as the other store. It's so tedious to hear people complaining about the prices here. It's not the same Oscar Mayer and Miracle Whip on Wonder bread that your mother gave you for school lunches. These are creative sandwiches with high-quality ingredients, plus a side. Plus this is 2008. Shit costs a lot, yo. $8-9 seems entirely reasonable.
Today my Basil R sported some dry chicken but otherwise was excellent--mozzarella, basil and tomato-basil chutney. The pasta salad was bland; I should have gone for cole slaw or barbecue beans. I also got a house salad, which was mostly boring except for the savory grilled peppers which they included.
I'm on a quest to try every whoopie pie in Chicago, so I eagerly unwrapped one from Jerry's today...to find it covered in chocolate coating and drizzled in white icing. Huh? Inside is a solid B+ whoopie pie, with very good cake and so-so, thick filling. With the chocolate coating, it's maybe a C+ (I know--I just broke some sort of universal culinary code, but chocolate-coating and/or deep-frying does not improve ALL foods).
My visit coincided with the Hurricane Ike downpours that we had this weekend, and they were having substantial water problems inside the store. The entire counter-seating area bordering the front windows were soaked; there were puddles all over the floor; and there were rivulets decorating the drink case. It's probably the building's fault (assuming that they lease), but it still reflects poorly on the business.
The pretzel roll itself is worthy of 4 stars...without any of the innards. Seriously, pretzel rolls. Where it's at. Don't forget...
I had the Mindy somethingorother. That menu reads like a high school yearbook, almost to the point of confusion. So many choices, so many combos, my little head was spinnin'. I suggest taking the menu home and studying for the next visit...I just randomly selected something that sounded relatively edible. Luckily, it was far beyond that...quite tasty!
Blackened chicken, avocado, and some other stuff. See, I told you...spinnin'. I can't even remember what was on it, but I think I hold the world record for eating a pretzel roll sandwich. About 45 seconds, flat. Ask Melody L from Texas. I was also on my computer and the phone at the same time. I'm a multi-tasker, whaddyagonnado?
Good stuff. Get's busy at lunch. The staff doesn't care about you, and the prices are a bit steep, but the food is pretty fantastic. Worth a stop in. Skip the sides altogether, they are not really worth the calories.
However, the pretzel roll: IS.
Man, am I in trouble. After reading so many great reviews I decided I had to check this place out. I'm sure glad I did. I got roasted chicken, fresh mozzarella, tomato, onion, and fresh basil on a pretzel roll. It was absolutely delicious and very fresh. It was hard to decide what I wanted because of the insane amount of options. CRAZY. They also have special entrees, soups, sides, etc. each day. I got a fruit cup as my side and it was fresh and had some very sweet fresh pineapple in it. The service was quick and friendly. When I asked the girl helping me if I could have an extra pickle, she gave me an extra FOUR pickles. Score. I'll be back here many times to try out new combinations.
PS- Erin B. they have whoopie pies.
Before entering Jerry's Sandwiches I pictured the make-your-own sandwich shops in New York. However, Jerry's has much more charm and the employees are much friendlier than the shops I've been to in NY.
I was greeted by Mindy at the cash register who was oh so helpful! As much as I wanted to make me own sandwich I decided to stick with a choice from the enormous menu. I had a feeling that Jerry knew a thing or two about how to make a good sandwich....& I was right!
I told Mindy I was craving Brie cheese so she suggested the John W (turkey, avocado, honey mustard, and of course brie). It was so delicious and the ingredients were very fresh! I'm not sure how I could ever have a turkey sandwich at corner bakery or panera after eating this today! The heath bar cookie was the perfect way to end the meal...they also had some yummy carrot cake and pumpkin squares that I'll have to try next time!
Those of you who work nearby Jerry's are very lucky because I would eat here everyday. I don't work/live too close to Jerry's, but this is the type of place I'd go out of my way to come back to!
I really liked the variety of sandwiches here. I only wish that I was more decisive. There were about a billion different choices you can choose from, and everthing was really good!
I opted for a really boring sandwich involving only lettuce, onions, cucumbers and turkey on white bread. Even though these choices were boring, it was probably one of the best sandwiches that I've ever had! Yum!
I'll be back, but I'll be sure to check out their online menu before I go, so I can be more creative, not on the spot!
Aug 12, 2008Updated review
What the eff, guys? I just got back from Jerry's and ordered the EXACT SAME SANDWICH that I've been ordering since 2005 at that location... only this time, the total for the sandwich and a bottle of water was: $13.80. Are you kidding me?
The place looked like it was shutting down (for good). The big menu that's up on the wall is gone, the pergola that was near the outdoor seating has disappeared, and the people working there were sitting around lifeless.
The sandwich was good, but so not worth twice the price I normally pay. I order the "Make Your Own" (Italian roll, roast beef, brie, smoked gouda, grilled onions, tomato, and mayo) and there have never been any charges beyond the 6.50/6.75/6.95/7.50 (it's gone up over the years) for the sandwich. Now, on my bill I see 7.45 for the sandwich, then 1.00 for roast beef, 1.00 for brie, and .50 for the avocado. Seriously?
To top it off, I got there just after 5pm and they had all the chairs up in back so there was only the front bar area and big dining table. Don't close up those tables way before closing, guys.
This place is officially a sh!thole and I will never go back there again.
Aug 22, 2007Previous review
I have mixed feelings about the place. The experience has ranged from "mediocre" to "really good" to "pretty crappy", all depending on what time you go and who's working.
Even when I dine in, they have managed to forget items on the sandwich. One time, I ordered the exact same sandwich I order every time (Italian roll + roast beef + avocado + brie + smoked gouda + grilled onions) and the lady (the owner, in fact) told me I'd be charged extra if I get two types of cheese. However, ALL other times I've ordered it, I've never been charged extra for two types of cheese.
Plus, they've been consistently raising the prices over the past two years, and the sandwich quality isn't any better, and arguably worse.
9 other reviews that are not currently recommended
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