Sunday, December 05, 2010

Best Sandwiches -->Taylor Gourmet

IMG_5593

That's the word from Washingtonian readers.

13 comments:

Dave B said...

How the F is Potbelly 3rd? I'm pissed if I;m Taylor because that seems to invalidate the whole thing

Mose said...

Dave B - I don't see how Potbelly's third place showing would "invalidate" the survey. In fact, I think it's all the more impressive that a place like Taylor's (with only two or three locations) and the Italian Store (with only one location) would get named by enough people to put them ahead of a place like Potbelly's, which is decent and which feeds many more people a day due to its large number of loations.

Anonymous said...

Congrats to Taylor! I have yet to taste what everyone else is tasting at that location, but I will give it yet another try.

Dave B said...

Mose, Potbelly is not that good. It is adequate and a farily large chain. It is much better than Subway and a little better than Quiznos. It's not a popularity contest. It's like McDonalds showing up on a best burger list.

Campy said...

I wouldn't throw McDonalds into the analogy, I'd say:

Potbelly = Five Guys
Taylor = Good Stuff
A Litteri = Ray's Hell Burger

Anonymous said...

Congrats, and yay for the localness, but...

Really?

The chicken cutlets are good, but the deli sandwiches are awful. Soggy lettuce is piled high to accompany a paper thin slice of a meat and a cheese.

The bread is stale, when it's even there. I can't tell you how many times I've gone in there and they've been out. Granted, that is more about the store than the individual sandwich.

Litteri's didn't make the list? Hmm. But then, I don't expect Washingtonian readers to make it there often. Thus, Potbelly's. This list is more like "Name Three Sandwich places in DC"

Does Taylor have any plans to try and get into the Nats stadium, or other sports vending arena?

oboe said...

The bread is stale, when it's even there. I can't tell you how many times I've gone in there and they've been out. Granted, that is more about the store than the individual sandwich.

Go eat yer Wonder Bread, and leave the rest of us to eat our Taylor's in peace.

kthxbai

fatty said...

Whenever Taylor's is brought up there are always a handful of people that just don't like it. Obviously there is a much larger crowd that likes or loves the place. Count me as one of those people as I go about once a week.

I'd put MGM roast beef right along Taylor's at the top of my local list. They always have a crowd when I go so I wouldn't be surprised if they make the list next year.

curmudgeon said...

Anon 12:42 -- I think the key to understanding why people are fans of Taylor lies in understanding that the vast, vast majority have had a completely different experience there than you have. When I read your description of their food, I think that you can't possibly be talking about the same place.

monkeyrotica said...

Like a lot of sandwich places, not everything at Taylor is to everyone's taste. I prefer the Italian sandwiches at Mangialardo's and Litteri's, but Taylor's Pattison Avenue roast pork/broccoli rabe/provo has no peer in DC. And I defy you to find better fried risotto balls at that price point.

And second MGM Roast Beef. Whenever I miss Hodges Roast Beef, I cry into my MGM sandwich and side of gravy fries.

Anonymous said...

I'm curious why fans of Taylor get so offended at any detraction of the place. I think stale (or lack of) bread, skimpy meat portions and sogginess are fair criticisms of the deli sandwiches. I would not lay these out if they all hadn't been repeated on multiple visits, as anyone can have a bad day.

I also acknowledged the cutlet type sandwiches are much better, and as they are the only place in DC I know of that does such a sandwich, I understand why some people are fans of Taylor.

But I don't see why folks get so heated at a comment that steers them toward the cutlets over the deli and warns they may be out of bread, or get stale bread.

I don't think anyone is going to defend that they give you heaping portions, and as that is something some customers value, it is a fair comment. If you value expensive ingredients over quantity, then you can self select and ignore such a comment.

But I think most of the appeal of Taylor is simply that it is there, and is there first. Don't get me wrong, that is absolutely commendable and impressive on every front. But I think that says more about the fans of Taylor than Taylor itself.

Anonymous said...

Isn't that an old joke? "Their food is so bad . . .and such small portions!"

curmudgeon said...

Taylor makes my second-favorite sandwich in town, after the reuben at Deli City (not *too* far away). But you folks raving about MGM make me think I need to give it a try, and soon.