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Downtown sandwich shops: All that and a bag of chips

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By Journal Star staffers

Thursday, Oct 04, 2007 - 09:52:23 am CDT

You can’t swing a baguette in downtown Lincoln without hitting one sandwich shop or another. Like skinny jeans, giant sunglasses and quarterbacks with just one sleeve, sandwich joints are all the rage around here.

Seriously, what’s up with all of these places? How saturated can one market get? And how can they possibly differ from one another?

With these questions in mind, we nobly embarked on a mission to instill some order to the chaos produced by so much meat, cheese and bread in such a tiny geographic area. What we found led to a number of surprises (mainly of the pleasant variety).

Story Photo
(Kim Stolzer)

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Rated:

But first, our "rules."

- To keep this all manageable, we limited our focus to only sandwich shops on and north of O Street to UNL, and from the Haymarket to 16th Street.

- Sure, you can get sandwiches lots of places. But we're only talking about places where the main offering is sub or deli-type sandwiches served on bread. Tortillas, pitas, wraps, gyros, bagels and hamburger buns need not apply.

- We included only the spots where you go up to a counter to order. Some of us think Bison Witches has an amazing PB&J, but we’ve left it off this mega-map because it’s a sit-down-and-order place (and a bar).

The numbers coordinate to the map above right.

1. Subway: The ol' reliable. So reliable, in fact, there’s two of them just in downtown Lincoln.

2. Quiznos: With subs featuring prime rib or chicken and spicy sauces, this place kicks up the flavor a notch.

3. Planet Sub: Perhaps the sunniest outdoor dining spot with a sunny color palette to match. The help’s friendly, too.

4. Doozy’s: This longtime presence is a no-nonsense option … sort of like the small-town café that knows how to feed a hungry diner.

5. Jimmy John’s: Clever signs. Funny T-shirts. Speedy delivery trucks everywhere. They’re doing something right.

6. Erbert and Gerbert’s: What if someone opened a coffee house and a sandwich shop broke out? The old Homer’s location is sure to become a cozy study spot.

7. Highnooners: The old soda-fountain-shop feel (but with “al fresco” dining) sets this O Street staple apart.

8. Roost: All sandwiches have one central ingredient: cold, diced chicken (Roost … get it?). The creative menu and the variety of sandwich sizes power this cool one-shot.

9. Danny’s Downtown Deli: Go to watch ’em slice the meat for sandwiches named after Lincoln streets. Stay for the friendly banter and trivia questions.

10. Brown Baggers: The local staple is now in the Haymarket next to Scooter’s, giving 8th and P a potent one-two punch.

11. The Manhattan Deli: Start spreadin’ the news. You can get about any sandwich, hot or cold, in true NY fashion. And don’t forget the potato latkes.

12. Bread & Cup: Easily the fanciest of the offerings. This is also the only one with wine and beer on the menu.

Whew. Now, tell us which downtown sandwich shops set themselves apart ...


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Sure.... wrote on October 4, 2007 5:52 am:
" There are all these cheap places to eat downtown. But let's try and get a few things that cater to an ADULT evening crowd. Downtown is nothing but bars, and cheap places to eat right now. If folks really want to go out for a nice evening then they usually go to either North 27th or to the south side. At least in thos areas one does not have to deal with the drunken college age people making asses of themselves. "
Mike wrote on October 4, 2007 7:42 am:
" I'm disappointed. I clicked on this story hoping it would be a culinary review of the sandwich shops downtown, not just a list. If I just wanted to the know their names I would have looked in the phone book. "
What? wrote on October 4, 2007 8:25 am:
" This wasn't very helpful. They're just witty comments...what about the food? "
Agree wrote on October 4, 2007 9:28 am:
" I agree with Mike. There are so many sandwich shops to choose from but I knew all these existed. I want to know WHY I should eat at each place, or not eat there. And I'm pretty sure we know there are too many places to get sandwiches. I'm just not sure what this article is supposed to inform us with. "
James wrote on October 4, 2007 9:40 am:
" At least most of these places are local joints. "Sure..." if you're referring to places like Applebee's, Chili's, Famous Dave's, and the likes, go ahead and enjoy the same old bland garbage served up at those places. "
Cat wrote on October 4, 2007 9:44 am:
" These aren't just cheap places to eat. These are staples for the lunchtime crowd. Downtown has two faces. The day face of office workers and the evening face of college students. When you're an office worker, a 12 buck sit-down meal that takes an hour and a half just isn't gonna work. "
I can't believe... wrote on October 4, 2007 10:25 am:
" that this is the main story for the 402 section today. "
A helpful review: wrote on October 4, 2007 10:26 am:
" I often hear of people complaining about the lack of variety in restaurant options in our city. My thoughts on how encourage more edible diversity is to support the locally-owned spots trying to do something different. Stay out of the franchises... try Bread & Cup rather than Subway, get to know the real live Danny at Danny's, and for the love of fried pickles, skip Jimmy Johns and have a Roost Sandwich delivered. You vote with your dollar every time you eat... chose a more diverse, more creative, more unique-to-Lincoln place to eat, and more creative, diverse and uniquely-Lincoln people will build you a restaurant to enjoy. That includes the "adults" looking for options Downtown. By the way, have you tried Magnolia's, JTK, Vincenzo's, The Oven, Lazarri's, El Potrero, Yia-Yia's and Crem le Bistro? "
JT wrote on October 4, 2007 10:43 am:
" Alright, I've eaten at all these places but Highnooners, so here's my review: 1. Bread and Cup; this place is awesome. Great bread, great spreads, great sandwiches. The people are nice, and the atmosphere is nice. 2. Danny's: These sandwiches are awesome, it's like a good Subway. 3. Manhattan: I love the Reuben here and the latkas are great. They pile the meat on like a real NY deli. 4. Roost: A nice new place with a good variety of chicken sandwiches. Their bread is baguette style, get extra meat or it's not enough. 5. Erbert's: Have only been here once, but it was pretty good. For such a creative menu with creative names, the sandwich was kind of blah. 6. Jimmy Johns: Great bread, probably even with 4 and 5. 7. Doozy's: Has always been a little greasy for me, but people swear by this place. 8. Brown Baggers: I've never been a fan of Brown Baggers, but once again, people seemed to love it. 9. Planet Sub: I wasn't that impressed, but I went in their opening week, so maybe things are better. 10. Subway, tastes kind of plasticky compared to the other places. 11. Highnooners: have to get there sometime. "
Enough sammies wrote on October 4, 2007 11:01 am:
" We need a soup nazi! "
RE: Sure...... wrote on October 4, 2007 11:31 am:
" I guess this was an appropriate time to take a jab at all those "drunken college age people making asses of themselves." After all, the word "downtown" was mentioned in this article and that's all it takes to bring out the haters of the Prohibition Party. Get over your self righteousness and let us live our lives. By the way, Jimmy John's is the best post-bar food ever. All that great bread is perfect to soak up all the booze so you can start drinking again when you wake up the next afternoon. "
AG wrote on October 4, 2007 12:19 pm:
" The article was only about sandwich shops. It wasn't about adult evening dining. In any event, I moved away from Lincoln a few short years ago, but I still have to ask, what about: Green Gateau, The Oven, Dish, Blue Orchid, Misty's Downtown, Vincenzo's? Are all these still open? I think any one of them would nicely fill the bill of an adult dinner downtown. "
Not_From_Here wrote on October 4, 2007 1:00 pm:
" I'm specifically coming to Lincoln to hear good music, to patronize some of the bars, and to spend a lot of money at the haymarket eating and drinking establishments. My family likes to hear music in bars and go to restaurants that serve alcohol. I am a responsible adult that lives an upper middle class life, not some college rowdy. Stay home if you don't like what downtown has to offer. "
Stewart wrote on October 4, 2007 2:25 pm:
" Jimmy John's is by far the best sandwich and they are the fastest as well. I think Erberts & Gerberts stole their idea, but are much slower. "
mark fidrych wrote on October 4, 2007 3:05 pm:
" Roost is heaven. No need to hit any other sammich places anymore, except the manhattan deli. those are the best 2. No contest. "
Sure.... wrote on October 4, 2007 3:15 pm:
" I never said that there weren't decent places to eat downtown. But what I DID say was that there wasn't things for "ADULTS" to do downtown besides get drunk and try to deal with a sometimes over-zealous college age crowd. I would prefer to stay away from the environment. especially if I want to take the better half out for a NICE evening. "
Midwest Sandwich Fan wrote on October 4, 2007 3:53 pm:
" Here's a tip: Erbert's and Gerbert's = Jimmy John's = Milio's (not in lincoln, yet). Family fued I guess. "
Big G wrote on October 4, 2007 5:43 pm:
" It's not downtown, it's at 27th and Randolf! If want a crazy big sandwich Chicago style, you have to go to M and N's sandwich shop. AWSOME sandwiches! Beginners get the Pastami Burger, you've never had a better burger, big boys get the Triple Italian, it has an Italian sausage, then Italian beef, then pastami and cheese! Light eaters beware! This place is the best in town and a lot of Huskers eat there. "
RE: Sure....... wrote on October 4, 2007 8:33 pm:
" So why would you even get anywhere near the downtown bars if you are looking to take your better half out for a nice evening? An even better question what does sandwich shops have to do with a nice evening out? Even cheap college kids don't take dates to sandwich shops. "
M&N is the best wrote on October 5, 2007 3:13 am:
" Big G is right, M&N is by far the best sandwich shop in town. Try the Italian Beef and Pastrami combo. It's Delicious!!! "
Missed the point..... wrote on October 5, 2007 8:33 am:
" Perhaps you missed the point.....when I said ADULTS. I meant those that want a quiet evening out. And, frankly, downtown doesn't offer many places for that. ESPECIALLY on the weekends when there is limited parking, people milling about. I would NOT take the better half to a sandwich shop for an evening out. Nor would I subject her to the "downtown" environment. Things need to change there if they want to bring back any sort of evening night life. I do remember when it was a decent place to go. You had Sears, Brandeis, Montgomery Ward, Pennys, and numerous other LOCALLY owned businesses to shop, eat and have a good time at. Most of the stores were open until 9:00pm and the restaurants were open a lot later than that. All one has to do is look at the history of that HUGE WHITE ELEPHANT called the Centrum. THAT was supposed to help re-vitalize downtown. It first had stores located there. Now, it's SCC and offices. The Brandeis (Golds), Montgomery Ward and Penneys buildings are the same way. All offices. There's NOTHING in the downtown area that easy to access for the older folks to have a decent evening out. Maybe the University should consider buying up all THAT property. Seems that there are enough college students there already...... "
jo wrote on October 5, 2007 9:27 am:
" The only sandwich shop that is at all unique is Doozy’s. All the others I can make the same thing at home myself. "

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