A look at what's going on in Trinidad, on H Street, and in the larger area north of Capitol Hill.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Brightest Young Things: Taylor Opening
According to Brightest Young Things [and what I've heard] Taylor should be open today at 5pm. Taylor is an Italian grocery/deli/sandwich shop located at 1116 H Street. Check out the menu here.
63 comments:
Anonymous
said...
We went tonight and the place is great! They'll have a few kinks to work out like any place that has just opened, but everyone working there was friendly, the space is really cool, and most importantly the sandwiches were amazing.
Went for dinner tonight and it was great! The wait was a little long (about 25 minutes for a sandwich), but I suspect that they'll work that out as they go. Had a turkey sandwich with sharp cheese and sun dried tomatoes and some cheese sticks. Everything had great flavor and the sandwich was huge.
I talked to one of the owners. He said tonight was really just supposed to be a soft opening. They didn't realize so many people read these neighborhood blogs -- so they were a little overwhelmed with the number of people who showed up.
They are still getting their system down, but the sandwiches were spot on. They are really nice guys too -- great add to the neighborhood! Welcome guys!
I asked the hours for Saturday as I need/want to go back and pick up some deli items, and Casey said that on Sat the hours will be open11am until 10pm this week-end. I have a feeling that those hours will be extended due to the folks that hit all of the new nightspots. The sandwiches were GREAT and yes even the 6" was big enough. They are selling some awsome deli stuff, ask about the sharp provolone and the fresh mozz. TO DIE FOR... Finally a great sandwich place has come to H St..bye bye subway. Also, take a few minutes to look at all of the great items they have on their shelves including 20 inch pasta.
LOL @ me walking past Taylor last night and thinking "wow, they brought in a whole bunch of casually dressed construction workers to finish this whole thing up!"
My husband and I ate lunch there today, the day after their "soft opening". We got to chatting with one of the owners and he asked the area to please be patient with them as last night they just weren't expecting the large crowd, and it shouldn't take 25 minutes to get a sandwich. Eating lunch their was great. We didn't wait long, and you could see the place booming. They are a great addition to H street. Welcome Taylor!
I got there early on opening night and had a great sandwich. I like that their soda machine is all Boylan soda -- good stuff made out of sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup. They also have Italian pantry items for sale, and I hear they'll soon have wine? Great addition to the 'hood.
They do have tables.It gets crowded at times sooooo.
I love this place, but I don't see how it differs from CluckU,in that you order at a counter and carry your food to a table. I see that ANC6A is even supporting their take a way wine and beer licence. Am I missing something here?
" I love this place, but I don't see how it differs from CluckU,in that you order at a counter and carry your food to a table. "
You seriously can't tell the difference. One was clearly fast food with a restaurant license, the other is a delicatessen with gourmet products and a proper license.
I went in there earlier today hoping to get something quickly. It wasnt too crowded. But after 5 minutes, I didnt really see much being produced and left because I could see it possibly taking a while to get my sandwich. The guy was talking to someone and I guess trying to be nice but I wanted be like "WTF, make a GDamn sandwich already".
The open kitchen setup makes me think it is supposed to be quick, but it seems anything but. Normally when people are assembling my food in the open (Chipotle for example), it is fast. Perhaps that is what had me perturbed about this place. Everything was saying "fast" but nothing was happening. It was like watching a cooking demonstration show. Most delis seem to have a general sense of urgency. Not this place.
Lighten up Brettblows! I'm sure when you opened your first store to bigger than expected crowds nothing took longer than you would have liked. Jesus, they've been open for 4 days! I guess if you aren't getting your food as quickly as you can at a Subway or McDonalds you won't be happy. They are a welcome addition to our neighborhood and should be cut a little slack if things take a little longer than we would like. Incidentally, had lunch there today and the sandwiches were excellent.
I'm just saying... A little giddy up would be appreciated. Implying that I eat or prefer Subway is one of the harshest insults that have come my way in while. I'm not opposed to waiting if there is a crowd. I do it at Litteri's all the time and it is one of the few things that are worth the wait.
They just seemed to be lollygagging. It wasnt that crowded, like 6 people. And they lost my 15 dollars this afternoon. Its worth commenting about. Maybe they appeal to people who like sitting around listening to mellow music while waiting for a sandwich. If that is their business plan, then fine... Maybe I'll just call ahead next time.
It's a sandwich place, not fine dining. Putting meat on bread is not that complex
I stopped by there for lunch on Saturday and can attest to the long lines. But I'm willing to wait to support a good place on H Street. Overall, I thought the sandwiches were good but nothing amazing. (Maybe since I heard about this legendary Philadelphia bread I was expecting a bit more?) I look forward to trying it again once the craziness has died down. For the time being, I think Litteri's still wins my vote for best Italian Deli.
I have to agree. The meats and cheese were good but the bread seemed kinda stale. Didn't think the wait was so bad but I think Litteri's is a better sub at this point. The place itself was very cool looking though and had some tables. Looked straight out of Buenos Aires, actually. Could be a great spot once they refine it a little. This was only their first week and I wish them much success.
I was thrilled for them that they ran out of bread at around 7 on Saturday evening- luckily AFTER we got our sandwiches. The bread though, was not very good- it was a bit tough, and more the type of bread use use for bread and butter than for sandwiches. (The called it "Philly style") I also wondered why a place in DC would use street names from a rival city- and they said they wanted to bring a bit of Philly to DC. I'd rather order a "Wylie" or "Maryland Ave" sandwich than some random Philly street-named sandwich. but heck- at least it's not Dallas!
I went their twice this weekend and will be back first chance I get later this week. The wait was long both times and there were ingredients they were out of, but overall I was pleased with the end result. Good food, cool atmosphere, and friendly owners (who live here as well). The Boylan soda pop fountain alone makes it worth the trip.
Taylor is a home run as far as I'm concerned and I will probably end up spending more time there than in any of the other establishments on H so far. a lot of us have been craving a high-end quick serve joint on H and I think Taylor helps to fill that void. Taylor isn't trying to be Litteri's and i doubt it's trying to be chipotle. Give them a few weeks to work out the kinks before you go whining about easy it is to put meat on bread.
I ate there three times since Thursday. Everytime was great. I had the 9th Street twice which may have been the best sandwich I have ever had. That provolone is to die for. I also ate the chicken cutlet sandwich I believe it is called the Island Avenue. Tasted great with the brie. I will go back again and again. Thanks for comming to H Street and wish you the bext of luck. You have my support
My boyfriend and I went there twice this weekend and we plan to go back many more times. The owners were very friendly and the food was well worth the 20 minute wait. I will gladly wait 20 minutes for a great salad/sandwich I can walk around the corner to get rather than driving and fighting for a parking spot somewhere else.
I'm really looking forward to the market items - olives, meat and cheese we can take home. Also the atmosphere was great and I hope the lines continue.
I'm just saying... A little giddy up would be appreciated.
I wonder if--at some point--with all these restaurants opening up on H St, people will some day finally have it dawn on them that when a new independent restaurant opens, there is a period of time (sometime lasting for several weeks) when the kinks will need to be ironed out.
Same crap every time: Argonaut, Sticky Rice, Granville Moore, etc, etc, etc... Can we eventually all just be adults about it? Otherwise, y'all know where the McDonalds and the Subway are. See ya!
i went to the original Sarconi's in philly on the basis of a yelp.com recommendation and waited almost 2 hours for my sandwiches, so it sounds like Taylors is an improvement over that. And yeah, I agree about the bread, on yelp everyone raved about it but it seemed incredibly tough and tasteless to me. Maybe an acquired taste but I prefer bread I don't feel like a lion trying to rip a gazelle apart trying to get a bite off my sandwich.
just wondering why a sandwich/soda/chips would cost over 10 dollars anywhere. especially when Litteri's have sandwiches for 6-7 dollars. How can H st. support restaurants that charge prices in the same range as those in Georgetown, Friendship Heights, etc.? Not to mention there's somewhat of a budget crunch happening right now for most citizens... -not a complete cheapass
My gf and I went on Friday night. The bread was fine and the sandwich good. The sandwich-maker went a little crazy with the oil and vinegar on the Italian, but it wasn't a big deal. I'll definitely be back -- tried today, in fact, but they weren't open for lunch yet.
I can't wait for the deli to provide items for general sale. I was hoping to buy some stuff, but they are not selling at the present time. I loved the sharp provolone and fresh mozz I wanted some at home. We had 2 different sandwiches with their own cheese and loved the taste of both. I agree that Litteri's is Litteris, but Taylor is Taylor. But I do appreciate the fact if I want a great sub at 9pm, I can get it. WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TAYLOR..
I'm from the Philly area, and my folks, who still live there, were in town for a visit this weekend. We went over to Taylor for lunch Friday. Probably had to wait about 30 minutes for our order - they were slammed, as their "soft" opening wasn't nearly as soft as they'd planned - but I can finally get a really Philly hoagie 4 blocks from my house, so I'm not complaining.
Next up: trying to convince them to add cheesesteaks to the menu!
The 4.95 pretax litteri's hard roll italian sub is an unbeatable value, except when it was 4.50 a couple months ago.
Went to taylor last night (only one there so there were no problems). Bread was very good. It had to be because I couldnt find the meat that was supposed to come in my lettuce sandwich.
there is potential though. Luckily for them, Litteris is not open all the time
Was there today for lunch. The sandwich I had was phenominal. Meat seemed to be of high quality, one of the owners even sliced off a piece of turkey for me to taste that they cook in house. There were about 8 people in the store and it took me about 10 minutes to get in and out. I can see how it could get backed up though. Taylor had my vote. Welcome to the hood. Can't wait to go back and try another sandwich
"people will some day finally have it dawn on them that when a new independent restaurant opens, there is a period of time (sometime lasting for several weeks) when the kinks will need to be ironed out."
Yes, we all know what a soft opening is. However, almost all of these places (Taylor included) announced that they were opening on FT. So it seems that they don't know what a soft opening is. A soft opening means no publicity while you sort the kinks out. Not publicizing it and then being suprised there's a big turn out. And you can't claim ignorance. If you're opening on H Street and haven't researched the impact of a FT announcement in the months you've been spending trying to opn, you're sticking your head in the sands in regard to marketing.
That said, I went Friday afternoon and had a GREAT experience. They were very friendly, nice, have a beautiful space and great sandwiches (although have to agree that the bread was kinda tough and stale).
VERY, VERY happy they're here and I'll be back many, many times.
"How can H st. support restaurants that charge prices in the same range as those in Georgetown, Friendship Heights, etc.?"
Have you seen the "rides" on H st during the middle of the day? Also, "we" live here and would be willing to pay at least $3 to $4 for a sandwich if I could walk to get it as opposed to drive to Georgetown.
Side note, I went on Sunday night around 8:30 pm and they were closed and I went today around 5:00 pm and they were closed also ("out of bread"). I'm looking forward to trying again.
"How can H st. support restaurants that charge prices in the same range as those in Georgetown, Friendship Heights, etc.?"
Have you seen the "rides" on H st during the middle of the day? Also, "we" live here and would be willing to pay at least $3 to $4 for a sandwich if I could walk to get it as opposed to drive to Georgetown.
Side note, I went on Sunday night around 8:30 pm and they were closed and I went today around 5:00 pm and they were closed also ("out of bread"). I'm looking forward to trying again.
To be fair they didn't really advertise on here [by which I mean send me an announcement about a soft opening]. I was invited to stop by and did. One of the owners told me when he hoped to open and then a few people emailed me when it showed up on a couple of other sites. I reposted that. I typically do not post info on soft openings unless an owner or employee sends me info directly. I have that policy because I think it can be amazingly hard to get that first day/night up and running. I don't want to spread rumors of an opening when it might not happen. I had a sandwich the other day from Taylor. It was quite good, and I liked the bread, as well as the setting. I too have a suggestion or two that I will share with my contact there. The wait was long, but that is to be expected for a new, and highly anticipated business. Plus, every place has growing pains. Let's be patient. I'm glad they are open, and I look forward to consuming many more sandwiches at Taylor. They are, in my opinion, a great addition to H Street, and a welcome counterpart to Litteri's.
Decided I'd give 'em a whirl today since I had the day off, but got there to find an "Out of bread" sign. Bummer--I was pretty excited. Well, at least it's good news in that they have more business than they expected.
Honestly, any time I've been there when they've been really busy, you can tell that, while I'm sure the owners are happy they are getting business, they are REALLY frustrated that they can't churn out sandwiches as quickly as they'd like and they are VERY apologetic to waiting customers.
So any notion that they aren't busting their a$$es to please their customers and aren't very appreciative of everyone who comes through their doors is, frankly, ridiculous.
They are a very welcome addition to the neighborhood and I wish them great success as they work through any initial kinks.
Love the place, but really... the whole Philly bread thing? Totally overated. And the fact that they are closed because they can't get their hands on more of that chewy, flavorless bread makes me laugh.
David and I would like to thank all of you for visiting Taylor over the past few days. We are excited to be open, and are enjoying meeting all of our neighbors. Thank you for the feedback, all feedback is important to us, helps us grow, and better serve our customers.
Please be patient with us as we are learning ways to be more efficient, without compromising the quality of our food.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to stop by Taylor or email me at cp(at)taylorgourmet.com.
I know this is an Italian deli, but it would be nice to some items like tuna or eggplant. This is probably asking too much but just a suggestion that would get me in the door.
I am excited to have just moved to an area in DC with so much more to offer than most would think. Taylor is the finest example of what one would love to find.
Let me just mention that yes the use of space is remarkable and the decor is pristine.
The food is crazy fresh all the way down to the details of the mozzarella sticks. I could never believe fresh ingredients could change something as simple as this cheesy treat.
The 9th street is phenominal as are the cutlets, and thank you for the risotto balls.
Casey and David you have done sooooo well and welcome to the neighborhood.
Went for the first time last night after having heard great things and was totally impressed. The sandwiches were excellent, the decor is really sharp, and -- most importantly from my perspective, and the reason for my post -- the owners could not have been friendlier or working harder to make sure that the customers were happy. That factor alone, for me, generates the kind of loyalty that makes me truly want to see this business succeed. That the sandwiches are really tasty and the place looks cool inside is an added bonus.
I went there and the place is very nice however the rolls are hard and they dont represent Philadelphia Rolls. I am from Philadelphia and most of the sandwiches like that are on Amoroso Rolls. Dont be fooled!
It's not a question of being "fooled.". Amoroso and Sarcone's represent two very different Philly traditions.
Although I'm a fan of cheesesteaks on Amoroso rolls (big thanks to the Water Ice Factory for getting that right), Italian delis almost always serve sandwiches on hard, crusty rolls like the ones from Sarcone's.
I prefer a soft roll, personally, but Taylor's sandwiches definitely capture the taste (and feel) of the Italian subs I grew up with.
I was just coming on to post my experience with Taylor and came across this..
You wish the Taylor ITALIAN DELI has tuna or eggplant? And I suspect you feel dining at Pizza Hut would ensure a special request for General Tso's Chicken?
Now, Taylor was a quality experience. The staff friendly, and decor unique. The sandwiches were well done. The islander is my fav, and risotto balls! Well done.
My GF and I ordered the Spring Street sandwich which was supposed to have Broccoli Rabe and Provolone. I was excited about the Rabe ... but when the sandwich came, there wasn't any! Even though it was listed as the first ingredient on the sandwich!
How can that happen?
What we got for $7 was nice bread with a few chips of provolone, some lettuce, tomato and onions. I wish every new business well but in these economic times, I can't afford that.
Did you go back and ask for broccoli rabe on your sandwich?
It seems to me that this was probably an inadvertent oversight and an easily correctable one at that. In order to correct the oversight, however, you have to actually point it out to the owners as opposed to complaining about it on this blog.
Unless, of course, you think somebody on here has broccoli rabe for you.
JJ, everybody who comments here is either giving their personal opinion or relating something that happened. That's what I did. I read a lot of comments I don't agree with, but I don't feel the need to attack those commenters.
After waiting for a sandwich I wasn't in the mood to go back and remind them to include the main ingredient.
If you thought that was an "attack" you must have some mighty thin skin, my friend.
You're more than welcome to share your opinion about Taylor. However, respectfully, I think your comment about Taylor (and its implication regarding Taylor's service) is unfair given that you didn't even notify them of the problem or provide them with an opportunity to correct their mistake. Both of which could have been easily accomplished by simply saying "Hey, theres no rabe on my sandwich! Gimme some rabe!"
I agree with JJ - and comparing them to Litteri's on another site seems like overkill with bitterness that you didnt feel the need to let the guys know/fix their mistakes - this place has only been open for a week -
Unfair? I'm just relating something that happened. That's a lot more "fair" than a snide remark like, "Unless, of course, you think somebody on here has broccoli rabe for you."
I think if you won't give the operation a chance to rectify a seemingly innocent mistake, and then post on it, that is being unfair. Unless you are of the opinion that it is completely unacceptable to make a mistake. And unless you think they have some nefarious plan to advertise broccoli rabe, and they don't actually have it. Then it would be very fair.
But for the record I am from DC and all I really care about is a great sandwich. I have always loved litteri's, but in comparison I think Taylor's is better. I prefer the bread, I think the meat is better, and I think there hours are infinitely better. And the jovial attitude of the owners is over the top nice. Thank you Taylor's. You have brought a much needed presence to the neighborhood.
Went by last night to pick up a sub. This was hands-down the best sub I have ever had in the DC Metro area. Yes, much better than the Italian store. Way to go Casey! Great food, great service, and great decor. I'll be back on saturday for seconds.
63 comments:
We went tonight and the place is great! They'll have a few kinks to work out like any place that has just opened, but everyone working there was friendly, the space is really cool, and most importantly the sandwiches were amazing.
yeah we stopped in on our way back from sticky rice to pick up a menu and scope the place out. Looks great!
Anyone know the hours?
Went for dinner tonight and it was great! The wait was a little long (about 25 minutes for a sandwich), but I suspect that they'll work that out as they go. Had a turkey sandwich with sharp cheese and sun dried tomatoes and some cheese sticks. Everything had great flavor and the sandwich was huge.
I talked to one of the owners. He said tonight was really just supposed to be a soft opening. They didn't realize so many people read these neighborhood blogs -- so they were a little overwhelmed with the number of people who showed up.
They are still getting their system down, but the sandwiches were spot on. They are really nice guys too -- great add to the neighborhood! Welcome guys!
I have to agree with JJ. Even though they were snowed under, they didn't lose their cool. They really are very nice, and appreciate their customers.
I asked the hours for Saturday as I need/want to go back and pick up some deli items, and Casey said that on Sat the hours will be open11am until 10pm this week-end. I have a feeling that those hours will be extended due to the folks that hit all of the new nightspots. The sandwiches were GREAT and yes even the 6" was big enough. They are selling some awsome deli stuff, ask about the sharp provolone and the fresh mozz. TO DIE FOR...
Finally a great sandwich place has come to H St..bye bye subway. Also, take a few minutes to look at all of the great items they have on their shelves including 20 inch pasta.
see you in line...
Anyone know if they are open for lunch today, or is it just dinner hours?
LOL @ me walking past Taylor last night and thinking "wow, they brought in a whole bunch of casually dressed construction workers to finish this whole thing up!"
My husband and I ate lunch there today, the day after their "soft opening". We got to chatting with one of the owners and he asked the area to please be patient with them as last night they just weren't expecting the large crowd, and it shouldn't take 25 minutes to get a sandwich. Eating lunch their was great. We didn't wait long, and you could see the place booming. They are a great addition to H street. Welcome Taylor!
I got there early on opening night and had a great sandwich. I like that their soda machine is all Boylan soda -- good stuff made out of sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup. They also have Italian pantry items for sale, and I hear they'll soon have wine?
Great addition to the 'hood.
Just got back from lunch, still sipping on Boylan soda. My friends and I agreed--the sandwiches were delicious & they were really friendly.
Do they have any tables, or is it only takeout for the sandwiches? Can't wait to check it out!
-Erika
They do have tables.It gets crowded at times sooooo.
I love this place, but I don't see how it differs from CluckU,in that you order at a counter and carry your food to a table. I see that ANC6A is even supporting their take a way wine and beer licence. Am I missing something here?
Anon 6:29, you're an idiot
" I love this place, but I don't see how it differs from CluckU,in that you order at a counter and carry your food to a table. "
You seriously can't tell the difference. One was clearly fast food with a restaurant license, the other is a delicatessen with gourmet products and a proper license.
John Henderson from 3rd St., NE
Clucku should have named itself the Clucku chicken deli, or put a coffee pot out front, and called itself the Cluck,cluck coffeehouse.
cluck u was the worst and so is club 12! i heard that j crew is looking at the entire building!
I went in there earlier today hoping to get something quickly. It wasnt too crowded. But after 5 minutes, I didnt really see much being produced and left because I could see it possibly taking a while to get my sandwich. The guy was talking to someone and I guess trying to be nice but I wanted be like "WTF, make a GDamn sandwich already".
The open kitchen setup makes me think it is supposed to be quick, but it seems anything but. Normally when people are assembling my food in the open (Chipotle for example), it is fast. Perhaps that is what had me perturbed about this place. Everything was saying "fast" but nothing was happening. It was like watching a cooking demonstration show. Most delis seem to have a general sense of urgency. Not this place.
Lighten up Brettblows! I'm sure when you opened your first store to bigger than expected crowds nothing took longer than you would have liked. Jesus, they've been open for 4 days! I guess if you aren't getting your food as quickly as you can at a Subway or McDonalds you won't be happy. They are a welcome addition to our neighborhood and should be cut a little slack if things take a little longer than we would like. Incidentally, had lunch there today and the sandwiches were excellent.
I'm just saying... A little giddy up would be appreciated. Implying that I eat or prefer Subway is one of the harshest insults that have come my way in while. I'm not opposed to waiting if there is a crowd. I do it at Litteri's all the time and it is one of the few things that are worth the wait.
They just seemed to be lollygagging. It wasnt that crowded, like 6 people. And they lost my 15 dollars this afternoon. Its worth commenting about. Maybe they appeal to people who like sitting around listening to mellow music while waiting for a sandwich. If that is their business plan, then fine... Maybe I'll just call ahead next time.
It's a sandwich place, not fine dining. Putting meat on bread is not that complex
I stopped by there for lunch on Saturday and can attest to the long lines. But I'm willing to wait to support a good place on H Street. Overall, I thought the sandwiches were good but nothing amazing. (Maybe since I heard about this legendary Philadelphia bread I was expecting a bit more?) I look forward to trying it again once the craziness has died down. For the time being, I think Litteri's still wins my vote for best Italian Deli.
I have to agree. The meats and cheese were good but the bread seemed kinda stale. Didn't think the wait was so bad but I think Litteri's is a better sub at this point. The place itself was very cool looking though and had some tables. Looked straight out of Buenos Aires, actually. Could be a great spot once they refine it a little. This was only their first week and I wish them much success.
I was thrilled for them that they ran out of bread at around 7 on Saturday evening- luckily AFTER we got our sandwiches. The bread though, was not very good- it was a bit tough, and more the type of bread use use for bread and butter than for sandwiches. (The called it "Philly style") I also wondered why a place in DC would use street names from a rival city- and they said they wanted to bring a bit of Philly to DC. I'd rather order a "Wylie" or "Maryland Ave" sandwich than some random Philly street-named sandwich. but heck- at least it's not Dallas!
I went their twice this weekend and will be back first chance I get later this week. The wait was long both times and there were ingredients they were out of, but overall I was pleased with the end result. Good food, cool atmosphere, and friendly owners (who live here as well). The Boylan soda pop fountain alone makes it worth the trip.
Taylor is a home run as far as I'm concerned and I will probably end up spending more time there than in any of the other establishments on H so far. a lot of us have been craving a high-end quick serve joint on H and I think Taylor helps to fill that void. Taylor isn't trying to be Litteri's and i doubt it's trying to be chipotle. Give them a few weeks to work out the kinks before you go whining about easy it is to put meat on bread.
I ate there three times since Thursday. Everytime was great. I had the 9th Street twice which may have been the best sandwich I have ever had. That provolone is to die for. I also ate the chicken cutlet sandwich I believe it is called the Island Avenue. Tasted great with the brie. I will go back again and again. Thanks for comming to H Street and wish you the bext of luck. You have my support
My boyfriend and I went there twice this weekend and we plan to go back many more times. The owners were very friendly and the food was well worth the 20 minute wait. I will gladly wait 20 minutes for a great salad/sandwich I can walk around the corner to get rather than driving and fighting for a parking spot somewhere else.
I'm really looking forward to the market items - olives, meat and cheese we can take home. Also the atmosphere was great and I hope the lines continue.
I'm just saying... A little giddy up would be appreciated.
I wonder if--at some point--with all these restaurants opening up on H St, people will some day finally have it dawn on them that when a new independent restaurant opens, there is a period of time (sometime lasting for several weeks) when the kinks will need to be ironed out.
Same crap every time: Argonaut, Sticky Rice, Granville Moore, etc, etc, etc... Can we eventually all just be adults about it? Otherwise, y'all know where the McDonalds and the Subway are. See ya!
i went to the original Sarconi's in philly on the basis of a yelp.com recommendation and waited almost 2 hours for my sandwiches, so it sounds like Taylors is an improvement over that. And yeah, I agree about the bread, on yelp everyone raved about it but it seemed incredibly tough and tasteless to me. Maybe an acquired taste but I prefer bread I don't feel like a lion trying to rip a gazelle apart trying to get a bite off my sandwich.
just wondering why a sandwich/soda/chips would cost over 10 dollars anywhere. especially when Litteri's have sandwiches for 6-7 dollars. How can H st. support restaurants that charge prices in the same range as those in Georgetown, Friendship Heights, etc.? Not to mention there's somewhat of a budget crunch happening right now for most citizens...
-not a complete cheapass
My gf and I went on Friday night. The bread was fine and the sandwich good. The sandwich-maker went a little crazy with the oil and vinegar on the Italian, but it wasn't a big deal. I'll definitely be back -- tried today, in fact, but they weren't open for lunch yet.
I can't wait for the deli to provide items for general sale. I was hoping to buy some stuff, but they are not selling at the present time. I loved the sharp provolone and fresh mozz I wanted some at home. We had 2 different sandwiches with their own cheese and loved the taste of both.
I agree that Litteri's is Litteris, but Taylor is Taylor. But I do appreciate the fact if I want a great sub at 9pm, I can get it. WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TAYLOR..
Anon 12:35, if you have ever added chips and a drink to a Litteri sandwich, it would run up there also.
I'm from the Philly area, and my folks, who still live there, were in town for a visit this weekend. We went over to Taylor for lunch Friday. Probably had to wait about 30 minutes for our order - they were slammed, as their "soft" opening wasn't nearly as soft as they'd planned - but I can finally get a really Philly hoagie 4 blocks from my house, so I'm not complaining.
Next up: trying to convince them to add cheesesteaks to the menu!
The 4.95 pretax litteri's hard roll italian sub is an unbeatable value, except when it was 4.50 a couple months ago.
Went to taylor last night (only one there so there were no problems). Bread was very good. It had to be because I couldnt find the meat that was supposed to come in my lettuce sandwich.
there is potential though. Luckily for them, Litteris is not open all the time
Was there today for lunch. The sandwich I had was phenominal. Meat seemed to be of high quality, one of the owners even sliced off a piece of turkey for me to taste that they cook in house. There were about 8 people in the store and it took me about 10 minutes to get in and out. I can see how it could get backed up though. Taylor had my vote. Welcome to the hood. Can't wait to go back and try another sandwich
"people will some day finally have it dawn on them that when a new independent restaurant opens, there is a period of time (sometime lasting for several weeks) when the kinks will need to be ironed out."
Yes, we all know what a soft opening is. However, almost all of these places (Taylor included) announced that they were opening on FT. So it seems that they don't know what a soft opening is. A soft opening means no publicity while you sort the kinks out. Not publicizing it and then being suprised there's a big turn out. And you can't claim ignorance. If you're opening on H Street and haven't researched the impact of a FT announcement in the months you've been spending trying to opn, you're sticking your head in the sands in regard to marketing.
That said, I went Friday afternoon and had a GREAT experience. They were very friendly, nice, have a beautiful space and great sandwiches (although have to agree that the bread was kinda tough and stale).
VERY, VERY happy they're here and I'll be back many, many times.
oops, I meant to say, "You can't publicize it on FT and then be suprised that there's a big turn out."
I really should preview instead of typing too fast and then publishing...
"How can H st. support restaurants that charge prices in the same range as those in Georgetown, Friendship Heights, etc.?"
Have you seen the "rides" on H st during the middle of the day? Also, "we" live here and would be willing to pay at least $3 to $4 for a sandwich if I could walk to get it as opposed to drive to Georgetown.
Side note, I went on Sunday night around 8:30 pm and they were closed and I went today around 5:00 pm and they were closed also ("out of bread"). I'm looking forward to trying again.
"How can H st. support restaurants that charge prices in the same range as those in Georgetown, Friendship Heights, etc.?"
Have you seen the "rides" on H st during the middle of the day? Also, "we" live here and would be willing to pay at least $3 to $4 for a sandwich if I could walk to get it as opposed to drive to Georgetown.
Side note, I went on Sunday night around 8:30 pm and they were closed and I went today around 5:00 pm and they were closed also ("out of bread"). I'm looking forward to trying again.
To be fair they didn't really advertise on here [by which I mean send me an announcement about a soft opening]. I was invited to stop by and did. One of the owners told me when he hoped to open and then a few people emailed me when it showed up on a couple of other sites. I reposted that. I typically do not post info on soft openings unless an owner or employee sends me info directly. I have that policy because I think it can be amazingly hard to get that first day/night up and running. I don't want to spread rumors of an opening when it might not happen. I had a sandwich the other day from Taylor. It was quite good, and I liked the bread, as well as the setting. I too have a suggestion or two that I will share with my contact there. The wait was long, but that is to be expected for a new, and highly anticipated business. Plus, every place has growing pains. Let's be patient. I'm glad they are open, and I look forward to consuming many more sandwiches at Taylor. They are, in my opinion, a great addition to H Street, and a welcome counterpart to Litteri's.
How can H st. support restaurants that charge prices in the same range as those in Georgetown, Friendship Heights, etc.?
Hmmm.. Probably for the same reason that a 2-bedroom/1-bath rowhouse in the neighborhood goes for $400k+.
A *lot* of money has come into the neighborhood in the last five years. Just sayin'.
Decided I'd give 'em a whirl today since I had the day off, but got there to find an "Out of bread" sign. Bummer--I was pretty excited. Well, at least it's good news in that they have more business than they expected.
Honestly, any time I've been there when they've been really busy, you can tell that, while I'm sure the owners are happy they are getting business, they are REALLY frustrated that they can't churn out sandwiches as quickly as they'd like and they are VERY apologetic to waiting customers.
So any notion that they aren't busting their a$$es to please their customers and aren't very appreciative of everyone who comes through their doors is, frankly, ridiculous.
They are a very welcome addition to the neighborhood and I wish them great success as they work through any initial kinks.
Love the place, but really... the whole Philly bread thing? Totally overated. And the fact that they are closed because they can't get their hands on more of that chewy, flavorless bread makes me laugh.
Neighbors,
David and I would like to thank all of you for visiting Taylor over the past few days. We are excited to be open, and are enjoying meeting all of our neighbors. Thank you for the feedback, all feedback is important to us, helps us grow, and better serve our customers.
Please be patient with us as we are learning ways to be more efficient, without compromising the quality of our food.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to stop by Taylor or email me at cp(at)taylorgourmet.com.
Regards,
Casey
I haven't been to Taylor's yet, but I've always found the bread at Litteri's to be hard. I just thought that was part of it.
Welcome to the neighborhood Taylor! I look forward to trying your buns.
I know this is an Italian deli, but it would be nice to some items like tuna or eggplant. This is probably asking too much but just a suggestion that would get me in the door.
I am excited to have just moved to an area in DC with so much more to offer than most would think. Taylor is the finest example of what one would love to find.
Let me just mention that yes the use of space is remarkable and the decor is pristine.
The food is crazy fresh all the way down to the details of the mozzarella sticks. I could never believe fresh ingredients could change something as simple as this cheesy treat.
The 9th street is phenominal as are the cutlets, and thank you for the risotto balls.
Casey and David you have done sooooo well and welcome to the neighborhood.
Went for the first time last night after having heard great things and was totally impressed. The sandwiches were excellent, the decor is really sharp, and -- most importantly from my perspective, and the reason for my post -- the owners could not have been friendlier or working harder to make sure that the customers were happy. That factor alone, for me, generates the kind of loyalty that makes me truly want to see this business succeed. That the sandwiches are really tasty and the place looks cool inside is an added bonus.
I went there and the place is very nice however the rolls are hard and they dont represent Philadelphia Rolls. I am from Philadelphia and most of the sandwiches like that are on Amoroso Rolls. Dont be fooled!
It's not a question of being "fooled.". Amoroso and Sarcone's represent two very different Philly traditions.
Although I'm a fan of cheesesteaks on Amoroso rolls (big thanks to the Water Ice Factory for getting that right), Italian delis almost always serve sandwiches on hard, crusty rolls like the ones from Sarcone's.
I prefer a soft roll, personally, but Taylor's sandwiches definitely capture the taste (and feel) of the Italian subs I grew up with.
anonymous-Nov 13th at 939....
I was just coming on to post my experience with Taylor and came across this..
You wish the Taylor ITALIAN DELI has tuna or eggplant? And I suspect you feel dining at Pizza Hut would ensure a special request for General Tso's Chicken?
Now, Taylor was a quality experience. The staff friendly, and decor unique. The sandwiches were well done. The islander is my fav, and risotto balls! Well done.
My GF and I ordered the Spring Street sandwich which was supposed to have Broccoli Rabe and Provolone. I was excited about the Rabe ... but when the sandwich came, there wasn't any! Even though it was listed as the first ingredient on the sandwich!
How can that happen?
What we got for $7 was nice bread with a few chips of provolone, some lettuce, tomato and onions. I wish every new business well but in these economic times, I can't afford that.
Charles,
Did you go back and ask for broccoli rabe on your sandwich?
It seems to me that this was probably an inadvertent oversight and an easily correctable one at that. In order to correct the oversight, however, you have to actually point it out to the owners as opposed to complaining about it on this blog.
Unless, of course, you think somebody on here has broccoli rabe for you.
JJ, everybody who comments here is either giving their personal opinion or relating something that happened. That's what I did. I read a lot of comments I don't agree with, but I don't feel the need to attack those commenters.
After waiting for a sandwich I wasn't in the mood to go back and remind them to include the main ingredient.
Charles,
If you thought that was an "attack" you must have some mighty thin skin, my friend.
You're more than welcome to share your opinion about Taylor. However, respectfully, I think your comment about Taylor (and its implication regarding Taylor's service) is unfair given that you didn't even notify them of the problem or provide them with an opportunity to correct their mistake. Both of which could have been easily accomplished by simply saying "Hey, theres no rabe on my sandwich! Gimme some rabe!"
How hard is that?
I agree with JJ - and comparing them to Litteri's on another site seems like overkill with bitterness that you didnt feel the need to let the guys know/fix their mistakes - this place has only been open for a week -
Unfair? I'm just relating something that happened. That's a lot more "fair" than a snide remark like, "Unless, of course, you think somebody on here has broccoli rabe for you."
You guys crack me up. Any report or opinion that doesn't follow the party line is "unfair" or "bitter."
I think if you won't give the operation a chance to rectify a seemingly innocent mistake, and then post on it, that is being unfair. Unless you are of the opinion that it is completely unacceptable to make a mistake. And unless you think they have some nefarious plan to advertise broccoli rabe, and they don't actually have it. Then it would be very fair.
But for the record I am from DC and all I really care about is a great sandwich. I have always loved litteri's, but in comparison I think Taylor's is better. I prefer the bread, I think the meat is better, and I think there hours are infinitely better. And the jovial attitude of the owners is over the top nice. Thank you Taylor's. You have brought a much needed presence to the neighborhood.
Went by last night to pick up a sub. This was hands-down the best sub I have ever had in the DC Metro area. Yes, much better than the Italian store. Way to go Casey! Great food, great service, and great decor. I'll be back on saturday for seconds.
- Joe
Yes thank you David and Casey for bringing a great philly style hoagie to H St! Now, how about some Cannolis! :-)
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