seebee wrote:I'm of the camp that says turkey or beef is not open to interpretation. I've had both turkey and beef. Potbelly serves neither.

excellent (and entertaining) rant snipped . . . but it reminded me of this old "Cheers" episode:

Norm: Yeah, Cliffy had himself the "Ton O' T-Bone". For less than four bucks you get 24 ounces of USDA Choice "bef".
Cliff: Bef? No, you mean beef.
Norm: Beef? Don't be ridiculous, Cliffy. That stuff is "bef". You see it's a Hungry Heifer trademark for a processed, synthetic – what – meat-like substance.
Cliff: Ah, no.
Norm: What do you expect for four bucks? You see me complainin' about the "loobster"?

At least THAT establishment adhered to a slightly higher standard of truth in labeling.

I'm with you, seebee, that ain't turkey . . . or beef.

Since this is the closest thing to a dedicated Potbelly's thread (I think), I wanted to make mention of something I saw go down at the State & Lake location that I thought was pretty cool.

It was right in the middle of the lunch rush, and I was standing behind a woman who was very pregnant. Like, 8 months along style pregnant. A worker behind the counter saw her, got her attention, pulled her out of line, sat her down, took her order and put it through to the front of the line so she didn't have to stand through the whole process and got her out and back to her day quickly. I think they gave her a drink, too, but I was too busy marvelling at them being slammed and still taking a few extra seconds to make a woman comfortable.

The little cookie on the straw is a nice extra touch to the shake. Never had one of 'em but I like the whimsy.

No it is not the greatest shake in Chicago. The Brown Sack makes the best milkshake I have ever had by far.

As for fake meat... isn't most salumi "fake" meat made with "real" meat? I know what y'all mean but still... Then again I never get anything but a Italian at Potbelly's

seebee wrote:I'm of the camp that says turkey or beef is not open to interpretation. I've had both turkey and beef. Potbelly serves neither. We have turkey for Thanksgiving every year. Potbelly does not put turkey on their sandwiches. They place slices of a product that probably has some turkey, and/or turkey broth in it on their sandiches. I would suggest to anyone who is confused to go to a store, buy a turkey, cook it, and slice the meat off of it. Go to Potbelly, buy a turkey sandwich. Take the meat product component off of that sandwich, and eat it side by side with the turkey you've cooked. Find the part of the turkey you cooked that has the same consistency and flavor of the Potbelly product. When you find a match, then I'll gladly start calling the Potbelly product meat, and/or turkey.

Turkey has one ingredient. Beef has one ingredient.
By the way, calling it "deli style" is an insult to any good deli.

Yeah, it's a "thing" for me. Can't really get past it. Dealbreaker deluxe for me. I think by referring to those things as "turkey," a lot of ppl are just ignoring the fact that they have no idea what they are eating, but it tastes ok, so it must be good. Sorry, it just is not turkey in my book. I've had turkey before. It never has broth and gelatin added to it, and it has a grain, and texture that is very specific. Do a side by side comparison, really.

That is the single, most controlled rant I've read on LTH. Bravo.

Next time I go to Potbelly, I'll quietly ponder this post as I consume that fake-ass turkey meat-product "component."

seebee wrote:I'm of the camp that says turkey or beef is not open to interpretation. I've had both turkey and beef. Potbelly serves neither. We have turkey for Thanksgiving every year. Potbelly does not put turkey on their sandwiches. They place slices of a product that probably has some turkey, and/or turkey broth in it on their sandiches. I would suggest to anyone who is confused to go to a store, buy a turkey, cook it, and slice the meat off of it. Go to Potbelly, buy a turkey sandwich. Take the meat product component off of that sandwich, and eat it side by side with the turkey you've cooked. Find the part of the turkey you cooked that has the same consistency and flavor of the Potbelly product. When you find a match, then I'll gladly start calling the Potbelly product meat, and/or turkey.

Turkey has one ingredient. Beef has one ingredient.
By the way, calling it "deli style" is an insult to any good deli.

Yeah, it's a "thing" for me. Can't really get past it. Dealbreaker deluxe for me. I think by referring to those things as "turkey," a lot of ppl are just ignoring the fact that they have no idea what they are eating, but it tastes ok, so it must be good. Sorry, it just is not turkey in my book. I've had turkey before. It never has broth and gelatin added to it, and it has a grain, and texture that is very specific. Do a side by side comparison, really.

What Seebee said....

cheffjeff wrote:Their sandwiches are GARBAGE but god damn, is their chocolate peanut-butter shake one hell of a thicky, sticky, nutty bastard. My favorite desert in a long long time, especially with a sugar cookie chaser...

My wife loves their malts too, with extra malt.

They deliver it to you.

Dessert Delivery! Ideal!

Going to have to say that the German Chocolate Shake at Hamburger's outranks Potbelly.

An acquaintance who did some advertising work for Potbelly introduced me to this bit of lore that I've never been able to verify. Apparently, there's a copy of Moby Dick hidden somewhere in every Potbelly, and if you locate it, you can tell the cashier where it is and your order will be on the house. This is literally everything I know about this; I know it raises several questions, all of which I'm unequipped to answer. I've given the Hyde Park outpost a couple of once-overs and haven't found anything.

I rarely go to Potbelly because the sandwiches are about 70% of the amount of food I need to feel full during lunch.

aschie30 wrote:

seebee wrote:I'm of the camp that says turkey or beef is not open to interpretation. I've had both turkey and beef. Potbelly serves neither. We have turkey for Thanksgiving every year. Potbelly does not put turkey on their sandwiches. They place slices of a product that probably has some turkey, and/or turkey broth in it on their sandiches. I would suggest to anyone who is confused to go to a store, buy a turkey, cook it, and slice the meat off of it. Go to Potbelly, buy a turkey sandwich. Take the meat product component off of that sandwich, and eat it side by side with the turkey you've cooked. Find the part of the turkey you cooked that has the same consistency and flavor of the Potbelly product. When you find a match, then I'll gladly start calling the Potbelly product meat, and/or turkey.

Turkey has one ingredient. Beef has one ingredient.
By the way, calling it "deli style" is an insult to any good deli.

Yeah, it's a "thing" for me. Can't really get past it. Dealbreaker deluxe for me. I think by referring to those things as "turkey," a lot of ppl are just ignoring the fact that they have no idea what they are eating, but it tastes ok, so it must be good. Sorry, it just is not turkey in my book. I've had turkey before. It never has broth and gelatin added to it, and it has a grain, and texture that is very specific. Do a side by side comparison, really.

That is the single, most controlled rant I've read on LTH. Bravo.

Next time I go to Potbelly, I'll quietly ponder this post as I consume that fake-ass turkey meat-product "component."

I often eat at the Jaffa Cafe in the Northbridge food court on Mich ave. They carve real turkey off the bird. And yet, there is never much of a line. In the same food court is Potbelly and it is always slammed. Jaffa has a combo deal, humongous real turkey sandwich and large drink and chips for $6 plus tax. Potbelly, with its notoriously small meat jello sandwich, chips and big drink will set you back more than $6. Yet it has all the business. Who can explain human nature...

p.s the middle eastern place in that food court is also pretty good. I've had their kifta and their shwarma and they are big pitas for about $5.50, with all kinds of fillings and salads you can stuff in. The kifta was especially savory for a mall place.

Marco wrote:

aschie30 wrote:

seebee wrote:I'm of the camp that says turkey or beef is not open to interpretation. I've had both turkey and beef. Potbelly serves neither. We have turkey for Thanksgiving every year. Potbelly does not put turkey on their sandwiches. They place slices of a product that probably has some turkey, and/or turkey broth in it on their sandiches. I would suggest to anyone who is confused to go to a store, buy a turkey, cook it, and slice the meat off of it. Go to Potbelly, buy a turkey sandwich. Take the meat product component off of that sandwich, and eat it side by side with the turkey you've cooked. Find the part of the turkey you cooked that has the same consistency and flavor of the Potbelly product. When you find a match, then I'll gladly start calling the Potbelly product meat, and/or turkey.

Turkey has one ingredient. Beef has one ingredient.
By the way, calling it "deli style" is an insult to any good deli.

Yeah, it's a "thing" for me. Can't really get past it. Dealbreaker deluxe for me. I think by referring to those things as "turkey," a lot of ppl are just ignoring the fact that they have no idea what they are eating, but it tastes ok, so it must be good. Sorry, it just is not turkey in my book. I've had turkey before. It never has broth and gelatin added to it, and it has a grain, and texture that is very specific. Do a side by side comparison, really.

That is the single, most controlled rant I've read on LTH. Bravo.

Next time I go to Potbelly, I'll quietly ponder this post as I consume that fake-ass turkey meat-product "component."

I often eat at the Jaffa Cafe in the Northbridge food court on Mich ave. They carve real turkey off the bird. And yet, there is never much of a line. In the same food court is Potbelly and it is always slammed. Jaffa has a combo deal, humongous real turkey sandwich and large drink and chips for $6 plus tax. Potbelly, with its notoriously small meat jello sandwich, chips and big drink will set you back more than $6. Yet it has all the business. Who can explain human nature...

There's a Jaffa Cafe next door to my work in the upstairs of the food court at Clark & Lake. I go there on occasion (I bring my lunch 90% of the time). It does a brisk business even though there's a McDonald's and Subway in the building. I agree that it is infinitely superior than Potbelly's.

I don't make a point of eating at Potbelly's, but from time to time, I find myself there. It is less than satisfactory, for sure.

Santander wrote: Achatz loves Potbelly

gosh, my tatebuds must be wrong, and Potbelly really must be good if Aschatz proclaims it to be...

whiskeybent wrote:The little cookie on the straw is a nice extra touch to the shake. Never had one of 'em but I like the whimsy.

I strenously disagree. I hate that little cookie. It's a perfectly fine milkshake, but that piece of inedible cardboard just gets in the way. It's worse than those horrible green plastic things they sometimes put on sushi plates - at least those add some bright color. I once tried telling them to leave the cookie off, but that created such a mess of confusion when the cashier ended up bringing over a manager to find out if/ how the cookie (which is pre-placed on the milkshake straw) could be removed. They consulted what appeared to be the Potbelly handbook, and then ended up giving me the cookie straw with an apology and a separate, cookie-less straw on the side. The process held up the crowded lunch line for a solid minute, and people were pissed off.

Kennyz wrote:

whiskeybent wrote:The little cookie on the straw is a nice extra touch to the shake. Never had one of 'em but I like the whimsy.

I strenously disagree. I hate that little cookie. It's a perfectly fine milkshake, but that piece of inedible cardboard just gets in the way. It's worse than those horrible green plastic things they sometimes put on sushi plates - at least those add some bright color. I once tried telling them to leave the cookie off, but that created such a mess of confusion when the cashier ended up bringing over a manager to find out if/ how the cookie (which is pre-placed on the milkshake straw) could be removed. They consulted what appeared to be the Potbelly handbook, and then ended up giving me the cookie straw with an apology and a separate, cookie-less straw on the side. The process held up the crowded lunch line for a solid minute, and people were pissed off.

Really? This is such a big issue for you? I'm guessing it created confusion because they couldn't figure out why someone would put a special order in to make them slide the little cookie off the straw for them. I would imagine that the same thing would happen if you asked them to cut your sandwich into bite sized pieces and skewer the bites on toothpicks as well.

Sorry, Kennyz, I'm not trying to be rude to you but as someone that spent years on the other side of the lines some requests just irk me. I understand dietary restrictions, strong preferences, and that "the customer is always right" but sometimes things go too far...

Stagger wrote:

Kennyz wrote:

whiskeybent wrote:The little cookie on the straw is a nice extra touch to the shake. Never had one of 'em but I like the whimsy.

I strenously disagree. I hate that little cookie. It's a perfectly fine milkshake, but that piece of inedible cardboard just gets in the way. It's worse than those horrible green plastic things they sometimes put on sushi plates - at least those add some bright color. I once tried telling them to leave the cookie off, but that created such a mess of confusion when the cashier ended up bringing over a manager to find out if/ how the cookie (which is pre-placed on the milkshake straw) could be removed. They consulted what appeared to be the Potbelly handbook, and then ended up giving me the cookie straw with an apology and a separate, cookie-less straw on the side. The process held up the crowded lunch line for a solid minute, and people were pissed off.

Really? This is such a big issue for you? I'm guessing it created confusion because they couldn't figure out why someone would put a special order in to make them slide the little cookie off the straw for them. I would imagine that the same thing would happen if you asked them to cut your sandwich into bite sized pieces and skewer the bites on toothpicks as well.

Sorry, Kennyz, I'm not trying to be rude to you but as someone that spent years on the other side of the lines some requests just irk me. I understand dietary restrictions, strong preferences, and that "the customer is always right" but sometimes things go too far...

No worries, I've got thick skin. Hopefully you do too, because I've got to ask whether your restaurant experience really taught you that cutting a sandwich into bite size pieces is analogous to serving a shake with a plain straw. I've got experience on the other side too, and I can't for the life of me fathom why this was a remotely difficult request for them. The only thing I can think of is that some marketing department lackey determined that the cookie was a signature part of the product, and that the whole Potbelly brand might fall apart without that little disk of chalk. This, I imagine, was then drilled into the employees’ heads over and over again during the corporate-designed training program for new hires. Believe me; I would not have bothered asking had I known.

Yea, my skin is pretty thick... don't last more than a day in a kitchen if it isn't. I guess the thing is that, obviously it was a simple request and it is sad that it caused such a mess but PotBelly's is still fast food. It is about mass production assembly line food prep. Most common requests are in the system and the help can press a button and have it come up on the dupe. I'm sure the problem they had was noting the request, not performing the function. Again, it is silly that it was so hard for them but it is also, an again forgive my rudeness, but a silly request. The cookie isn't in the shake. If there isn't a cross contamination issue like a food allergy, why ask them to do it. I don't like raw tomato on my sandwich but I'm not allergic to it. If someone asks if I want it, I say no but I rarely put it in as a special order on any dish where I can take literally 2 seconds and take it off myself. Even if I do request it and they are busy and miss it, I don't get upset. This isn't a fine dining situation where the employees are trained to anticipate (or even respond) to the smallest whim of the customer. It isn't in their pay grade. Yes you are still the customer and they should make every reasonable attempt to please you but I just find whether or not they take the cookie off the straw to be counting the angels on the head of a pin.