During Austin Film Festival opening weekend, I ended up stopping at Jimmy John's for a quick bite, since few films were at the Alamo Ritz. Normally, I avoid sandwich chains because they rarely meet the expectations my memory has of northeastern US sandwich shops, and I absolutely can't stand Subway bread. It's hideous, why bother. 

Last summer, I got a chance to try a bit of a Jimmy John's sub when they had folks handing out samples near a new location.  I hadn't been interested in trying them before because they're commercials are exceptionally annoying.  But the sandwich wasn't bad.  The bread was odd in that it was thin on top, but it tasted good.  So I stopped by the shop on 6th between Brazos and Lamar and got a roast beef sub (or as they say, #2 Big John).  For $4.50, it was the perfect size, and nearly perfect sub. The bread was both crusty and chewy, almost as much meat as I could want, and lettuce and tomato.  It would only be absolutely perfect if they served up pickles on it, cubed deli dills, like they sell to go with the sandwiches. 

I didn't notice at the time, but you can also add on meat for a measly $1.50.  I tried that next time, when in line for another film, and it was almost just right.  That Friday, I grabbed one for lunch on my way to a  meeting, and grabbed a #5 Vito, a simple Italian sub to go, for dinner.  Now that was a perfect sub. 

They don't pile on the meat or brag about being huge. Few of us really need all that extra stuff anyway.  These subs are simple, tasty, satisfying without making you feel overfull or sleepy, and the price is definitely right.  But if you want that extra meat, or extra goodies, they can pile it on. In any case, they really do make them very fast, and very good.

The Vito has genoa salami, provolone, capicola, onion, lettuce, tomato and Italian vinaigrette.  I forgot how onions can transform an adequate sandwich into a very good one. The bread has the right amount of chewiness and crustiness (and they scoop some of the top part out to make it fit together better.  The Vito was perfect as is.  The much dismissed iceburg lettuce, shredded into crunchy crisps, as clean texture that enhances the other flavors.  The tomato adds some extra moisture as well as it's own flavor.  The vinaigrette is a nice touch that brings it all together.  I've had this sandwich three times now, twice fresh from the store, and once a day later, and it tasted fantastic each time.  Sandwiches. Subs. Hoagies, whatever you want to call them, they're old style and simply good.

Who needs fancy 'baked' subs that cool off by the time you get them back to the office or home?  This is some good stuff.  It makes me homesick for the little mom & pop shops back in Boston, where they start making your sandwich as soon as they see you, because they know just how you like it. 

Unfortunately, there isn't one near me, and the closest one doesn't deliver in my area (I found this out after much apologizing from the guy who answers the phone at the Bee Caves shop).