Grinders Submarine Sandwiches

This tiny place is a place I always take my friends!
Though it is VERY small, I find the sandwiches are GREAT! Ordering a custom sandwich does take a bit of time, I don’t mind. I enjoy getting the BLT! I’d definitely recommend that!
There are also lots of ‘side’ options. There walls have shelves where you can choose from a HUGE variety of potato chips, and there are lots of drinks under the counter and around for you to choose from.
And there is also a fee baskets with cookies in them, each basket telling how old they are.
It’s always a pleasure coming here, and I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a good sandwich place!

I’ve been getting sandwiches from grinders for about 20 years. I moved to another part of the bay area for a long time, but would always stop in when I could. Now that I’m back in the area, I try to get a sandwich from here as often as I can. Many people have said they are disappointed in their sandwiches and so I suppose it’s not for everyone, but I love the roll they use, love the fresh ingredients, and am a big fan of Peter’s ordering style. I’ve had the same turkey sandwich on file for about 20 years and it’s great!

I would probably give this place only 4 stars normally but in light of the fact that many reviewers here are saying this shop is the absolute worst I feel the need to compensate a little. Placing my order via voicemail was strange and I did feel a tad irritated but guess what? The food was ready quickly and my meatball sub was delicious.

After trying to figure out the crazy menu and then ordering Im so sad. My so called ‘bacon sandwich’ which reads on the menu, «Grinders bacon sandwiches come with TRIPLE the standard amount of bacon», is so sad too. I ordered a Bacon sandwich & with the added extras — because I was assured there was way more bacon on it than the BLT. I paid $ 6, then another $ 1 for avocado (which I had to pull apart the sandwich to actually find… about 1 speck of it see picture). Then another $.80 for cheese. I spent over $ 8 on basically a HOT DOG BUN with some scraps of meat inside. We will not be going back here. The Safeway next-​door makes much better and cheaper sandwiches.

This is a good spot. It’s an experience with the way that you order. Overall a good sandwich spot, the add ons (toppings) can really add up. My wife and I got two sandwiches (6 and 12 inch), two Pelligrinos, and two bags of chips for $ 31+. I recommend it, but bring your wallet. Also, you can order many different ways: phone, email, text etc. — very convenient and smart.

The ordering system — a custom program written for (or perhaps even by) the owner — is novel, but incredibly irritating. Rather than having a standard list of toppings from which you can subtract or add (e.g., «no tomatoes» «add peppers»), you must answer a lengthy list of individual questions about every single topping (e, g,. «mustard?» «pickles?» «onions?» «tomatoes?»), at the end of which you can have your sandwich stored in the computer for next time. Worse, while standing in line, you have to listen to others answer the same banal list of questions, over and over and over. The customizability is great, but the route to getting there is incredibly painful. It’s slow, and since there’s only one computer, the line is processed linearly. Worse, since it’s 2015, most customers have a smartphone in their pocket through which they could, with the help of a modern app, customize their sandwich quietly, and in parallel. The sandwiches are okay, but not great. The custom roll that they use is more like white bread than the artisan rolls available elsewhere, and the prices are reasonable, but not cheap.

I thought I would go back a second time and give them another chance… That was a mistake, the same reasons I did not like my $ 15 sandwich were still issues. I asked for the Italian with lightly toasted bread and I got a hot, soggy ham and cheese mess… It was just wrong. Tiny soggy bread (not toasted), microwaved meat mess?, minimal toppings… I’m sad because I love supporting local business and a good sandwich. I fed the meat to my dog and literally ate my losses…

I love my sandwich! The sandwich I created is the best sandwich. The beauty of this place is that you can create your own sandwich, then they ask your name and your sandwich is saved under your name. it’s a little confusing ordering your sandwich by phone because no one answers and I guess you just leave a message and order your sandwich. I guess you just say your name and they find your sandwich that way. The sandwiches can get pretty pricey depending on what you want on your sandwich and how long you want them. Overall I the sandwiches are delicious.

I was a little disappointed in my tiny sandwich considering the wait and complicated ordering process. I won’t be coming back anytime soon unless I am really hungry and had no other options.
PROS:
–Very customizable sandwich (this can also be a con though because the options were a bit overwhelming, see cons)
–Large chips selection.
–Again, many mannyyyy options.
CONS:
–Little value for what you pay for.
–Barely any toppings inside the small hot dog roll
–Long wait for even a small order
–Ordering process is too complicated. I believe the cashier asked me at least 10 questions about my sandwich (how crispy do you want your bacon? how toasted do you want your bread? rancho? mayo? onions? lettuce? pickles? relish? mustard? ketchup? and on and on…)

I don’t know what these other reviews are talking about. The menu is INSANELY long with tons of options and they take cards via Square. Best part is that they keep a record of your order and always remember you. Nice sandwich and great chips and beverage selection.

I am a sandwich loverrrr, but this place is awful. And by awful I mean: awful food, awful service. The only bread option is a hot dog bun that’s soggy even before the meat hits it (it’s gross!), and they skimp on toppings. Sandwiches only come small (6″) or tiny (3″???). The owner, who takes the orders, uses an antiquated ordering system that makes for a ridiculous wait — it includes spelling out your entire last name. He yelled at the kid in front of us when he didn’t want to, so my friend made one up (don’t use your credit card, he’ll call you on it if the names don’t match). Who wants a side of severe attitude with their wonderbread?
Because it’s in Montclair they charge an obscene amount of $$ for what you get — two small, under-​stuffed, soggy sandwiches + drinks + chips cost over $ 35. No bang for your buck, kids! Nowhere to sit, either, so you get to roam around Montclair looking for an empty bench.
I never thought I’d say this, but if you find yourself in Montclair and really want a sandwich, go to Subway or Noah’s «Bagels» instead. The bread is equally bad, but the sandwiches taste better and the people are nicer.

I tried it for the first time today, got the very basic, 6 inch pastrami with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, cheese and mustard. It was good the price is average, a bit over $ 7 with tax, but I wasn’t blown away. I guess the custom made is their appeal, but some chains like Specialty’s do customise as well (you can switch meat, reduce/​add ingredient online). I think I’ll go back to my usual Taqueria for lunch.

Had high hopes for this place after reading their menu and having fun ordering. Why all the effort and detailed questions when the sandwiches are so small you can’t even find the toppings on them? My wife and I were both still hungry after two 6″ sandwiches, one soda and chips. The buns are like wonderbread hit dog buns. So much potential but instead ate sandwiches of sadness. Try subway around the corner unless they can beef these things up more to justify the price and actually fill you up.

I don’t get this place. The guy who is at the register is never friendly. Never remembers me even if I go here once or twice a week — the sandwich maker does — but not the guy who collects money. Maybe because he’s only interested in collecting my money and not mingle with his customers. Anyway, I ordered a veggie sandwich. The sandwich was sooooooo damn soggy that everything fell apart. Two sandwich and couple drinks, I think it was close to $ 30.00. This place isn’t that good and it’s expensive as hell. It has no place to stand even — that’s why people are outside — not because it’s good. Don’t get fooled and save your money. There are plenty of other places that are good!!!

DELICIOUS & EFFICIENT!
Anything I plan on buying on my 30-​minute lunch break needs to be quick, efficient, good, and at a reasonable price, and this place hit the spot! The ordering process was fast and down to business, and my food was ready in about 4 minutes. It tasted great, flavorful, and fresh! I am incredibly picky, if you haven’t noticed from my Unilocal profile, and this place has just become my new lunch spot!

They are polite, fast, & efficient, and they take credit cards now. They have a huge variety of chips like Kettlechips, and they have a wide variety of sodas from Orangina, San Pelligrino, Mexican Coke, can sodas, and even Jolly Rancher sodas. They also have cookies, ranging from fresh to 6 days old, varies by price. I came here at the convincing of a friend. She loved her sandwich, I did not like mine. I don’t think this location was meant to be a food place, which is probably why they seem to only have microwaves to «cook» everything, and no seats. Too expensive as well, and there’s too many other places that are worth eating at in Montclair Village.

«The best sandwiches in the country, No the world» according to owner of Grinders.
This place has no tables or chairs, and is extremely small. They do accept credit cards and cash. I have never had a sandwich with so little meat in it. This place is too expensive. We ordered two 9 inch sandwiches, two bags of chips, one can soda and one bottles soda total price $ 32.00. I will NEVER come here again!

You and your husband ate here during house hunting in the area.
You both enjoyed the food and service.
They take Square.
They have many chips to close from.
You like this place.
You would recommend it.

Grinders has a long list of submarine sammies and add-​ons options (with the accomplaning charge).
eats: 6″ meatball sub (5.98) +.40 (sauce)
–any caspars dog is bigger than what i got
–bun soft ala wonder bread
–meatballs tasteless, meat nuked in micro before serving.
–serving size: 3″, 6″, 9″?, 12″
–got meat and sauce only
banh mi cheaper, better value. this wasn’t a good value
crumbs:
–cash only.
–pricey, not a good value
–got sammie in 5 minutes.
–take out only, no sitdown available.

I hate to throw Grinders under the bus after being a customer for all these years, but my god has their quality gone down hill. Their bread used to be pretty decent, but now it’s basically just wonder bread hot dog buns. Meaning they have to cram all of the ingredients into a tiny tasteless bun and you have to eat the damned thing like a taco in less you want it to fall all over the place. I don’t want to eat a sandwich salad, and I especially don’t want to eat a sandwich taco. It’s weird and completely backwards to my beliefs.
I understand that local competition has come into the neighborhood over these years, but downgrading this much is pathetic. A better strategy would be to INCREASE the quality, force people to come back! Better off with Safeway or Subway across the street. Yes, Subway…