The owner used to call me FRANCOIS just because I was French. The nicest guy, him and his team, all good folks. I can't believe this place still exist, and that people write things I remember over 20 years ago. I must have been a regular for over 10 years while working in the area (1981-1993). I am now back in France and I swear, even here, nobody makes a sandwich like them. The Italian meat ball was a killer, now I have to make my own meat balls, I was just looking in google mapp, and seeing the store made me feel great. read more

Tried this place for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. First off it's kinda hidden in the corner and wouldn't really know that it was a sandwich shop. They have a to go window and a sit down dine in area. The staff was very very friendly and helpful. The interior is all horse racing pictures and frames and they have a couple of TVs as well. We had the pastrami sandwich and it was huge! The food was good and large portions. Only recommendation I have is the interior needs a fresh coat of pain and a good wipe down. I support mom and pop places vs large chains. We will be back again! read more

I've been a long time fan of this place. Used to live about one block away, but now I need to make an effort to get there. My favorite day is Friday when they serve Italian sausage sandwiches, but their other sandwiches are great too. They make the BEST FRIES EVER! read more

Their pastrami dip is addictive. Moist, juicy, full of flavor, huge and totally fattening lol. Cool retro decor inside also and pretty cheap considering the huge pile of meat they give you on the sandwich. Go here! read more

Grinders grinders grinders, if you're in the mood for a grinder then this is your place. I'll echo what many people have said about the friendly and fast service, the unassuming exterior, and the modest interior from a decade (or two) past. It's definitely a local joint that is easy to miss and easy to ignore. I had a turkey grinder and it was good, but a turkey just isn't meant to be exciting without some extra care. I'd suggest some avocado, that would have been a good choice. Whatever, it was a small misstep for me, but I corrected it this week! I got the fried chicken sandwich and oh my giggles it was the best choice I've made all quarter. The chicken was thick and fresh and juicy and tasted fantastico with just the right amount of mayo on the bun to compliment the chicken. I'm a fan of Chick-fil-A but this sandwich put it to shame, absolutely trounced it. And the best part? A "small" apparently means a 12 inch freakin' grinder. I had two meals! read more

The pastrami dip was delicious. They do not skimp on the meat. A large is definitely plenty to share with another person. The main reason for my four stars was I ordered an iced tea, which was pretty awful tasting. I'm not sure what was going on with that, but definitely would come back to try other sandwiches in the future! The staff was really friendly and your food comes out very quickly. We came in on a rainy day but I still noticed that the inside was a little stuffy. Nonetheless, great sandwich! read more

My first time coming here and is definitely not gonna be my last when I'm in Monrovia. This place reminds mom and pops shops out on the east coast. The staff is friendly and their menu is simple. read more

very tasty, fresh with large portions! Had the Gene's special large size to share. Fries were hot & fresh! yum!!! read more

Gene's Grinders - Gene's Special $9.50 Large size - Delis Near Me - Duarte, California

Best sandwich place ever..must try the pastrami dip with mustard pickles and cheese..and homemade sausage on Friday and sometimes saturday are leftovers. I drive 30 miles out of my way to get this sandwich. My wife loves the gene special with avocado. read more

I've visited virtually all of the sandwich spots in the area, and Gene's Grinders definitely makes it into my weekly rotation. Solid food with great service. Here's a rundown of the sandwiches I've tried: Meatball: While I prefer the taste of the meatballs from Claro's a few miles away, I like that Gene's sandwich is more meatball than bread, cheese or sauce. Roast Beef Dip: The roast beef doesn't really stand out, but the dip does add some nice flavor. Not bad, but wouldn't order it again. I prefer the Angry Beast at Market Grill, or the roast beef from Pasadena Sandwich Company. Polish Kielbasa: Not as spicy as the Polish at Stuffed Sandwich in San Gabriel, but I like that the kielbasa has this singed/toasted texture to it. The flavor profile is pretty decent, but I've had better. Chicken Breast: This is my go-to sandwich, which is strange because the food snob in me isn't too comfortable with reheated chicken breast, which I'm assuming because they can whip these bad boys out in under 3 minutes! But, the sandwich is big, hearty and has that great comfort food feel to it that keeps me coming back. To sum it up, Gene's Grinders is a 4 star establishment in my book. While their only "wow" factor is their portion sizes, they do offer great service with good comfort food for a reasonable price. I gotta try their pastrami one of these days... read more

I don't understand why this place doesn't have 5 stars. I'm a local and I've been coming here for years (at least 7). I always leave here happy, satisfied, and eager to come back. Okay, so you are paying for a pricey sandwich but what you are buying is QUALITY (not to mention size-- they pack their sandwiches up). One thing is for sure I'll never stop coming here and they can always count on my business. Delicious & AMAZING. read more

Best sandwiches in Monrovia, especially their chicken marinara... best costumer service you will not be disappointed

This place was a staple in my childhood so it really pains me to write this. The food is always yummy and fresh but my last visit showed the true colors of the owners. My family and I were enjoying our lunch at the outside tables and my 3 year old needed to use the restroom. It was about 20 min to closing and I went to the door which was open and immediately an older lady rudely stopped me and said sorry we are closed. I apologized and explained that we are paying customers eating outside and my toddler needed to use the restroom. She proceeded to close the door in our face and lock the door. I'm very disappointed with how we were treated. If the restroom was out of order or something that's all they had to say but I feel like they just didn't want to be bothered. read more

I just can't get enough of Gene's Pastrami Grinder. As a foodie I crave unique and bold, but as a sandwich lover, I'm a bit of a purist. Solid bread, crisp veggies, tasty meat. This place is as comfort as comfort gets. read more

If it wasn't for the delicious sandwiches, I would never return. Their pastrami is unbelievable. But it's hard to figure them out. They say they close at 3:30, but I have walked up to the window (on two different occasions) at around 3pm, only to have them say they're "closed". Don't know if that's "my food is good, so suck it" mentality that brings on this level of service, but it's not a welcoming feeling. Not to mention, with every visit you have to put up with the employees acting like they hate their job. Time to step up your customer service to match the great taste of your sandwiches. read more

Between this joint and Market Grill around the corner I'm very spoiled. This place is legit sandwich spot. Definitely one of the top spots in Monrovia read more

Gene's Grinders - Delis Near Me - Duarte, California

I was going to give this place the benefit of the doubt. I ordered a large turkey sandwich and it had NO CONDIMENTS on it! I thought they'd made a mistake, but judging by the reviews it appears as though this is how they make their cold sandwiches. I don't expect fresh roasted turkey, but if you're going to make an Italian style Grindr, it's better be seasoned and dressed well. Pales in comparison to Santorros's in Burbank -- they know how to elevate a turkey sandwich with an incredible combo of mayo, oils, and chopped tomatoes. read more

Special....all day! Generous portions which can last me all day, unless I'm on a good day where i can finish the whole sub and fries. Location: Corner off Myrtle street, easy to find. easy parking. Atmosphere: Nothing impressive, its a sandwich place. You can sit inside or outside. Service: You order your food, they make it, you leave or eat it there. Food: All their sandwiches are good, i haven't really tried anything else, but i will someday and report back. I just enjoy the Gene special too much. Sanitation: Nothing to report. Overall: Its a cool place. If i where to go on the Jared subway diet, subway would be isomorphic to Grinders. read more

Good sandwich. I had the Genes special. This reminds me of the good old days of real sandwiches. Dont be offended by the older lady taking your order. She is just one tough cookie. Check this place iht and they take plastic! read more

Gene's Grinders - Genes special fully dressed with deli mustard and no red crush peppers - Delis Near Me - Duarte, California

5 stars on taste, quality of bread and meats, fries, service, prices, and atmosphere. The pastrami grinder goes great with the peppers. So deliciously fresh! It's a family owned business, so it definitely is not generically mass manufactured. They can call themselves "sandwich artists" more rightfully so than those at other commercial corporate spots. Happy eating! :) read more

Gene's Grinders - What's left of the fries. Pastrami grinder and peppers. - Delis Near Me - Duarte, California

Fresh bread (baked daily) and only the freshest ingredients! I've been eating these sandwiches since I was young. Reminds me of my childhood. I love supporting local businesses and this one has been around a long time... There's definitely a reason! read more

Gene's Grinders - I grew up on these turkey sandwiches! Now my daughter's hooked! - Delis Near Me - Duarte, California

This is by far the best sandwich place in the surrounding area. Gene's special is a huge gut buster that will fill you for the rest of the day. The tuna sandwich is also great. The fries aren't bad and the staff is friendly and is consistent with the size and make of the sandwiches. The bread is great and I believe they make it themselves because I have never seen it anywhere else. Do yourself a favor and go to Gene's. Grab one of the daily specials or just go with Gene's Special. read more

Quantity over quality sums this place up best. I think a lot of people who adore this place must be hard core Claim Jumper fans too because their business models are quite similar: patrons will be so blind sighted by the sheer size of their meal they won't get care what you give them. I've been here about 7-8 times and over the course of my visits I've tried most of their subs. Basically, for about $8 you get a very large uncreative sandwich. Their hot subs are generally preferable to their cold sandwiches which are composed of slabs of salty meat and bland cheese (no dressing, spice, etc.), but even then they're not very good. I think their pastrami sandwich is the best thing they have. Stay FAR away from their meatball sub though... that one REALLY sucks. Also, for whatever reason, their staff consistently has a slight attitude problem when serving me. Sorta the "hey whata you want?!" demeanor when I order, and "seriously?" vibe if you take longer than 10 seconds to complete your order. The place isn't even that crowded so I don't know why they have stick up their ass. At any rate, the two star rating is really towards their food though and not their service. read more

It's funny how I review places I go to once and never return to for a super long time. I got the turkey on my second trip...and it was just meh! read more

I keep coming back because the food is so good and the service so fast. Best pastrami around. read more

Gene's Grinders - Delis Near Me - Duarte, California

My friend had told me about how bomb this place was, but I was skeptical, that is until i ate there. This is hands down the best sandwich place in the world. I have never eaten at a place with these kind of sandwiches. Their sandwiches are huge, full of meat and mouthwatering delicious. And the owner, this Greek guys, makes the bread fresh every morning. Their chicken sandwiches and their pastrami is to die for. If you love delicious sandwiches then I highly recommend that you try this place. And once you do, you'll fall in love with it as I have. P.S. I don't know if you know this, but other words for "sandwiches" are "hoagies" and "grinders." read more

Great sandwiches but check to see if they're open on Sundays. Went this morning at 11a and two employees were sitting inside hiding out and almost refused to open the door to tell me they weren't opening today because it was Mother's Day and and they wanted to go see their moms. Sounded like a lame excuse because why were they there? Waiting for someone who overslept and didn't open on time? They should have posted a sign and saved me and others frustration if in fact they were telling the truth. It was pouring rain too. read more

Was living in Old Town Monrovia for the last 3 years and finally got to try this spot. Pastrami was on point! I'm a big fan of The Hat, but i tell you what this spot had some delicious pastrami! Give em a try! read more

One of my favorite places for a sandwich! Fresh bread and I get extra cheese and mayo. The grinders are large and tasty. They have a wide array of sandwiches and daily specials that people love. It's quick too! I've only been going here for at least 45 years if that tells you anything. read more

Gene's Grinders has been around quite a while. They have good pastrami's, meatballs, and various other types of sandwiches. They have daily sandwich specials which are the pretty much the same every week, but you can always count on their sandwiches being pretty good for the price. They have good prompt efficient service and you can eat inside or out or take your food to go. They get their bread fresh daily, and unfortunately theres been a couple times when Ive gone around 3pm and they've been out of bread for the day. They're open for lunch only. They close around 4pm or something like that. Try the pastrami hoagie with some pepperocinis. It always works for me. Pros: Good Sandwiches for the Price. Fast Service. Cons: Sometimes they run out of what you're looking for. read more

Out of the places that I have been to that specialize in Pastrami (fast foody type places like Johnnie's in Culver City and The Hat in Pasadena. Along with more traditional delis like Nat and Al's in Beverly Hills and Art's in Studio City.....have yet to try Canter's and Langer's) this place was pretty good. The prices were about average for sandwiches. They offer hot ones like Pastrami, meatball, roast beef and others) as well as cold ones (cappocola, turkey, ham, etc.). Their fries are pretty tasty and they over flow them out of the bag (a definite plus). Upon coming back to the office, I mentioned this place to a few of my co-workers and they mentioned how I had gone here for lunch. One of them was shocked that I hadn't been there considering i live in the area for close to 10 years. She also recommended the tuna sandwich there. The only type of tuna that i like is the red kind that's served over rice. read more

Awful. Just awful. It doesn't take much to create a decent sandwich, but this place failed on all fronts. The bread was not soft, it was bordering on being a brick. The only way you could get a lower grade of meat would be to go to Ralph's and get those little pouches of $.55 meat. The cheese was standard, nothing that great. I don't know how it was 50 years ago, but I think Gene might be rolling over in his grave for having such a terrible tasting sandwich named after him. Stay away from "The Gene", better yet, stay away from Gene's Grinders and save yourself the sorrow that only a bad sandwich can bring you. read more

As a consumer you expect good customer service. It starts off with ordering my sandwich, every time I order a sandwich I always get it to go, when I go back to work ready to sit and eat I notice that my order is incorrect. I always buy from this place and I'm always thinking ok he probably just made a mistake I'll just eat it. Next time I go same thing happens, next time again happens, but today was just the baddest I got a breaded chicken breast, I always order turkey breast with EVERYTHING on it. If you don't ask for ketchup he won't event make the attempt to throw in a couple of packs into the bag, from all I know most people eat their fries with Ketchup I just don't see why he wouldn't have that courtesy. When I asked for ketchup it seems to bother him and he throws it in the bag with an attitude. I miss the old lady at the register she always had my order right and would even double check if I said with EVERYTHING ON IT! Anyways always check that your order is correct. I'm embarrassed to say it to his face because he seems to have an attitude and might throw something in my food next time, I just hope they check their reviews and learn from it. I had to eat the turkey breast sandwich because I was not going to go back and argue. The chicken breast was not cooked well and it was tasteless. read more

Came here for lunch on a friday. Quick & easy (just like this review). I ordered the small Meatball Special. I liked that it wasn't overly sauced with marinara. It was good, not great. Nothing to write home about. read more

Bomb! I love this little sandwich haven that's been a secret to all the Monrovia locals for over 50 years. My favorite is their special. The cuts of deli meets are fresh and the menu is simple. I enjoy coming here when I have a chance. read more

Gene's Grinders - Gene's Special add Peppers - Delis Near Me - Duarte, California

Meh...The pastrami was ok at best. At $7.10 for a small I was expecting more. The Hat offers a better deal and better taste in my opinion. Don't care much for the service. I'd expect the pushiness in Philly or NYC but not in the 'mean streets' of Monrovia, CA. lady taking the order could be more patient given that I was the only one in line... Sprouts offers a much better tasting sandwich at a fraction of the cost here. read more

I've been eating at Gene's off and on for the last 20 years. It's always amazing. The weekday specials are not to be missed. My favorite is the chicken breast sandwich. The meatball sandwich is also amazing. Meatballs made in house. Be sure to get there before they sell out. read more

Gene's has the best sandwiches ever. I eat there at least once an week. Make sure you order fries!

This place is pretty decent considering there aren't that many good places to eat around Monrovia. My fav is the pastrami and the portion is good for a large pastrami dip, it is about $7.50 and you can feed two normal sized people with no problem. I used to eat the whole thing by myself, but not anymore, so I'll share it with one of my co-worker along with a couple orders of fries ($1.50) each. I tried their turkey blt, it was not bad, they were a bit skiimpy on the turkey meat, it's not as packed with meat as the pastrami so just in case you're a meat love, don't order anything other than the pastrami dip. I also tried their roast beef sandwich dip, it's a bit dry for me, but you can dip it in the sauce but the pastrami is still my fav choice. Happy eating y'all!! read more

I've only been twice, once for Gene's special and once for the Italian sausage. Both were delicious and just make me want to try the others. I go with the large and save the second half for later. The people working behind the counter are also super nice. Grateful to have a place like Gene's in the neighborhood! read more