New Lettuce sandwich shop replaces Quiznos

Lettuce is for vegetarians and bunnies no longer. With the departure of Quiznos on San Antonio Road, the Lettuce Sandwich Shop has moved in to bring a “fresh” attitude to the sandwich business.

Although the décor isn’t too different from that of Quiznos, Lettuce has a much more whimsical atmosphere. A new flat-screen TV (usually turned to ESPN), large menus and school-related clothing from LAHS and Egan Junior High School adorn the walls. As the Lettuce Sandwich Shop has a few other locations in the Bay Area, the entire shop is San Francisco-themed from the food names to the clock.

“We want people to say they are ‘going to Lettuce’ and everyone will know that they are going somewhere that they will get a great sandwich with fantastic customer service,” Lettuce founder Peter Maletis said in an email.

The staff is friendly and warm, and upon entrance an employee is sure to promptly welcome the customer. The staff provides recommendations based on taste preferences and is patient with the frequent decision-impaired newcomers.

Upon payment, Lettuce provides a complementary cookie (small, but soft with large chocolate chunks). Free cookies are always appreciated. The employees also deliver the sandwich while customers wait at the tables.

The #1, called The City, is the store’s most popular sandwich. Made with chicken breast, bacon, avocado and Jack cheese, it is a satisfyingly substantial sandwich. The bread is slightly carved out from the inside so that the healthy portions won’t slip and slide too much. The sandwiches are hot and stay that way, and no ingredient is too overpowering. However, there is no way to completely avoid a mess.

For those who like spicy sandwiches, Lettuce has a fiery sandwich called the Mission, although hot sauce is unusual in the sandwich business. Sandwiches like the BLAT (a BLT with avocado) and the 49er all contain freshly sliced meat and homemade sauces.

“We only have the freshest premium meats,” Mountain View store manager Matt Yeow said. “Most stores pre-slice their meats, but we slice ours here. When the health inspector came, he said he was ‘surprised’ to see our meat slicer, as we’re one of the only ones around.”

While the specialty sandwiches like the ones mentioned above are definitely pricey at $7.49, the friendly staff and free cookie sweeten the deal. In addition to this, the specialty sandwiches are what make Lettuce such a success: They provide a more “custom” sandwich that still maintains great flavor.

At first, Lettuce’s style appears similar to that of a large franchise like Subway or Quiznos. Lettuce provides custom sandwich preferences such as the choice of mayo, mustard and onions. Their sandwiches are slightly shorter, averaging around eight inches.

Where Lettuce really differentiates itself from the thousands of sandwich franchises across America is the essence of its “custom” sandwich.

Lettuce employees have a better sense of what actually combines best for the greatest flavor experience in a sandwich than that of other sandwich stores, Instead of letting customers throw their favorite components together, they give a customer advice. This makes the food more balanced and tasty.

“Customers can look for good service, the ability to customize their sandwich, and a uniquely good variety,” Yeow said.

Lettuce Sandwich Shop is located at 634 S San Antonio Road.