Potbelly Sandwich Shop brings neighborhood feel to Orem
Potbelly Sandwich Shop's Mediterranean sandwich shown with a coffee milkshake and jalapeno chips at the Daily Herald in Provo on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop's Pizza sandwich, shown with a coffee milkshake on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop's coffee milkshake served with butter cookies on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop's Mediterranean sandwich shown with a coffee milkshake and jalapeno chips on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop's Pizza sandwich shown with a coffee milkshake and a giant pickle on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop's Mediterranean Sandwich, shown with a coffee milkshake and jalapeno chips. Visit heraldextra.com/ticket to read a review.
Potbelly's serves a few delicious desserts, including chocolate chip cookies.
Sandwich shops are not new to Utah Valley, especially not when you’re considering only the major chain shops. From Subway to Quiznos, Jimmy John’s to Firehouse Subs, there’s seriously no shortage of places to drop in and grab a classic sandwich with a little flair.
So forgive me if I was expecting a similar experience when we set our sights on Potbelly Sandwich Shop in Orem for dinner over the weekend. A chain restaurant that found its humble beginnings in an antique shop in Chicago before being bought in 1996 by Bryant Keil, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the store holds to the company promise of individuality, “to keep Potbelly from becoming just another fast food chain.”
Rather than a sterile or modern looking interior, walking into the Orem store, which just opened earlier this summer, we immediately found a signature Potbelly stove that gave a cozy nod to the family and neighborhood background of the shop. It was accentuated by dark colored walls and toasty brown Wainscot paneling, not to mention some fantastic, antiqued furniture to complete the picture. Also true to their community heritage, we found ourselves being serenaded by a local musician as we perused the menu and made our selections.
For being a “sandwich shop,” I can sincerely say I was impressed by the sheer number of options that are offered at Potbelly. From the sandwiches to salads, soups to shakes, smoothies and chips, we were able to find the perfect meal for a wide variety of tastes, and still have some food to spare when we left.
If you’ve never been to Potbelly before, it’s good to note that, as is pretty common with a sandwich shop, you order through a line using menus on the walls. That’s where the similarities end, though. From the cheerful staff to the friendly dining environment and tasty food options, our Potbelly experience felt far from franchised.
Potbelly’s promise is fresh, fast and friendly, and we found during our time that it held true to all three. Though we came at a busy time and ordered what felt like half the menu, our food was freshly prepared, the service staff was beyond fantastic, and we really did make it through the line in less than eight minutes (their max line time guarantee).
To make sure we could get the full Potbelly flavor experience, we took a sampling of each of the available soups, most of the shakes, several sandwiches, a signature salad and, interestingly enough, a giant pickle delicately carved into spears for our convenience.
My first spoonful of Potbelly chili, my first food endeavor of the evening, brought back a plethora of childhood memories, from community potlucks to dinners at home and warm nights snuggled by the heater. I have to say it was pretty impressive seasoning to pack all that nostalgia into just one bite! The Loaded Baked Potato Soup was equally delicious, as was the delightfully seasoned tomato soup.
For our sandwich options, our group opted to try the Italian sub, featuring Capicola, Mortadella, Pepperoni, Salami and Provolone Cheese; the Grilled Chicken and Cheddar; the Pizza Sandwich with Pepperoni, Meatball, Capicola, Marinara Sauce, Provolone Cheese and Italian Seasoning; and the Mediterranean for the vegetarian in the group, featuring “Zippy” Hummus, Feta, Artichoke Hearts, Crispy Cukes and Roasted Red Peppers. Though all were great in their own ways, the honest winner of the night was surprisingly the Mediterranean sub. Between the great flavor of the hummus and the crispiness of the veggies, we were all surprised by how moist and fantastic it was.
One of the easiest ways, in my opinion, to kill a sandwich is dry bread, but Potbelly, with regular and multigrain options, won yet again. Just the perfect amount of softness to complement the sandwich ingredients.
The same delicate balance was achieved with the Uptown Salad, featuring moist grilled chicken, grapes, apples, dried cranberries, candied walnuts and the option of red onion or blue cheese. With a choice of ranch or featured vinaigrettes, the salad made a great meal all on its own, and I’m not one to usually admit that.
We complemented our meal with Potbelly signature brand Zappo potato chips, a Mixed Berry Real Fruit Smoothie and Vanilla and Oreo Classic Shakes for the perfect blend of sweet and savory. Adorned with mini cookies on the straws, it was the perfect finish to a delicious meal.
In the end, we walked away having learned a very important lesson. Not all sandwich shops are created equal. So if you’re looking for price, variety, quality, convenience and environment, give Potbelly a shot. You’ll be glad you did.
POTBELLY SANDWICH SHOP
Where: 719 E. University Parkway in Orem
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday
Prices: $1.00-$7.30
Info: (801) 616-5982, potbelly.com