Potbelly Sandwich Shop ~ national chain : Tysons, Virginia

Latest visit: Dec 2023 (Spring Hill Rd.)

First visit: Apr 2006 (Las Colinas, TX)

HQ: Chicago, IL (Founded: 1977)

Locations: They're currently in 32 states including DC. They have 10 in Colorado, mostly up in Denver. Our original review location in Hurst is still around.

Have to earn those steak dinners, so it's time for two straight days of internal meetings. They were very informative actually and my peers and management team is great, so no complaints. But it's tiring. Many of us are of a similar age, and we're not up for long nights and hard days. But we persevered. It's hard to exercise in this environment, so I don't even bother. With the record show on Saturday and four straight days of travel, my legs are well rested. And my belly has grown...

Speaking of which! Potbelly. As in I now have one. It'll be coming off soon. Lunch was served after 12, and my stomach was growling wildly. But I was relieved to hear Potbelly was our vendor's choice for lunch (different vendor than the night before). We were served half sandwiches, and I had two Italians and one ham and Italian. So a sandwich and a half. Probably a half sandwich too much, as I wasn't burning calories at my normal rate. Oh well - I still enjoyed it. They really need to be in Colorado Springs...

---10/15/22 update

The RJG's first business trip with his new company was a long journey all the way to... Denver. Ha! It was a 3 day trip mostly spent sequestered in our sales partner's offices in downtown. Food wasn't much of a priority for this bunch, and I spent a lot of the time starving. Finally we were "let out" for a quick lunch. And right across the street was Potbelly. Since they're not here in the Springs, that's a no-brainer. Prior to this visit, my primary location was at the Baltimore airport. But those jobs have now ended. In any case, I went with the Italian just as I did on the 2013 visit listed below. And it was just as delicious as I remember. Of course we grabbed it to-go. Couldn't possibly be away from the office for more than 15 minutes...

As of this writing, Potbelly are in 31 states. In Colorado they only exist in the Denver area (9) and one in Fort Collins. From our former HQ in NE Tarrant, they still have the one in Hurst + another in Southlake.

--- original 7/9/13 review (Hurst, Texas)

So let's cut to the chase: We love their sandwiches. Potbelly started in 1977 in Chicago, but didn't branch out until about 1996. I first heard of them while walking through Midway Airport many years ago. They're sort of a cross between a traditional East Coast sub shop, a Chicago styled grinder house, and Quizno's. The bread is delicious, and they use the conveyor belt setup to heat their sandwiches. And their prices aren't bad for this day and age. I went with the Italian on this visit (Hurst), and Mrs. RJG had the chicken salad sandwich. They were executed to perfection.

If you've never tried one, and you live nearby (or they're in a convenient location in an airport - just sayin'...), give them a shot.

4/6/06; 7/9/13 (new entry); 5/30/14; 12/14/18; 10/15/22; 12/5/23

Las Colinas, Texas; Hurst, Texas; Baltimore; Denver; Tysons, Virginia

Five Guys Burgers and Fries ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2023 (Colorado Springs - Interquest) First visit: Jan 2007 (Reston, VA) Locations: 49 states + DC. Only Alaska is missing. There are 30 in Colorado (4 in the Springs). That's +3 from last year. Texas has 68 (our former locale of Southlake is closed, so Hurst would have been the closest). There are 123 in California which is their largest state presence. The original Reston location that I first went to is still going. In what appears to be a recurring theme, I state each year this will be my last visit to Five Guys. Only to return anyway. This year's excuse is I wanted to try their new location, which very recently opened up close to our house. This is definitely the closest we've ever lived to a Five Guys - even the Reston location was further from my office at the time. And I thought maybe it would make a good choice for a weekday lunch while working from home, thus putting Five Guys back into the rotation. I put that idea to the test here this Saturda...

Denver's Old School Italian Restaurants

I know, I know... I haven't posted anything in 6 months. You were checking back every week, then every month and now I've fallen completely off your radar. Sorry about that. My only lame excuse is that I've been "saving up" for a good one. I've been wanting to write about Denver's Italian restaurants since we returned part-time last year. And you all know how the RJG feels about this style of restaurant . As someone who grew up in Dallas, perhaps I've been more drawn to cities that embrace their history rather than completely demolish it. Only recently has Dallas become more acutely aware of their past. Previously, any buildings not in use have been razed as fast as possible, to make way for the next brand new shopping center - all in the latest architecture naturally. Contrarily you have cities like St. Louis that are 19th and 20th century industrial ghost towns - places frozen in time because for most everyone who could, they just up and left to ...

Pietro's Italian ~ Dallas, Texas CLOSED

Last visit: Feb 2016 First visit: Sometime in 1984 When Mr. Music told me this earlier in the year, my heart sunk. It was reason enough to stop talking and writing about restaurants. All I can say is this: We did give you advance notice. The below was published on March 28, 2010 , so Pietro gave you a good 7 years to check it out. If you missed it, then I'm sorry to say there is no replacement. No other place like it. A part of me went with it too... January 2014 update: Pietro's is as magnificent as ever. Mrs RJG and I just had another exquisite meal here. It remains my all-time favorite restaurant even after 30 years of going here. I beg and urge you all to try it at least once if you have a hankering for Old School Italian food. I'm sure it will not be here forever. Pietro must be close to 80 now, and it's hard to imagine the restaurant without him. We try to go 3 to 4 times a year, almost always on a Saturday or Sunday because of the traffic to get to inner Dalla...

Regular Joe's Guide

Search This Blog