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Royal Grinders
Categories: Restaurants Sandwiches Food Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Sandwiches, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
3526 Fremont Pl NSeattle, WA 98127
Neighbourhood: Fremont
(206) 545-7560
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
Sun 11 am - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
235 reviews for Royal Grinders
Review Highlights
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"I love the lenny scoop concept too." In 28 reviews -
"The little one loved the colors of the gelato." In 115 reviews -
"...person I really like to watch is that awesome Lenin statue." In 9 reviews
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235 reviews in English
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Review from Romeo V.
Seattle, WA
5/14/2012
I realized that I didn't write a review for this place...
By far, one of the best sandwich joints in Seattle. Whenever I'm in the area...it's always a toss up between going to Kylie's for pizza or Royal Grinders for sandwiches....always a tough call. My favorite sandwiches are the Italian and Crown Grinders....you can't go wrong with either. The sandwiches are made to order and baked in an oven evenly and you get that nice crunch on every bite. All the people that I have met there are cool and it's always good to see the owner there (I believe is name is Jay). The gelato here is awesome as well and it's a nice offering to have after having one of their sandwiches. If you're in the area, stop by and check it out...and tell them that "Romeo from the Quah" sent you!
* And when you're done with your sandwich and/or gelato..walk across the street to 9 Million Unmarked Bills and have one of their beautiful, abundant selections of whiskeys (ask for the "Hibike")...trust me! -
Review from Robbie T.
Seattle, WA
5/14/2012 3 Check-ins Here
This a guilty pleasure if ever I had one.
I would happily take any sequence of buses to taste that roast beef again. I'm getting hungry just thinking about and I've still got half of the sandwich on front of me. -
Review from Kelsey K.
Seattle, WA
4/27/2012
I don't know anyone who doesn't like Royal Grinders! Seriously. Brought it home for the bf like a year go and he still remembers it. Shit's really good (OMG, the bread) plus the staff is very likeable. They don't bitch when we call in to place our complicated orders for the whole office. Grinders will put you in a food coma but it's so worth it.
I especially loved it when the owner (I think he is anyways) told me that he was going to be away fishing a lot and wrote down instructions for me on how to phone in my sandwich order while he was gone so I don't end paying a ton for the extras I like. -
Review from Steve L.
Seattle, WA
5/26/2012
Awesome every time!
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Review from Paul G.
Seattle, WA
5/24/2012
Best teriyaki chicken! Very cute place, perfect lunch!
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Review from Maria G.
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
You feel good when you walk into a store and one of their public notice signs start with "We listen to our yelpers and we have decided to make this following change in our menu."
Yup yelp reviews matter at Royal Grinders!
Friendly staff and I like the idea of lenny scoop!
This place is not big but they serve sandwiches and ice creams. I have only had ice cream here and it was delicious! It is always good to stop by after exploring Fremont for a bit. -
Review from Sam E.
Auburn, WA
5/15/2012
WOW. What great food, this place should get more recognition for what it does. It's secluded area in fremont puts it away form the competition but don't get me wrong. This was the best sandwich I think that I might have ever had. I had the french dip, but there are myriads of other sandwiches that are so tasty! Also, they make AMAZING geleto, (italian ice cream), overall, in a heatbeat reccommend this to a friend and I WILL BE COMING BACK! Thanks Royal Grinders for your outstanding service and amazing food!
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Review from Brent C.
Seattle, WA
3/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow, I just happened to stumble in to Royal Grinders not knowing what to expect. As I stood there trying to figure anything out, an employee asked me if it was my first time, and gave me much appreciated guidance and went over their menu and the top items. I went with the Italian Grinder Oven Toasted Hot Sub Sandwich, and it was Amazing!!!
I will definitely make this place a weekly visit for my daily lunch cravings! -
Review from Daphne C.
Bothell, WA
2/28/2012
Best sandwich ever!! It was soooo good and very friendly staff as they gave out 2 baskets to me and my friend when they noticed we only ordered one :)
I would definitely go back there again! -
Review from Rowena D.
2/5/2012 1 photo
I love their crown grinder sandwich. It has turkey, ham, olives, provolone & swiss cheeses, tomato, thinly sliced red onions, and pepperoncinis slathered with their yummy grinder sauce. All of this is oven toasted in their soft but sturdy bread.
It does take some time for the staff to make their sandwiches. If you're short on time, you can call your order ahead of time to pick up. They do make you aware of this with a friendly sign at the counter. =)
If you have room for dessert, their gelato is a great option. There's lots of flavors to chose from. -
Review from Vy N.
Santa Clara, CA
3/2/2012
Scrumptious! Their bread is so cooked to perfection. It takes awhile for the cooks to prepare your sandwich. There is a sign by the counter stating that they need extra time to make your sandwich as delicious it can be, so no rushing! Soooo worth the wait.
Royal Grinder - Roast beef, ham, provolone, swiss, tomato, red onion, & black olives (I asked for no pepperoncinis):
This was delicious! After taking my first bite I knew that the rest of my meal was going to be amazing. The bread was well toasted, warm, and had a nice soft, yet crispy, bread consistency to it. And man! Their homemade grinder sauce was kickin' with flavor and it's one of the reasons why their sandwiches are still on my mind.
If you want a sandwich filled with flava and made on well-baked bread, then put your mouth in a Royal Grinder and you may find yourself not wanting to release it.
Side Notes:
- They serve gelato here too! They'll give you samples, but I just got the sandwich.
- The staff were pleasant and will happily answer any of your questions, especially if you're a first-timer like I was.
-You can ask them for extra toppings as well, like TOMATOES!
Verdict: 4.7 out of 5.0 -
Review from Jessica H.
Seattle, WA
I was so glad that the invitation for the Fremont foodie crawl said to eat dinner before hand, if it didn't I would have never found this place. I stopped in and ordered a beef dip with au jus. It was mouth watering!! The beef slices were perfectly thin sliced and cooked very well, the bread was toasted to just the right crispiness, and I would put that au jus dip on everything.
Not only was the food amazing but the service was great! The staff was friendly as soon as I walked in the door. The cashier asked if I had been there before and was very happy to tell me his favorites. He was very knowledgable about his products and he was very helpful. When I was done eating he was nice enough to re wrap up my sandwich for me and put my au jus in a cup. I will definately come back to royal grinders! Food and service get 5 stars!!! -
Review from YELP Y.
Seattle, WA
5/12/2012
Bit of a gut bomb. We had a pastrami and an italian. Toasted bread was a little greasy. Italian pepperoni was a little overpowering. Pastrami was OK, but not enough to go out of my way to come back for more.
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Review from Brian and Ann Marie E.
Seattle, WA
2/7/2012
I grew up on Togo's Hot Pastrami's in California and could never find a sandwich to fill the void--until I found Royal Grinders. Holy god. If Yelp had WYSIWYG editor, I'd type FTW in all caps in 3,000px font-size.
This is one of those spots you take out of town visitors to and reminisce 10 years down the road, "Dude! Remember that pastrami sandwich in Fremont?!"
F*** cotton, Grinders, you are the fabric of my life. -
Review from Kathryn S.
Seattle, WA
3/17/2012
Holy Moly the sandwiches are inspiring! I often have to restrain myself from eating here daily because I know these taste too good to be healthy. My fav grinder is the chicken teriyaki and my hubby loves the Italian. We are always taking our friends and family here and everyone just raves on how delicious the sandwiches are, not to mention affordable! The key ingredient is the garlic butter spread and the fantastic bread they use. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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Review from Cindy W.
Seattle, WA
2/5/2012
I've drunkenly stumbled by this place multiple times late at night and am surprised no one has ever recommended Royal Grinders to me! We ordered the Italian Grinder, the Pastrami Grinder (with jalapenos!), and a ginger ale. There are three toppings that you can add to your sandwich for FREE--jalapenos, red sauce, and pickles(?).
The grinders are toasted perfectly on the outside keeping the softness of the bread on the inside. The ingredients inside the grinders are juicy, but the sandwiches are not leaky--this is very important for messy eaters like myself.
Royal Grinders, I will be back for more! -
Review from Ireina B.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 3/24/2012
I have ordered the teryaki sandwich that a friend recommended a couple times. It is very tasty. I think they could use a few more hot sandwiches, but that is my opinion.Disappointed that they no longer have a free soda with a sandwich.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/8/2010
What on earth is so good about their sandwiches? My husband and I got two different sandwiches and… Read more »
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Review from Evelyn F.
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place must get a lot of regulars because they asked if it was our first time upon walking in, and gave us a "menu tour" which I really appreciate. We did the pastrami grinder and french dip. Really, truly scrumptious. Wow, we couldn't stop talking about how good they were. Every bite had perfect flavor, perfect texture, just the right crunchiness. Perfect balance of meats, cheese, and veges. At about $8 a sandwich, this is not exactly something I can do every day, but considering you get what you pay for, it's definitely worth it. And one sandwich gets you full. Be ready for a wait if you didn't call in your order.
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Review from Jessica T.
Ballard, Seattle, WA
3/21/2012
Awesome place to get your not so ordinary sandwich!!
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Review from Ryan B.
Tacoma, WA
3/3/2012
Royal Grinders
In the so called "Berkeley of Washington" Royal grinders resides in the Fremont district of Seattle. Art throughout the neighborhood on the apartment buildings, after the Ballard Bridge reminding me of Gaudi of Barcelona's architecture, and across the street the eternal bus stop which is festively decorated for every occasion and sometimes just for fun. Well royal grinders lives on the corner of N36th and Fremont Pl N, next to a street corner solar system reminiscent of all those wire hanger designs in primary school and right behind the statue of Lenin. I often confuse this Russian leader with Stalin, but that won't happen again. Working in a british hospital with two of the smartest history buffs I've ever come across, I once blurted out: 'Stalin, I heard of him. He can't be that bad. There's a statue of him in Seattle.' They learned me real good on the difference of the two and the folly of my remark.
History, architecture, and location aside for the moment. Royal Grinders is by far, the best sandwich shop I have come across. Like most eateries in Seattle, ingredients are market fresh daily. The owner/ manager/ sandwich maker/ gelato server is only one of the hip staff that greet you and take delicate time to assemble your sandwich of desire.
Having one of every sandwhich provided, I'd have to say the 'teriyaki grinder' is my favorite. Tangy, full, and with the crisp bite of the toasted loaf, this sandwich can give you the energy to push through a day of adventure throughout Seattle. Or it can give you the -itis. I add jalapeños and lettuce when im really hungry, more often than not. The sandwich is quite large and can be enjoyed with a water or soda and finished with fun flavored gelato. The gelato choices are lovely and eclectic. If I'm just passing through with a friend or out of state visitor, I make a point to share my favorite sandwich shop and we can usually split one sandwich and both be satisfied. When I'm really hungry, I take a sandwich on my own and convince who ever I'm with that a stroll or drive past the Fremont Bridge Troll over to Gas Works Park for a nap is in order.
Staff is friendly, local, in the know of whats going on and often chilling to, dancing, or singing along with either the tv mounted on the inside of the shop or the ipod of staff choice. You can enjoy the atmosphere inside at the bar top style seating and enjoy 'The Stranger' or 'D-List' to see what bands are in town this week or who the Sounders will be matching up with. Or enjoy the outdoor seating behind Stalin and on top of the lego/ colored glass/ bits of machinery mosaic laid into the concrete.
Hangin' outside in the sun, rain or on an overcast day is also a good way to scope out the nights events. The Fremont District is a great place for people of all walks to enjoy drinks with friends. Pull out your smart phone to search for local bars, pubs, and dives and you'll find more than enough reasons to stay the night in the Fremont. Drinkers be responsible! Out one night with some medical friends, we almost started compressions on a drunk who, as described by the 'buddy' who stopped us, 'is just drunk and forgets to breath occasionally.' He was spread eagle in a parking lot with his head propped up uncomfortably on a car tire. Possibly to be able to spot the ladies if need be by the: 'I got you this shot, hurry and take it with me' look of his 'buddy.' Despite those two, everyone I've come across in the fremont was pleasant.
Royal Grinders and the Fremont District = A must when you are in Seattle. -
Review from Geoff C.
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow. I'm from Philly originally. Home of hoagies, grinders, good sandwiches. You can find this few places on the West Coast.
Go. -
Review from Nathan S.
Olympia, WA
11/30/2011
I decided to finally try Royal Grinders last Saturday night, November 30. I ordered the Crown Grinder, minus tomatoes, and my girlfriend ordered the Veggie.
As we sat in the sandwich shop waiting for our orders, I soon began to realize that we would not be receiving our food very quickly. I mentioned this and my girlfriend said that there was a sign at the cash register notifying customers of Royal Grinder's commitment to product quality and their lack of commitment to speedy service.
I do not hold this business practice against Royal Grinder's, I'm merely mentioning it for those of you who are very hungry, like I was.
In one word, Royal Grinders food is "exemplary." The pepperoncinis were a pleasant addition and added a slight spiciness that enhanced, what would have been an average turkey sandwich, into an expertly crafted thing of beauty. Typically, I despise red onions, but Royal Grinders made me love them. I'm still confused how they accomplished this.
Often, grilled or toasted sandwiches will harden the bread so much that it cuts the inside of your mouth, but my sandwich was perfectly toasted and the bread remained soft enough that I never felt in danger of impaling my delicate gums.
In sum, I would gladly clean toilets for a Royal Grinders sandwich. Royal Grinders was SO good that I am seriously considering moving next door. My mouth is still watering. I can't wait until I'm in Fremont again and able sate this ravenous hunger. -
Review from Allyson M.
Seattle, WA
2/28/2012
They have the best customer service compared other reatuarants in the area. On top of that they have amazing gelatos and sandwiches. I wish they had a little bit more sitting inside because it's really cold to eat outside. All and all it's a great place
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Review from Jackie K.
9/13/2011
I'd like to apologize to my taste buds for having lived so close to Royal Grinders for so long and not eating there until tonight.
I was greeted with friendly enthusiasm and ordered the namesake Royal Grinder, was told I could change or add anything I wanted, but didn't change a thing. A few minutes later I was watching them wrap a piping hot sandwich about the size of a golden lab puppy. Seriously, this is a big damn sandwich. I'm glad I (barely) resisted going for the gelato.
Couldn't wait to get home to unwrap my toasty-warm dinner doggy, which I had named Sammy during the walk.
Man, that was one delicious, meaty, toasty, chewy, savory sandwich. Half should have been plenty for dinner, but no, I powered some of that second half down before I pulled the plug on the gluttony. Still have plenty left for lunch tomorrow. Or breakfast. Yeah, maybe breakfast.
Next time, gelato, I'm coming for you. -
Review from Joe P.
Renton, WA
2/28/2012
Helpful and nice employees with tasty hot subs. Small counter space so may need to get to go.
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Review from Gary S.
Renton, WA
9/26/2011
Having spent several lunches at great sandwich shops accross the USA, I was shocked at how great and unknown this one is. It is a very small shop with limited indoor space and ample outdoor seating. Not a great combonation for Seattle weather but since I work close by, it is ok.
I took a chance on this place with no recommendations and was amazed at how perfect the bread was, well seasoned the meats and wonderfully melted the cheese. The prices no worse than most other sandwich shops but the quality of food and speed of service vastly better. -
Review from Geneva H.
8/22/2011
We love this place. A friend of mine recommended it a month or so back and this was the first time we tried them. AMAZING. The food was so good! The sandwiches are a little pricey, but huge portions (I still have half of mine in the fridge). While we waited, we chatted with the owner. He gave us multiple samples of gelato and kept us entertained. The crew there seems friendly, the owner was super chill, and the food was delicious. The sandwiches do take a little bit to make (toasted is so worth the wait), so if you're in a hurry they may not be the place for you. But if you're in the mood to people watch, have a little time to spare, and want to enjoy some delicious food, check them out!
Sandwiches: $7ish
Gelato: $3-7ish (generous portions!) -
Review from Cora L.
8/8/2011
Great subs! Eat them while they're warm and toasty, and enjoy the outdoor seating with the neat trinkets set into the ground.
The workers are VERY friendly, and although the wait is longer than I'd like to wait (I don't like waiting at all), I'd do it all over again. I didn't try the gelato, but I didn't go to "Grinders" to get dessert.
Def a fan, and you will be too. -
Review from Maite M.
Seattle, WA
7/14/2011
You want a good sandwich without the vegan/organic fanfare (and price) and without the fast food sadness? This is your place. Order something straight from the menu or personalize any of the choices ... it's sure to be tasty and filling.
The place is tiny, but there is plenty of outdoor seating (very nice when it's not raining!) and some seating inside.
The people are super friendly and happy! And although it takes about 10-15 minutes to get your grinder, they ARE actually working as fast as they can. The reason why it takes so long to get your sandwich is because it goes in the oven to get nice and toasty and delicious.
Don't forget to get a scoop of gelato for dessert! It's not REALLY gelato. My husband is from Italy, born and raised there, and I've been there several times and Royal Grinders doesn't really serve gelato. They tried, but it's a bit too cold and creamy to be gelato. It's more like regular ice cream, but it's still delicious! And the flavors are pretty much what you would find at the gelataio in Italy, so I guess they get bonus points for that. -
Review from Tony G.
6/7/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I have been here a couple times and am a little surprised I haven't written a review yet. What's the matter with me? I am so stupid!
The sandwiches here are awesome. I usually get the Italian or Royal Grinder which are both amazing. I have also had their French Dip that is pretty good and I had a bite of my girlfriend's panini which was really good too. All their sandwiches have a lot of good flavor, but not overwhelmingly that makes it ruin the sandwich.
On nice days you can sit outside and people watch...and eat your sandwich. The person I really like to watch is that awesome Lenin statue. That is sexy right there.
I come here often and I highly recommend that you do too.
Zipzap Zubidy Bop! -
Review from Duane L.
7/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sandwiches made out of delicious treats.
I had a free scoop of strawberry jalapeno gelato. WOW. That's all I can say is WOW. Open to interpretation.
Tip: order ahead so you don't have to wait. -
Review from A. F.
Seattle, WA
9/22/2011
These guys put delicious combination of meat and cheese and veggies and whatnot IN BETWEEN pieces of toasty bread. It's like having a 19 year old Ukrainian ballerina dance across your tongue. I would eat these crazy things in a car, on a boat, at a table, at the zoo, in the rain and even under water. I think that their sauce is made of dreams and wishes.
In all seriousness they are delicious. -
Review from Brittany L.
Lynnwood, WA
6/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm a freak about Italian sandwiches, and I loved theirs! The shop is small and I can see where it could get cramped while you're waiting (patiently, I hope!) for your sandwich, but luckily when the weather is nice you can enjoy it outside right behind Lenin's bum! :)
The guys are friendly too, and have no problem telling you a little about ordering on your first visit. Thumbs up! -
Review from Elliott A.
Seattle, WA
5/10/2011
When visiting Royal Grinders, please...
...get the Italian Grinder, and ask for the red sauce for dipping. It is an absurd sammy, guaranteed to make you say "oooWEEEE!" after your first bite.
...watch them construct your grinder. It is a labor intensive process and the guys at Royal Grinders are masters of their craft.
...get to know about the Lenny Scoop. Royal Grinders doesn't have the best gelato in Seattle, but they do have a good assortment of flavors, and a special treat known as the Lenny Scoop. -
Review from Sheryce S.
Rancho Cordova, CA
7/14/2011 1 photo
Didn't have a sandwich, but they looked delicious! I did have gelato because it was a beautiful, sunny day in Seattle and I felt it was a necessity. As I sat on the patio by myself and enjoyed the serenity I did feel like I was in a different world. I love travelling!
The best part- there was a bit of a wait while they made the sandwich orders of those in front of me. Why is this the best part you ask. Because they had a sign up that said you would probably be waiting because previous yelpers have reported that they are notorious for being infamously slow. I laughed and enjoyed my wait! (See the pic I posted.)
I got the straciatella flavor, which since I have discovered it, is pretty much the only type of gelato I get. It's vanilla with chocolate shavings in it. So good! Oh and at Royal Grinders you get a free "Lenny scoop" on top of your gelato. It's a baby scoop so you can sample another flavor and perhaps have a new favorite. I chose pistachio; it was very good. And, of course it's called the Lenny scoop because there is a huge statue of Vladimir Lenin outside the place on the corner...duh!
Hit up the eclectic Fremont neighborhood when in Seattle. I am glad I did! -
Review from Chris T.
Seattle, WA
5/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Holy crap, these sandwiches are good! I'm generally not one to fawn over sandwiches (I'm more of a burgers and pizza kinda gal) but Royal Grinders knows what they're doing and they do it well! For a small establishment that's hidden in the shadows of Lenin (literally, not figuratively), they draw a lot of business, it seems, not only from regulars but also from people walking by who spot all the other people sitting outside making animal noises at their grinders.
The first time I came, I had the veggie grinder, the only option on the menu for a pescatarian like myself. It turned out to be SO. GOOD. that I came back again later in the week, threw all pretensions about adhering to my pescatarian diet out the window, and shared the Royal Grinder with my boyfriend (wow. that sounds really dirty). The layers of roast beef and that fantastic dipping sauce made it SO worth it. No matter which grinder you get, though, you can expect perfectly toasted bread, no shortage of delicious ingredients in between, and a long-ass wait (~15-20 minutes each time I've been there). -
Review from Joshua J.
6/9/2011
Darn, darn good sandwiches. The bread kinda reminds me of those delicious crusty french rolls that you'd get a vietnamese sandwich on... mmmm.... crusty french roll...
I had the italian. Everything tasted great, fresh, whathaveyou. I don't know, this isn't an interesting review. Good sandwiches, what else can I say. Plus gelato, that's what! I like that they'll give you a cherry-sized scoop of a different flavor on top so that you get to try them all. Good stuff. Nice staff. I bet you can find one of the other 200 reviews that is more informative than this one.
Try out Royal Grinders, you probably won't be disappointed!
Thanks for listening... -
Review from Kevin E.
6/5/2011
A friend and I visited Royal Grinders for the first time Saturday night in my search for a gluten-free dessert since Flying Apron Bakery had just closed. We only drove to Fremont to go to Flying Apron for the first time so that was disappointing they closed so early on a Saturday night.
Anyway, the gelato at Royal Grinders hit the spot and the Lenny Scoop was cool. The service we had was excellent. The pistachio flavor was really quite tasty.
The line was a bit funky cramped as far as there's hardly any space to see the flavors. It might be better if they had a list of flavors for people farther back in the line but that's not even a big deal. They were running low on a number of the flavors when we got there around 9 p.m. There wasn't a long line.
This was a good place for dessert. I didn't experience any cross-contamination as far as gluten goes, which could have happened if they scooped gelato on a cone instead of a dish. -
Review from Marissa W.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 8/7/2011
Apparently this place has gone way down hill over the last couple of years. I didn't visit for a while, and all three times I've stopped by recently, they seriously screwed up my orders.
How does "turkey" equal "one slice of turkey and a bunch of beef"? Or "half turkey half ham"? Answer: It shouldn't! If you're going to offer supposedly customizable grinders, do your customers a favor and get them right. I forgave the first two incidents, hoping that I just caught them on bad nights, but this third time my grinder was inedible thanks to dietary restrictions and the employee's incompetence, so I won't be back.
Which is really too bad. When they got stuff right, the food was incredible.
By the way, the staff seems to be completely different every time I come in, and the place is pretty small, so I can't imagine that they have that many different shifts... So I'm guessing they've had a lot of employee turnover lately?Listed in: Top Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/9/2009
My husband and I stopped in here after a quick dinner elsewhere in Fremont. I'd heard good things… Read more »
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Review from Darth V.
Bellevue, WA
2/23/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I admit it: I saw the Italian Grinder from Royal Grinders on the Foodie 100 list, and I was skeptical. I've come to the realization that geographically relevant sandwich offerings from other cities don't stretch to Seattle in many cases. By that I mean Chicago has hot dogs, Detroit has gyros, Pittsburgh has meat pies, Philly has cheesesteaks, NYC has reubens, Maine has lobster rolls and, yes, Boston has grinders. The reach of Seattle's sandwich food scope seems to make it about as far East as Detroit. It then drops off dramatically in its abilities to replicate a top notch sandwich made famous in an Eastern city - and completely fails by the time it gets to New York or Filthadelphia, so what chance does the city have of making it all the way to the Haaahbah? I mean hell, was it even going to be a real grinder, or just a heated sub?
Add in that I used to live in Boston and have had the best grinders anywhere? Well, let's just say the bar was set quite high, and I certainly wasn't going to wager my R2 unit on Seattle being able to make the cut. Hell, I wouldn't even wager a StormTrooper, and you know how little I care about those punks.
I am pleasantly surprised to report that the grinders at this place easily make the cut. From the styling of the building to the decor on the inside; replace the statue of Lenin at this place with Elvis, and I might as well be back on campus in Massachusetts. Even the music is the same (and that's a good thing, you classless Lady Gaga loving, Jonas Brothers obsessing, Justin Bieber worshipping freakozoids).
From the proper bread choice to the high-quality meats to the proper cooking technique right down to the classic grinder sauce, this thing is as authentic as they come. I'm so pleased after eating this thing that I command the Force to playfully tickle an infant so its mother can enjoy its infectious laughter; I make it move the clouds so the sun will peak out; I even change the modulation of the Deathstar's lasers to instead emit harmless lights tuned to The Wall (look it up, Bieberheads). OK, really all I do is refrain from killing everyone within 4 city blocks and installing Jar Jar as city mayor, which is pretty damn generous of me. Course, Jar Jar might be an improvement over the present guy, but hey...
So I'm all about the ambiance, the food, the prices, and the service. So why the 4? Simple: They charge 50 cents to use a credit card there. I can sense some of you pulling away from me here for something so petty (hey, I *am* a Sith lord, after all), but hear me out. For as much as I bitch about restaurants not taking credit cards, this bunches my codpiece even more. It's against the terms of their merchant card processor agreement to do that. I *hate* it when companies do this, and if the sandwiches weren't so damn good I'd probably report it. Well, no, not really: Evil means never being a rat. But it still sucks, no matter how insignificant the fee.
So close to joining the 5's, yet so far. The Italian grinder is easily deserving of being on the Foodie 100 list, and I will be returning...with paper money.
4 Deathstars.Listed in: The Seattle Foodie 100
