Potbelly Sandwich Shop

I LOVE Potbelly’s food and customer service, frequenting locations all over the city with zero issues for years. That is, until I started going to this location on Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln Park over the past year. The employees here are always short and inattentive, seeming more pre-​occupied with their bickerings than making food for customers waiting. The delivery bikers don’t help either, lingering rudely around the cramped counter and distracting the workers even further. While waiting after checking out, i’m never quite sure if they’ve remembered to actually prepare my order or not (one time they did not), and i’m always left feeling like I was an inconvenience.
Maybe they’re just over-​worked or something, as I’m sure the miniature size of this location makes it tough when a lot of delivery orders come in, but my experiences here really stick out like a soar thumb.
P. S. The one woman with the nose piercing is very nice though; I like her.

Probably the BEST barbecue pulled pork sandwich I ever had! Meat was lean, sauce sweet and tangy and the bread was delicious.
The new Pineaple and coconut smoothie was good, too.
Neat place — this was the first location and has some cool ambience.
Fast, friendly service.

Last week, I went here and got a sub with extra meat. Come payment time, the cashier informed me that I was paying for double meat. I told her that I had definitely ordered extra meat, since I always get that option. She disagreed; furthermore, she made me pay for double meat. Tonight I went to get an Oreo shake. I very clearly asked for Oreo, but what I received was an Oreo-​banana shake. I am not a fan of banana shakes :(
I love Potbelly, and I eat at them very often. But the one here in Lincoln Park constantly screws up my order.

This exact experience that «Christine B» wrote about happened to me a few days ago. Showing that this Potbelly location is extremely poorly run and repeatedly has the same incompetent manager running it. The manger who I am talking about is named «Matthew H» and the fact that Potbellies employees people like this shows that they do not know what they are doing.

Fresh smoothies, fresh sandwiches, and fresh cookies; this place never fails me. Though I seldom visit due to distance, all employees seem to be trained to be absolutely amazing with quality service, and a genuine friendliness that makes the visit so much better. The Wreck is by far the best sandwich offered, especially when adding some hot peppers for that explosive flavor.
While overshadowed by Subways and Quiznos, do not underestimate the quality of Potbelly’s.

How can you not love Potbelly?
Friendly staff, good eats and consistent quality. This location is no exception.
If you’re hanging off Lincoln Ave in Lincoln Park… stop on by.
PS: The chicken salad rocks!

Ordered takeout from them on a Saturday online. They said it would be delivered at 1:00 to 1:10 pm. We ordered at 11:57 am. Finally called at 1:20 said it was busy and no order form from my email. Gave them my confirmation number and order. Said they would send it over. No I’m sorry, comps or anything. When I got the food they had all my info on the receipt… If I didn’t give them all of that how did they have it. If you lost the order just admit it. Our business orders from you all the time and I’ve never had problem

I went here a couple of times during my stay in Chicago and was decently impressed. I tried two different sandwiches, the Mediterranean with chicken and the grilled chicken and cheese. I have to say that each was pretty well done, though I wish they could have toasted the bun for the Mediterranean and given it that added crunch.
Overall, the service is a bit on the slow side in my opinion for sandwiches and they did not have the most extensive menu, but all of their ingredients are quality and service is friendly. A good choice for sandwiches in the area.

Apparently, this particular location on N Lincoln Ave, is the original one. I didn’t know the story of PSW until I sat down with my friend and while eating our sandwiches, she filled me in on how it started off as an antique store, thus explaining the decoration of the place.
If you’re a carnivore, get the Wreck — salami, roast Beef, turkey, ham & swiss cheese. Damn good.
If you’re a vegetarian, get the Mediterranean — hummus, feta, artichoke hearts, crispy cukes and roasted red peppers. Also damn good.
Find yourself a spot in one of their booths or tables and enjoy your sandwich!

Dear Beautiful Girl that works here,
Your establishment is quite simply the best. And it shows with the manager that picked you to completely take me by surprise with your professionalism and… uh… flirtatious nature.
The sandwich was amazing. Those hot peppers are possibly the most delicious things ever put into a sandwich. And on top of that… they don’t make your breath smell like peppercinis!
But sandwich aside, the
coffee.
shake.
is.
the.
most.
DELICIOUS.
thing.
ever!
AND IT’S ONLY $ 2.90! AMAZING!
I don’t know how many other ways I can share my love with you about your establishment. Maybe I’ll just have to come back to Chicago and visit.
But that would just be creepy.

I was super-​enthused to find a potbelly after hearing my boyfriend talk about how great Chi-town’s sandwiches are, but I don’t think it was quite up to his hype. Sorry potbelly, I really did try to like you!
From a LA transplant, SF sandwich-​enthusiast perspective, I think this place reminds me of a quizno’s– the sandwiches I mean. they were toasted, the bread was chewy, and the meat wasn’t very entertaining. I had the ‘A Wreak’ with everything except mayo &peppers on the side.
For $ 4.50 (regular size), it was the perfect amount of food for dinner, and pretty cheap! I snuck it into one of the bars across the street and the added peppers paired perfectly with a beer I was drinking. Also, I had a chocolate cookie with chocolate chips as dessert and that was AMAZING. I think the cookie was the best part of my potbelly experience.

FAIL!
They can never seem to get it right. I swear how is it to keep your menu items? The phone started to ring and before I even looked at the caller ID, I told my husband, watch its Potbelly’s and they can’t deliver on time or something.
Yup I was right. We are out of this and can’t deliver it.
Big surprise. Potbelly’s I love you, but I can’t take this abuse anymore.

I love Potbelly. They really, successfully pull off that chain-that-doesn’t-feel-like-a-chain thing. They’re always a bit quirky. This one is notable for its can pipe: near the front door is a pipe jutting from the ground, into which you put your can to recycle it. I’m gonna get a can next time I go just so I can try it out. Another quirk is the bathrooms: the men’s room is next to the cash register, while the women’s is all the way around past the musicians’ balcony.
Anyway, Potbelly is a friendly place to eat an affordable, hot, delicious, flavorful sandwich that might not even be that unhealthy for you. Less renowned, but no less remarkable, are the salads; the Uptown salad is extremely tasty, quality and filling, and their roasted garlic vinaigrette is one of the best salad dressings I’ve ever had in my life.
The chocolate brownie cookie will leave you with a smile on your face. It’s a brownie. It’s a cookie. It’s a breakthrough.

Sweet mother of our Lord and Savior. If there is ever a singular place in Chicago that should exemplify «Online orders are the work of Satan» it’s the original Potbelly on Lincoln.
I get it. All money is green. But it is irritating to hell and back to go into this crowded location and even if there is no in-​person line, sandwiches are delayed, delayed, delayed due to online orders and these massive boxed sandwich jobs. I mean, really: who is catering out of the Potbelly on Lincoln?
Great food, friendly service. But this location bugs not because of the food or the service, but because of the ridiculous online ordering and catering going out of here that slows everything to a crawl.

The original Potbelly store, started as an antique shop then sandwiches were added to bolster sales. Ownership changed in the 90’s and the sandwiches took off. New menu items have been added but the original sandwich is still the best.
My advice to you at Potbelly, do not be afraid of the toppings. Select your sandwich and bread, wait for it to be toasted then you order toppings. As a general rule, I tell people to only omit the things that they absolutely cannot stand and get the rest. Its that gooey, melting, spicy combination that really sets the sandwich apart.
Oh and get a cookie too, especially the oatmeal chocolate chip. Really you can’t go wrong when you order here, you made it in the door already — smooth sailing from there.
Staff is always super friendly and upbeat, you would be too if you got to eat Potbelly everyday!
In the world of quick, cheap sandwiches — Potbelly is king.

Great tech day lunches and pre-​show dinners from Potbellies. Gotta get’m with the pepper, though — otherwise it’s just a sandwich.
This one is awesome cause they put up with my confusing and complicated orders for the crew. Go, you guys!

Potbelly recently updated their nutritional info to clearly specify which items on the menu are vegan, vegetarian or otherwise!
I love, love, love the multigrain vegetarian, no cheese, extra shrooms. I get extra hot peppers because they are the best. The «big» sandwiches are only $ 5.40 and way more satisfying than, for instance, Subway’s $ 5 footlongs.
The general atmosphere of the Lincoln Ave location does not really differ from the cookie-​cutter kitchyness Potbelly has reproduced across the country (the «chalk» menu, wooden booths, stupid «hand painted» signs with stupid slogans like «Eat Here Before We Both Starve!»), but the staff is always warm and sincere and they make some fast sandwiches.
Also, this location carries Zapp’s potato chips! I fell in lust with Zapp’s after watching «How it’s Made» and Mr. Zapp explained that chip eaters should open the bag upside down to distribute the delicious flavor that hangs out on the bottom. Genius. The BBQ is so good, these are seriously some of the best kettle chips around.
Anyway, 5 stars for the fun and friendly dudes at the Lincoln Ave location, stellar sandwiches, spicy hot peppers, Zapp’s greasy deliciousness, easy access to nutritional info and convenient locations all over the place.

Coming from the West Coast, I had never been to a Potbelly before. Apparently as my husband and I were wandering around various Chicago neighborhoods, we entered this sandwich shop thinking it was an original sort of place, later discovering it’s part of a chain. The only «original» part was that it was the first of many.
Nonetheless, they make some damn good hot sandwiches and serve you with a smile. If you like to heat it up, the hot peppers will do the trick. I ordered the Italian and it had the perfect bread: meat:cheese:other-toppings ratio. They get bonus points for having hand-​dipped milkshakes at the ready which rival the Burgerville ones in the Northwest.
Probably a 5 star lunch spot except they don’t recycle. It’s 2009, people. Cans and bottles don’t go in the trash anymore.

Best potbelly’s in town which is not a surprise since this is the first ever potbelly’s.
I worked here for a short-​while the food here is better than any potbelly’s not a fan of working there.

Potbelly was like the light at the end of the tunnel.
After SELMARIE ruined my Easter (please see below), my family and I decided to come here because we knew that the service would be quick and the food would be consistent. (It lived up and exceeded our expectations!)
Get this — They even brought the food to us!
Bless your heart, Potbelly. We all left happy and satisfied and calm thanks to you!