Second City Subs

I’m not surprised that this place is closed. It was pretty tasty and the atmosphere was better than most sub places. However, it never made its presence known in the area and really didn’t utilize the neighborhood it was in. I loved their roast beef but I guess there were other sub shops in the area doing it better.

The subs here were excellent! Way better than Subway. Although its just a wee bit overpriced, as you can see by the ‘CLOSED’ indication.

This is the 3^rd time I have tried ordering. Their message says they are open till 7pm, however I called at 5:30 and no answer. What Gives? It’s a Wednesday for Cry eye. If your not open or closing early update your phone message.
They have (had) great sandwiches) and awesome cookies, but if they can’t handle being open when the claim to be, kiss those customers goodbye…
P. S. My last review was 5 stars, so you just lost 3.

Bland — for those comparing it to jimmy johns, I gotta say, there is a reason jimmy john’s are all over the place and second city subs are not. It’s just not as good. The sandwiches are small and fairly bland. I do like it’s proximity to oz park for a quick lunch (there are not a lot of quick places around here), but that’s about it.

meh is probably the best way to put it. I stopped in here while running errands to grab a sandwich. The first thing I thought when stepping in was, this is a lot like jimmy john’s. A lot of other people have noted that as well, but for me its not really a good thing.
I got a roast beef sandwich. There really wasn’t much meat in it and the bread was solid. It was a bit skimpy to be honest and it really tasted like any other sub that’s more bread than meat.
The service was real quick and the people there were nice. But, the food was just pretty plain and really just seemed like jimmy john’s with a different coat of paint

I think there are almost too many choices for sandwiches here, but I am not going to complain. It’s nice to see an alternative to Jimmy John’s, although Jimmy will always have a place in my sandwich faves.
There is nothing special about the place itself, but the sandwiches are awesome. The fact that they have PEPPER JACK CHEESE (and cheddar too) beats out nearby Uncle Sammy’s and Jimmy John’s in my eyes. Provolone get’s old after a while guys.
I guess I do like the tv’s around the place when I’m stopping in for a quick lunch on my own.

Second Story Subs
The skinny — The Lincoln Park version of Jimmy Johns with a nicer interior.
The experience — Got my sub fast, had a nice convo with the guy at the counter, and I was out in a matter of minutes.
The food — Turkey, avocado, onion, green pepper, sprouts, lettuce, tomato on white. Good and healthy. Just the way I like it.
Why you should come here — You’re coming from class at DePaul and you just need a bite to eat. Or you’re a mom doing some shopping on Halsted and you want to grab a bite, or take the kids for a bite. Hey you can even take them next door to Starfruit after for desert.
Final note. That dude Zach rocks. I didn’t get a chance to buy a sub from him, but he’s a sick b-​baller and he will most likely block the crap out of you if you take it to the lane.

Same as everyone else. Jimmy Johns with better meat and tvs… I enjoyed the turkey and pastrami. Quick, good and $ 10 for Sammy drink and chips

I enjoyed Second City Subs for several reasons and I’m so glad I’ve found a new favorite sandwich shop. It’s time say goodbye to the rude service, bland sandwiches and low quality meat from Subway.
The space is huge and clean and the menu options are really plentiful. Meat potions are great, ingredients are fresh and the bread with warm and right out of the oven. The bread itself I would compare to Jimmy Johns but everything is in it’s own «higher» category.
I ordered the Italian which was super. They have Pepsi products and I always love seeing Rootbeer at the fountain area. Yay!
The guys who were working behind the counter were super friendly, striking up conversation while I was ordering. While I was eating my sandwich cozied up to a nice table in the window perfect for people watching, the guy came over and asked how everything was.
The prices for a sandwich, chips and drink are cheaper than Jimmy Johns for sure and right in line with Subway. I support local businesses and Second City Subs is really great so check it out!

Whoa Kevin H., sucha hater!
I am quite a fan of Second City Subs. I live AND work in the neighborhood and there is a serious lack of places to grab a quick bite. I am a serious Subway hater, and so thankful that there’s another sandwich shop nearby that’s an alternative to the one that uses bagels for bread. The meats are great and they know how to make a sandwich that won’t leave you wanting more (ahem… «eat fresh»). Personal favorite: Zach Attack! Oh, I like the chili too. Good, friendly people.
I mean I guess it’s similar to Jimmy John’s, but really people, there’s only so many options when it comes to deli meat on a sub!

I’m glad I waited to review these guys. The first two subs I got from here were just average. I tried the chicken salad which was lacking flavor and the Italian which was also missing some kind of kick.
However, I’ve gone back a few more times because the prices are great and the staff are even friendlier and I’m happy I did. Their soups are amazing, especially the tomato bisque which is to die for. Their pastrami is very tasty but my favorite has to be the BLT with pepper-​jack cheese added. Their chili is quite good as well, and if you like soup then get the Light Side meal (smaller sandwich and cup of soup) which despite it’s name is quite filling and under $ 6.
They don’t mention it online, but there’s a sign up in the store that says they’ll add jalapeños, pickles, banana peppers and other veggies to any sub for free… so pile them on if you want.

Seems like a carbon copy of Jimmy John’s. The menu is visually very similar to JJ in the store (
) and the standard sandwiches taste just like JJ since they carve out the bread.
Although I like supporting local businesses, I feel like I could have gone to Jimmy John’s and eaten the exact same thing (their turkey sandwich IS the turkey tom).

Since it’s fresh in my mind and I don’t mean the bread in this place! First I would like to say or suggest that most of the reviews written for Second City Subs are probably from friends and family. Who want the place to be successful, but their reviews are too revealing and kind in their nature. Its good to have competition in the marketplace when it comes to the «SUB» sandwich, with all the other options Potbelly’s needs some competition to remind them of what made them sandwiches legendary and famous.
But this place is not one of them, LPK (Lincoln Park) has enough places that remind people of their college days and we don’t need another one. Having a few Big Screen TVs and some sports memorabilia on the walls doesn’t scream success; maybe you will succeed with a few frat boys in neighborhood then what. Success comes when you understand you’re demographic, get involved in your neighborhood and decide to use something else other than the frat boy approach to hospitality backwards hats and beta phi shirts. Take a look around, how many places do you see still around like that? If the neighborhood doesn’t support you than who will? You maybe thinking that you will be able to cash in on the LPK high school kids, De Paul students or the Children’s Memorial staff? Those business have been along time before you and they will decide what succeeds or fails.
I don’t have the answer to that question only time will tell. I give you a year and half, hiring the right people who have the personal touch who care about what they are doing is what makes business thrive.
Potbelly’s lost that 7 years ago, when they decided to go the assembly line format of making sandwiches, by trying to quantifying how long takes to make a sandwich ultimately loosing what made them famous in the first place: time and attention to detail. This review is not about them it’s about those places who try copy a format like Potbelly’s by trying to copying their image and signage and then claiming it to be for Chicago people but have no clue who that is! Many places open screaming we are Chicago but they really aren’t. And that’s how I felt after leaving Second City Subs today; all I ordered was the Italian, which came to about $ 8 bucks and some change.
It didn’t take too long for my Sandwich, what I didn’t like was the fact that I had to ask the Guy what I was getting for 8 bucks meal or what. He then gave me a cup and said the chips where down there! Then a few minutes later I was handed my sandwich, I then found a table to eat. At best my sub was the second coming of Jimmy Johns minus all the mayonnaise, they couldn’t even give me a tray to eat my food on. Every customer that came in after me was given a tray or their food was brought out to them table side. For that and $ 4 extra bucks I could have easily gone to The Athenian Room, a true LPK staple that has on been that corner just a few years longer than Potbelly’s has been on Lincoln Ave.
Where the food is better anyway!

Sometimes all a person wants is a good sandwich, you know? With the ubiquitous chains, it’s sort of strange to think of a joint like this occupying a niche, but that’s how I see it. There just aren’t that many independent, basic sandwich shops around, although I feel that every neighborhood should have one. So I was keen on their concept even before trying the product.
So far, I’ve enjoyed an Italian and a Gold Coast (basically turkey with sprouts and avocado) from their large menu, and can give a satisfied thumbs-​up to the subs here. Think Jimmy John’s in terms of the style and simplicity, but fresher and tastier, not to mention somewhat more generously sized. Plus, you know, not corporate. These sandwiches are made with love and served with enthusiasm.
And how about this: they have Bobtail ice cream, in such tasty flavors as Guinness and coffee-​pretzel. Good call – a nice, simple dessert to match well with your sandwich-​and-​chips lunch.
They have some comfortable booths and a few tables in which to settle, and several HDTVs playing sports to keep you occupied if that’s your pleasure. If not, there are newspapers and magazines scattered about if you’re not the type to bring your own lunchtime reading. They also have good light. (I don’t know about you, but in my opinion, the quality of light can make or break the space.) It’s a pleasant but strong yellow light that complements the wood tones, not a harsh white fluorescent travesty like you’ll find at a lot of places. It means the difference between encouraging me to sit and stay and being just a to-​go kind of place.

Not bad, not bad at all…
I walked by this place on my way home and decided to pop in and pick up a sandwich to go. The place was rather empty, but I came right between prime lunch and dinner times. It’s a nice space with booths, tables and Chicago memorabilia everywhere.
The menu is quite large and includes veggie-​friendly options; I settled on the tuna sub. My sub ran me a little over $ 7 with tax, but they were very generous with the tuna and it was about 9″ (that’s what she said).
This is not your standard tuna salad, it’s better. They don’t overdo it with the mayo, a big plus in my book, and they add a unique blend of spices that give it real zip. It was so good, I thought my cats might fight me for it; even the one who has no interest in people food!
I’d return for the tuna alone, but with a menu that big I plan on giving some other options a shot too.

Post-​brunch, the idea of helping one bottomless pit named David R pick out his dinner at a sub shop didn’t exactly spur my stomach into super digestion mode, but he asked nicely and besides he was driving so I went. But what’s this on the sign? Ice cream? Oh I’m in.
So we walked into the shop and I’ll admit, it smelled pretty good. Extensive sub list with prices hovering between $ 5.75−8, with something for everyone including vegetarians and health conscious types. What lured me in without a fight though, was the promise of ice cream. So what if the flakes are flying outside? And no, I don’t mean the Lincoln Parkers. Ha! Jokes.
Kinda.
Anyway, the ice cream list was small but enticing. I went for the Guinness and the cookies & cream, and was given a generous portion of both. David got the chocolate and Guinness and given how fast it disappeared, I’d venture a guess it was equally delicious.
The four stars thus, were not only for the ice cream but also for the counter guys. Seriously, some of the nicest employees I’ve encountered in a very long time. A bevy of «thank you“s and «come back soon“s — and sincere, too. I commented to David that they sounded like they had shares in the joint, not that they were simply hourly workers. And how often do you get that?
I’m not a big sub sandwich person so I doubt I’ll update this with a sandwich review, but for me the ice cream and customer service were enough to warrant the four stars.

Disappointed.
I’m a sandwich freak and dot think I’ll be heading back to this place my reasons:
— sub size is smaller than I thought it would be. When I grabbed my bag I had to check my sandwih was even in there.
–it’s about the same amount of food as a normal potbellys sandwich but costs like $ 2 more (for reg not higher end subs at 2^nd city)
— basically the same as uncle sammys subs just they give you less food even. Seriously it’s like they almost directly copied their menu.(I thought uncle Sammies made skimpy subs sheesh!)
— what’s special abou this place? Same chips as everywhere else, same drinks a everywhere else, sandwiches are sub par and not very flavorful. I use turkey sandwich as my litmus test for every sub shop I go.
I’m eating it right now and I don’t even want to finih it. I had a turkey sandwich at NYC bagel deli and it’s freaking popping out the sides with cheese and turkey, here, the sandwich is limp.
Sorry 2^nd city, I like the idea and I live in th neighborhood but you really gotta give me something more if I ever come back (mybe if I walk by and am starving just because km a sandwih junky) I don’t see myself going out of my way to go here)

excellent lunch spot. Huge menu with every kind of sandwich imaginable, soups, salads, and hot dogs. Friendly staff, a plethora of tvs and the chicago sports décor make this place a must-​go.
–not sure of the deli meat brand, but is similar if not better than boars head and gotta love the fresh baked bread.
This place is a better alternative to the standard sandwich shop ala potbelly or jimmy johns

I’ve been holding out on my review to see if Blake and his crew could deliver consistency. And… they do!
I work right down the street, and have been in about 3 times since they opened last Monday.
Trip #1: Ate in. A turkey sub and chili (on the house!) on the side.
Need a lunch spot to catch up on the daily news and relax for a bit? There’s about 4 flatscreen TVs here showing CNN, ESPN, and other channels. They also leave copies of the Trib on every table for you to thumb through as you eat. The space is open and airy with a few cozy booths and a few tables to sit at.
Trip #2: A tuna sub to go. Tuna salad JUST the way I like it. Without too much mayo. I also had the tomato bisque which was EXCELLENT.
Trip #3: Was actually delivery. 4 salads delivered for 4 hard working people. I got the veggie salad with a scoop of chicken salad on top. It was just what I needed. A scoop of SCS’s Chicken Salad atop a bed of crisp, fresh veggies, chickpeas, and sprouts. The salads also came with a 100 calorie bag of dried cranberries. Some co-​workers put theirs in the salad… I saved mine for a mid-​day snack that I later enjoyed.
Welcome to the neighborhood Blake and crew!
You gentlemen are a delight, and I look forward to lunching with you often.

I work in the area of Second City Subs and my office tried them out for the first time today. The bread was fresh and delicious! The meat was just enough and tasted great. Everyone in my office loved the subs, I had the Italian and a couple other people had the Zack Attack and the Turkey/​Ham. We had delivery and it was fast and the entire staff from the owner to the delivery man were friendly and prompt! The customer service is amazing and this place is great as whole, they are not lacking in one area and making up for it in another, they are GREAT all around! The prices are also resonable.
I will definitely be ordering from this place AT LEAST once a week because of the fresh ingredients, the variety of subs, wraps and sandwiches and the fact that they deliver in a timely manner!