Restaurant Spotlight

Potbelly Sandwich Works

By Maggie McKenna

After a long day at work and an annoying commute home, most people just want to relax instead of worrying about what’s for dinner. A quick and easy solution to this problem is Potbelly Sandwich Works. As a walk-up counter restaurant, service is guaranteed to be quick and reliable. Potbelly is an easily accessible and very affordable way to enjoy lunch and dinner without the hassle of worrying about what to eat after work.

Founded in 1977, the first Potbelly was started as a sandwich shop within an antique store. The store’s reputation for sandwiches soon surpassed its reputation for antiques and the sandwich counter expanded into a whole restaurant. The franchise’s Foggy Bottom location, on the campus of George Washington University, serves a cross-section of students, professionals and locals. Located in a newly-constructed student center, the store occupies one corner of the first floor. Despite the modern exterior and neighborhood architecture, the antiquing background of the store is still very much present in its current rustic décor, with exposed brick and dark wood-paneled tables in the interior of the restaurant. Sandwich selections are hand-written on a chalkboard, recalling a mom-and-pop atmosphere. Soda is served in glass bottles or cans, forgoing the typical fountain drinks of most sandwich shops.

The menu options range from the typical ham and Swiss cold sandwiches to hot sandwiches like meatball subs. All sandwiches are made to order with a variety of toppings and bread. Don’t expect to find any odd offerings on the menu, however – the fare is strictly traditional, with very few froufrou offerings. The most eclectic sandwich is the Italian, which offers capicola, mortadella, pepperoni, salami and provolone cheese. With many deli shops offering more pretentious sandwiches with unnecessary toppings and names that can be close to impossible to pronounce, a sandwich shop that offers more accessible options is refreshing.

The sandwiches are delicious and made meticulously. The meatball sub contains newly-cooked meatballs and just-melted provolone cheese, creating a melt-in-your-mouth sensation that hits the spot after a long commute. The cold sandwiches are more than satisfactory as well – the Italian is just spicy enough to give it a kick and the smoked turkey with Swiss is light enough to not weigh you down after eating, but filling enough to leave you pleased. Each sandwich is served with several options for toppings, including lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard and Italian seasoning. For the more health-conscious consumer, Potbelly offers a vegetarian sandwich that includes mushrooms and several cheeses; they also offer the option of super-thin bread slices to cut back on carbs. For younger children, they offer a specially-made peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The prices of the sandwiches will not leave you high and dry either – the average price for one is about $4.95.

Aside from sandwiches, Potbelly offers soups, an extensive selection of side orders and desserts. The soup options include chicken noodle and hearty vegetable. The hearty offerings are heated to perfection and help warm you up on a rainy day. It also gives the feeling of being in a cozy kitchen, as the homey décor creates the feeling of a room with an old brick stove in the corner. The sides complement the traditional sandwich fare and include pretzels, potato chips in several different flavors, coleslaw, macaroni salad and fruit. The dessert options recall 1940s soda-counter offerings, like a root beer float made especially for you to mix, milkshakes and malts in flavors like chocolate, vanilla and banana, and homemade cookies. The dessert menu also includes more modern options like yogurt smoothies that come in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, Dreamsicle and boysenberry. With so many options, even the pickiest sweet tooth will find something to enjoy.

Customer service is also more than helpful. Patient with first-timers ordering, the workers will always greet you with a smile and a welcoming “Hello.” They are quick to help with choosing a sandwich and making your ordering experience much smoother and friendlier. As always, the excellent customer service helps to make the restaurant experience, and Potbelly does not disappoint.

With many locations in Washington and Northern Virginia, it is easy to enjoy Potbelly as often as you wish. A quick and easy power lunch or dinner, it offers casual deli fare in a unique, turn-of-the-century interior, staying true to its antique-store roots. With several locations also offering live acoustic music, it also gives off a slightly trendy coffeehouse vibe. Whatever your appetite tells you, Potbelly is sure to offer it and leave you satisfied.

(23rd and G Streets, N.W. Washington, D.C., (202)242-8700, www.potbelly.com, Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day)