I'm allergic to soy and garlic, so Soulwich isn't typically a place I'd choose for lunch. However, my dining partner really wanted to go there, and since the restaurant accommodates those with food allergies, I was golden! I ordered up the sesame chili tuna sandwich. I'm not a huge fan of tuna, but I actually really enjoyed my sandwich. Piled high with tuna and served on a special homemade bread, it was fresh with no mayo and made with cilantro and pickled carrots throughout. The sandwich was served warm with a side of homemade coleslaw or seasoned chips. Since the slaw was made with soy, I opted for the chips but ended up giving most of them to my dining partner. The sandwich portion size was just right and a great value at under $8. Excellent customer service. One of the owners walked me through the menu, because I was honestly really overwhelmed with so many choices! Can seat approximately 12 inside, and a few more outside. Seems like most people order to go here. Overall, a great quality restaurant. read more

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This is my favorite on-the-go lunch spot in Evanston! My go to sandwich choices are the Indonesian Ginger Bbq with seitan or the Sesame Chili Tuna. The seitan in the Indonesian Ginger Bbq soaks up the sauce made with pear juice, sesame seed, oil, fresh ginger, garlic, and soy sauce and it's absolutely delicious and well balanced. It satisfies any vegetarians "meat" cravings! I like that the sesame chili tuna is made without mayo and is still really satisfying. Both sandwiches have veggies (shredded red cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, and cilantro) that give it a fresh taste and nice cool crunch. The locally sourced bread is chewy with a flakyish crust that completes the whole thing. You have a choice of either a homemade Asian slaw (light, carrot/cabbage cole slaw comes in a little to go box) or homemade chips (get the burmese chips-they have a nice little kick!). read more

Soulwich - Indonesian Ginger BBQ with seitan - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Absolutely incredible vegan options!! Indonesian Ginger BBQ w Seitan was the best vegan sandwich I have ever had.. hands down.. read more

Because of its limited hours, I had never been to Soulwich until today. Soulwich is an asian fusion sandwich shop and is extremely underrated. I got the Singapore Tikka (with chicken) and the Indonesian Ginger BBQ (with seitan) and LOVED both! The Singapore Tikka had incredible flavors, crunchy carrots, onions, with a delicious and flavorful curry. The chicken was a great addition to this sandwich. I especially loved the Indonesian Ginger BBQ. I have never been a fan of seitan but it was an incredible complement to the flavors in the sandwich. I have never had a sandwich with ginger flavors in it, but LOVED the asian flavors (soy, garlic, sesame seed oil) with the sharp ginger taste. I also had a side of coleslaw and it was such a great alternative to chips! So crunchy, flavorful, and yummy, definitely a must try if you're here. The woman that served us was so kind and had our sandwiches made very quickly. I'll definitely be back with friends to try other sandwiches, since I loved the two that I ordered so much. read more

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No frills eatery, even the menus you order from are extremely tattered. However, the food was good. Fresh, interesting flavor combinations. The presentation of the place is a bit off putting though. read more

Indonesian ginger BBQ sandwich with seitan... order and consider your panties officially creamed. Officially. Yanyao N. +1 on all fronts. Meat-eaters, this is one dish you gotta beef-less and honestly one of the best sandwiches I've had in my life, hence the panty creaming. Also worth soiling your skivvies are the Burmese chips. Spicier than a mother f*cker (tips hat to Katt Williams) and perfectly paired with that magic slaw. Normally, I hate coleslaw, but this is nothing like the sh*tty spoiled-in-the-sun slaw that I always imagine. This is light, refreshing and not caked in a cornucopia of mystery liquid dairy products. And as far as service, the shop peeps were BEYOND friendly, made recommendations and went out of their way to get our honest opinion on the whole experience (and bump their FB page - follow them! They'll love you for it). Oh, and don't forget to order up a Joia drink. They're made in Minneapolis and tasty as f*ck. The grapefruit ginger cardamom something something will have you lining up outside before they open so you can buy up their day's supply. Again, Indonesian ginger BBQ sandwich with seitan. Get it, guuurl and don't forget to BYO extra panties. read more

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Still just as awesome, but now my absolute favorite is the Indonesian Ginger BBQ sandwich with seitan. This is an enormous and substantial sandwich, and extremely saucy to boot. (THAT sauce!) Usually, I use maybe one napkin with my meal. These bad boys are 3+ napkin meals. SO good, that I usually have the same thing two days in a row. With slaw AND Burmese chips. They've added a bunch more seating now. I also love seeing how busy they are during lunch rush, and even throughout random times of the day when I eat, there are always people coming in! I think the word is out folks. Get in here, and do it soon! read more

All of your positive Yelp reviews brought me here for lunch today and you were right! This place is really good and will become a repeat for sure! When I walked in, I was greeted by a tiny little 5-ish year old girl behind the cash register who, with all the excitement of a new entrepreneur said "momma, there's another customer!". So. darn. cute!! Momma came over and took my order, which was the Indonesian Ginger BBQ sandwich with chicken and their homemade Asian slaw on the side. The sandwich and side came out within about 3 minutes, with the slaw packaged in the cutest little takeaway box and the sandwich wrapped in foil. The sandwich was so delicious! It had a fantastic and subtle soy and ginger sauce, lots of chicken, sliced carrots, cilantro and crispy bread. It was perfectly sized and really good. The slaw was good as well, and the only thing I would change is to maybe add a little sweet chili or pepper to it. The menu is simple and the ingredients are fresh. The service was great and I will definitely be back! read more

Soulwich - Chicken Indonesian Ginger BBQ sandwich with a side of slaw. Yum! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

According to all available evidence, this place is well on its way to being a hit. It is always packed on weekends and it's getting great reviews from townies and university folk alike. Renowned Evanston food hound Yanyao N. has six check-ins and she's not even the queen (or whatever that crown thingy means). I am glad to see this kind of shop having success. I've tried several different sandwiches, but my favorite has been the indonesian barbecue. I'm far from vegetarian, but their seitan works very well in most sandwiches and detracts none of the flavor. The burmese chips are great, and the no-mayo asian slaw is excellent. For a change of pace, try saladbox #1, with ginger, sesame, and peanut flavors complimenting all kinds of lovely, flavorful vegetables. When trying to eat healthy, you probably can't pack more flavor into your meal. The one salient criticism that I will offer is that the bread does not stand up well to a long take-home period (say, half an hour) and is absolutely destroyed by a night in the refrigerator. The protein in the sandwich is hot, so after some time wrapped up in the foil, steam has rendered much of the bread's interior slimy if not downright mushy. That makes for an unpleasant texture which detracts from the quality of the sandwich. So eat them fresh in the shop for best results. (Although even when dining in, this sandwich is a messy eat.) I love the variety of options, the freshness and quality of the food, and of course you have to love, well, the soul which the owners pour into the venture. read more

As a new resident of Evanston, I've been eating my way through all the food options and decided to try Soulwich out for lunch. I decided on the Burmese Coconut Curry sandwich with chicken. Unlike other reviewers' comments about the sandwich being too wet, mine was not. It was moist, but missing any coconut flavor. Nor did the sandwich have onion or raisins as described. Unfortunately, I got my sandwich to go and learned all this once I got back home. The bread was delicious and the chicken was good quality, but overall, it didn't taste like the description and was bland. As others have mentioned, the service and staff were great and I'm confident they would have fixed my sandwich had I eaten at the shop and could point out the omissions. This place gets rave reviews, and is close to home, so I'll probably give them another try in the hopes I experienced a lemon of a sandwich today and it's not the norm. read more

Very delicious and nutritious! I loved the flavor a of my fig goat cheese wrap and my partners Indonesian ginger pork wrap was amazing (I had to sneak a bite). Can't wait to come back. Service was friendly. Price a little steep but worth it! Great ingredients! read more

Soulwich - Lovely wall art - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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The Burmese Coconut Curry was a no-fuss eat. A compact delight: chicken, shredded carrots, cucumber, cilantro, and coconut curry stuffed into a roll. I chose to get the slaw, which was sparingly tossed in a light sauce. You should get the chips. But that's just me. To be honest, the coconut curry was underwhelming. As a die-hard fan of rich Indian foods, I was moderately disappointed to not find the creamy, savory flavors I love in curries - in fact it was rather liquid-y. The curry leaked into the wrap in mini pools, and I was sad I couldn't sop it up because of social constructs called Manners in a Public but Privately Owned Eating Space. Nevertheless, the underwhelming flavors were not underwhelming enough to keep me from coming back. I will come back for you, Soulwich. The store owner was so cheerful and chipper. He makes people - college students especially it seems - feel right at home. Strikes up good conversation, and cares about his customers. A mood picker-upper. Probably part of the reason I'll come back! read more

Soulwich - Burmese Coconut Curry Sandwich (Chicken) with Slaw (~$8) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I came here over the weekend and absolutely fell in love with this place. It's family owned which is always great but the whole family was working! The father takes your order, the daughter rings you up and the mom makes your sandwich-- what could be better! On top of how nice they were, the food was fantastic. I had the Indonesian Ginger Pork Sandwich and it was fantastic. I also opted for spicy chips (made fresh in house) and the slaw- both were great. Highly recommended!! read more

Soulwich - Indonesian Ginger BBQ with pork - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Sandwiches aren't bad, but they're nothing to write home about. The guy who served us (maybe the owner?) had an IDGAF attitude, which was off-putting. FOOD: 3 stars I got the INDONESIAN GINGER BBQ with PORK and it wasn't bad. The bread was nicely toasted and the pork was flavorful, albeit slightly dry. The veggies added a nice freshness to the sandwich. A decent sandwich at a decent price, but nothing worth writing home about. A downside was that the sandwich was oily and it dripped through the paper and onto my hands. It was challenging to eat without getting my hands all oily. The BURMESE CHIPS were kettle chips with a hint of seasoning. I enjoyed them. SERVICE: 2.5 stars The guy who took our order (maybe the owner) seemed disinterested in having our business. Even when I started paying with my card but obliged to pay in cash, per the gentle request on the sign by the register, his response was flat and ambivalent. Hey man, if you don't care about your business, why should I? I should've just paid with card, which would've been more convenient for me. He did bring the food out to us at our table outside, so I can't complain about that. But I can't remember ever being served by such a listless person. Bleh. AMBIANCE: 3 stars The inside is whatever. The menu by the register is laminated, but is old and worn. There's really minimal character to this place, though it does seem clean. Having outside seating was nice. The product they put out is decent and at a fair price, but with listless service and decor, I've no reason to return. read more

I was a very hungry lady on a Tuesday night and was about to head out on the town. I needed something quick to grab and thought it was about time I tried Soulwich. I got the Indonesian BBQ Pork Sandwich and it was very tasty - VERY juicy so much that it was dripping into my lap through the paper that they wrapped the sandwich. The sauce was a little too sweet for my taste but it was BBQ, lol. Beware, this is not a date night type of sandwich as your face will be very messy. I got the plain homemade chips which was nothing that wowwed me. It also comes in Wasabi flavor and Chili I believe(?). Overall, the experience was good and it was a good meal but not something that stuck with me. If I was passing by and in a rush, I might come back to try another one of their sandwiches. read more

Yesssssssss. The indonesian ginger bbq w/ chicken sandwich was awesome. Wanted to inhale it, but I have a weird thing about eating messy food in public. Not sure what kind of bread they used, but it wasn't gross like regular italian or normal sub bread that other places use! Comes with fries (I got the original, which were super crunchy and not heavily salted) Workers *owners?* were super friendly! Asked if it was our first time and gave us the rundown of their most popular sandwiches along with all of the special features they've acquired in newspapers and such. ADD SRIRACHA TO YOUR SANDWICH. I'm a bit ridiculous bc I actually add it to pretty much everything, but it was especially complimentary to the rest of the ingredients. I never liked cilantro...but...it made the sandwich near perfect. Will be coming back again! read more

I love Ash! I agree with Ehow, so just read his review. I just want to underscore that this place deserves more traffic from first-time customers. They just opened up about two months ago and they're really hitting it on all cylinders to try and become a tour de force in Evanston. read more

Soulwich - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Heard good things about this place and gave it a few tries. Good flavors on the sandwiches, though they're not really as special as their advertisement makes it out to be - same protein and veggies and bread, and just different sauces. Good sauces though, and all the sandwiches I've tried are distinct from each other and are mostly worth trying. Across the board though the bread is probably not the best choice, and eating can get very messy since it falls apart easily and seem overstuffed at times. For the size of the sandwich, I would probably like the price to be a dollar or two cheaper to be competitive. The environment is relaxed and the dining area gets a lot of natural light, so it's a nice place to sit for a quick bite. The owner is a friendly guy who likes to make conversation, and his daughter is adorable. read more

Very good sandwiches. It was my first time here, so we tried 3 sandwiches: the Burmese Coconut Curry with Seitan, the Thai Grilled with Chicken, and the Indonesian Ginger BBQ with Pork. All the proteins were tasty and tender, but my favorite by far was the pork. Smoky meat, perfectly seasoned. Fresh bread with crisp vegetables and herbs. Chips and slaw were a nice complement to the sandwiches. This place is more expensive than our usual bahn mi place, but each sandwich has twice as much meat and the dining room is clean and comfortable. Decent washroom as well. I'll definitely come back the next time I'm in the area. read more

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ok so this was from like awhile ago (aka pre covid) so i dont remember exactly what these sandwiches were but one of them had figs and goat cheese i remember. and to remember that is a big deal becuz tbh this was like 10 months ago i think, i just forgot that i needed to review it because i've been really busy with things. but soulwitch is sooooooooooo good. i used to live in evanston and was always dying to go to soulwitch but idk why i didnt until after i moved out of evanston!!1! it's soooooo good. the bread. outstanding. they don't skimp on the filling either. 10/10 sandwiches. but the chips... 11/10 especially if you like kettle cooked chips. hole in the wall in e-town :-D read more

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There I was, standing in Evanston......naked and afraid. At first I thought it was a nightmare, but it turned out to be the best day of my life! I have been a sleep-walker my entire life and that's exactly what happened on this hot and sticky June afternoon. I was taking a nap at a local 5-star sleepery (Holiday Inn Express) when out of nowhere, I felt a warm breeze dash across my undercarriage. I opened my eyes and to my amazement, I was standing in front of a beautiful goddess that goes by the name of Soulwich. I pinched myself to see if I was dreaming, but I was not.....things were getting very real. Sweet sweet Soulwich had me in her gaze and I was not about to leave her side. I grabbed the nearest table cloth, tied it around my waste and floated through the front door. Greeted with smile and asked if I had any allergies (I am allergic to bees, but did not think it was pertinent information), a small wizard-like child directed me to the Indonesian ginger bbq chicken sandwich with a side of spicy chips and a bottle of their finest prickly pear soda......I felt like I was stealing from my tiny friend when she told me the meal was only $10 and change. I waited 5 minutes for the food to arrive at my table and no more than 5 minutes after that, I was part of the clean-plate club. I will never forget you Soulwich and I hope our paths cross again. In the end, she seduced me with her name and won me over with her flavor!!! read more

Soulwich - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Fast service, excellent sandwiches! We stopped in after a long bike ride from the city and enjoyed two of Soulwich's sandwiches, their chips, and slaw. All were delicious, and served up quickly. read more

Was looking for a nice space to meet a friend for lunch. This place was perfect- indoor and outdoor seating available, very friend staff with great recommendations, and food that was above and beyond unique and delicious! Only downside was that I couldn't order more. Will be back, for sure! Heads up though, they are asking cash only! read more

The combinations of flavors and textures are unlike any I have experienced from other sandwiches. "So good" I really like the #4 Pork, oh the Slaw is so tasty . I Ordered my sandwich "MEDIUM" spicy, and got it with no spice! HEAR THAT SOULWICH! What's up with that... it was still nummy for my tummy:) So we good. read more

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High quality, delicious flavors, wonderful staff and pleasant atmosphere. The woman who served us was warm and welcoming, and she explained the menu very well. I had the Indonesian BBQ sandwich with chicken, with cole slaw and my husband had the paneer and fig with chips. Both sandwiches were delicious and the bread was excellent. Their cole slaw is a bit simple, but tasty with ginger and sesame oil. The place is charming with bonsai trees and cool artwork. We sat inside, but there is also nice patio seating. Wish we lived closer, but I will be going back when I'm in the area. read more

Great idea and great execution - creative sandwiches, quick and yummy! I had the one with paneer and like like like! read more

The idea behind Soulwich is intriguing: the flavors are unique especially when compared to other banh mi and sandwich shops and the menu offers interesting options that stand out in the Evanston area. Unfortunately, the execution is a bit lacking. The baguette the sandwiches are served on are way too crispy. I understand the crust of the baguette is supposed to be hard, but eating the ends of the bread literally hurt the roof of my mouth. The other issue is the portion size and value for money. The price of a sandwich at Soulwich is around 8-9 dollars, about average for an ethnic sandwich. However, as a relatively active 20-year old, one sandwich was way too small even when including the side of coleslaw or chips. After eating my sandwich I felt almost as hungry when I started, a big problem. Among the sandwiches the Singaporean and Tikka sandwiches stand out among the ones I have tried. It's not a bad place by any means but keep your expectations tempered. read more

SUPER UNHAPPY W/Customer service. Food has always been good but what happen today was awful. I ordered food online off of Soulwich's own website, waited an hour and still received NO food, NO notice and NO phone call. Finally, after calling about 10+ times, someone finally answers. I'm told they're "closed today" just because and that theres a sign on the door. When I asked why haven't you updated your website or on google, the response was "I don't know how to". I then had to forward my copy of the online receipt because apparently their's isn't working. All the mean while, I'M STARVING. Then, when we call back to confirm that the refund is being taken care of, he can't find a charge in the system. The man got very mouthy and rude right off the bat saying he can't find anything and kept saying it's just a sandwich. At this point it was more about my customer experience and frustration than the sandwich. WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO??? Now follow up for the next three days until you figure your system out?? Way to handle the problem. Also, no compensation was offered. No gift card, or free meal for the confusion, frustration, random decision to close... acted like this was MY fault. How can you trust a restaurant if it's not consistent. Double thumbs down. Soulwich you've lost a customer. read more

Neat little sandwich spot. Exotic combinations of flavors and spices. Great rolls for your sandwich. I had the chili tuna sandwich witch spicy chips. It was very good. I would definitely try again. read more

Soulwich is genuinely one of the best restaurants in Evanston. The food is phenomenal and fresh. The staff are lovely. There is a great selection of soft drinks that aren't your standard "no worth" brand-name pops. Legit: if you miss out on visiting Soulwich during your time in Evanston then you can't say you've seen the best of the city. read more

Soulwich - Paneer Fig and Pomegranate Ginger Ale - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I'm a senior at Northwestern and have tried almost every restaurant in Evanston, and soulwich is one of my favorites. It's a small and casual sandwich place which seems to be family owned, as every time I've been there it's always been the same woman making the food, sometimes with her daughter around.The food is great and consistent. You can tell it's made with care and I've never had a sloppily made sandwich or bad experience there. It's a small menu, so I would only recommend this place to people who like banh mi sandwiches, but those who do won't be disappointed. read more

Soulwich is a small sandwich shop, offering intriguing flavor combinations. The sandwiches remind me of banh-mi sandwichs, combining fresh bread that looks similar to a French bread with Asian fillings. It's seriously a sandwich with some soul. You can't help but enjoy all the great combination of spices and flavor in every bite. Also all the sauces they use in the sandwiches are made in-house! My first visit, I got the Indonesian Ginger BBQ Sandwich with Chicken (They also have a vegan option as well). The signature Sandwich comes with a side choice of homemade seasoned chips or homemade slaw. I tried the homemade slaw which was a bit of a disappointment. I like the fact that it's homemade and has no mayo, but I was a bit underwhelmed of its appeal and taste. However, I think Soulwich is a great fast food option. It is located perfectly on Northwestern campus to feed hungry students that just want to make a quick stop. More importantly, you will leave this place full. I totally recommend Soulwich, especially if you're an adventurous eater. Every time you visit, you want to come back and try something new on their menu. read more

Soulwich - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This place is a hidden gem! I love this small business as a option when I'm craving a sandwich but don't want to visit one of the other large chains in town. The Fig Paneer sandwich is DELICIOUS and I'm also a fan off the Indonesian BBQ. It is helpful that you can customize your protein for the different sandwiches and they offer vegetarian options. Don't miss the Burmese chips! read more

Excellent sandwich spot. I had the paneer fig Sandwich and the spiced chips. The sandwich was amazing! Bread was tender and perfectly toasted. It had goat cheese, fig paneer, fig jam, pickled carrots and some other stuff I can't remember but It was absolutely delicious. The chips were perfectly spiced, flavor packed and crunchy. I ordered My Sandwich to go and ate it about 90 minutes after pick up and It was still amazing. The ladies at the spot were friendly and very welcoming. Spot is very clean. For $8 it's a great deal. Great for vegetarians, all sandwiches can be made vegetarian. read more

Regular customer . . . we are addicted to this place. Always fresh and delicious. I always get a vegan or seitan option (Indonesian bbq is my fave, my husband gets any kind with chicken, teen son loves the paneer fig. Every type is wonderful. Salads are equally wonderful. Someone recently complained about the curry sandwich. The flavors are (intentionally) subtle, with coconut/onions/raisins cooked into the sauce. Sorry you thought your order was a "lemon" - we love it that way and hope you give it another shot! read more

Extremely poor service. Ordered two different sandwiches from the menu and they were both same. There was only carrots and some cucumber and mayo in both. Whereas the menu had no mention of that. The chips are not burmese or anything. Just some salt and spices sprinkled on top of standard potato chips. None this is worth the price charged. An obvious rip off read more

Soulwich - Just carrots and nothing else. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Yuuuum! Worth it. For ~$8 after tax, this sandwich delivered on almost everything. The flavors and quality were there but the size was a little on the smaller side. The dutch crunch was beautiful though and I'm drooling just thinking about that crunchy goodness. The only thing that I didn't like was the coleslaw - it wasn't too flavorful and the amount given was tiny. I'd go with the chips next time. Things to note: -There wasn't a price difference between chicken or steak! Win -They accept card but ask to pay cash if you can -Free parking for the 1st hour at any of the nearby city owned parking garages read more

This is one of my friend's favorite restaurants in Evanston so I stopped by for lunch with her one day. I got the Indonesian ginger BBQ sandwich with chicken and spiced chips. Food came out quickly and was delicious. The sandwich was made on a baguette that had a crunch exterior with a soft and warm interior. The ratio of veggies to chicken was spot on and the sauce brought it all together. Their spiced chips were normal potato chips with some sort of salty spice on it. It wasn't spicy so I would recommend the spiced chips over the normal chips for everyone. I believe it is a family-owned place and everyone who works there is extremely nice and welcoming. I would highly recommend stopping by for a quick bite!! I will definitely be back next time I'm in Evanston. read more

Soulwich - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I've been around the Evanston area for a few years now and I've always been tempted to try something new. I ordered the Wasabi Teriyaki sandwich with Chicken and I was not impressed. The bread didn't seem fresh and felt hard and the overall dressing of the wasabi teriyaki sauce was just too much and overpowered the flavor of the sandwich. I also don't understand why they list the bottled Coke as "Mexican Coke". I feel that's a bit inappropriate. It's titled "Mexican Coke" because it was an imported bottle from Mexico? Just call it a bottled Coke. They have a sign that states to pay with cash and not with a card to support local businesses. Yet when my work team called for a group order and possibly a discount since we are a business in Evanston as well, we were told no and that even the students don't receive discounts. And yet you want others to support your business? No. read more

I have no idea how this place could be rated so high. We elected to eat here based on the positive reviews but left unsatisfied. I am GUESSING that this place is owned by the couple running the place. The man at the register had ZERO personality and acted as if we should know what we wanted. There weren't a lot of people at this small place but being summer, I'm guessing fewer people are around. We had to bus our own table (and even clean up a little from the previous people). Since tipping is done before getting the food or service, my generous $11 tip for 4 sandwiches was way too high. Small flies were all over the place and the food was average at best. The lady who served us the food was VERY kind, hence the extra star. read more