Lunchbox Cafe

I’m not going to lie, after reading some of the reviews here I WANTED to try it just to see if it was really THAT bad… So I headed down on my lunch break only to find it CLOSED (which hasn’t been the first occasion).
Big sign in the window said closed (it was about 1pm) and there isn’t a sign on the outside wall like there used to be. I can only assume that this place has closed it’s doors.
Which, if the e-​mail from the owner in Drake’s review is real, that probably is why they are closed. If they had bad reviews, they should have done something about it instead of bashing reviewers. The beauty of Unilocal is that customers can write reviews on places… yes…even bad ones Mr. Owner. In fact, per Unilocal rules, owners are not supposed to respond to reviews in that manner.
Straight from Unilocal Content Guidelines for Business Owners:
«Public Comments: Private messaging is often the best way to resolve a dispute with an unhappy customer, but business owners can also address issues publicly by posting a public comment. As with private messaging, we ask that business owners upload a clear photo of themselves to help personalize their message. Don’t use public comments to launch personal attacks, advertise, or offer an incentive to change a review.»
Overall, I don’t feel as though I missed out on much.

This place is out. The first couple of times, food was great, after that food got sloppy.

Been here twice now, and both times it was about the same. Average at best food; pesto was bland, meat on kabob bland, rice overcooked a bit, but nothing terrible, just all very average. Service is questionable, they don’t have much to do but seem very disinterested in doing it. The first time I went the guy behind the counter was so high he had trouble remembering the name of the café. The second time after a whatever type encounter, he proceded to take a chair and sit directly next to the door smoking a cigarette; if he was doing that on my way in I never would of went in to eat. The dispassionate service combined with average at best food makes this a place to stop only if you happen to be right there and hungry at the moment, but considering the area, there are plenty of better options.
UPDATE
Shortly after posting, this response came to my email: Hi there,
I agree that no one should be sitting in the front and smoking on there break. They should move away from the door but if you had a bad experience the first time and never addressed it to management and feel there are so many other options then you should use them. People like you have nothing better to do but try and hurt small owned businesses with your «reviews» online because we know how much of a great critic you are. I would rather not have your business considering there are many other people who feel much different then you. Everyone is entitled to there own opinion. If and when there is a problem with a customer we try our hardest to make up for it. I normally try to please everyone whether its by a free lunch for an individual or there whole office. I will make up for our mistakes when approached but to the people who run to there computer to try and hurt the business I don’t care much for anymore. Obviously it seems all these negative people have either nothing better to do or just have issues in there own life. I would have a lot more to say to you and to any of the other reviewers who over exaggerate but no one is man or woman enough to approach us directly. So good luck with your review and hope you get the satisfaction you want from it and hope we don’t see you again.
Thank you
That’s how they treat people. Not, sorry you had a bad experience, we’re trying to improve, what can we do to make this better, or some other remedy, but an angry, mocking email blaming you for the bad experience you had and having the gall to tell others about it. So if you want to be treated like that, go to Lunchbox, if not, go anywhere else.

Love this place. Quick service… I got to meet the owner and he was so friendly and was really concerned about my dining experience. I would return here in the future and hope to soon.

I lived in the Mediterranean and have been trying for a few years now to find some decent Mediterranean food.
This place was okay but here’s why I’ll never go back:
Admittedly, my friend had a Groupon so three of us went on a Wednesday around 1pm and there were two other groups of people there — a group of five and a group of three. So we get up there and all order the combos. Cheap prices $ 8 for a sandwich combo (side + drink), $ 8.50 for a pizza combo (also side + drink). Lots of selection, or so you’d think. I wanted a gyro, but they said they couldn’t make those right now. Okay, let me get a bbq pizza. «Um we actually can’t make pizzas right now either.» Fine, I got a beef shawarma sandwich.” Ordered it with fries and a soda. We all ordered, and the guy said it would take 30 minutes. Ugh! Fine. We ended up waiting 50 minutes for our food. The other two groups of people there had been waiting when we got there and both went up to ask where their orders were… We finally get our food and there are no sides and no drinks. Took another 15 minutes to sort that all out. Some guy came in to pick up a phoned in order, the guy tells him it’ll be just a minute — he was still waiting 30 minutes later when we left. There are five guys working back there, doing what? My beef shawarma was all right — I’ve definitely had better, even in the US. My friends got other sandwiches and they were pathetic.

Bad.
They were out of feta cheese, which for a middle eastern menu is a disaster.
The «greek salad» was wilted lettuce with standard dressing — not cucumber, peppers, feta, and onions.
I ordered the falafel, which was dry and tasteless. The «basmati rice» could easily have been Uncle Bens.
Service was very slow, especially considering there were no other customers. Depressing décor, still had holiday decorations from a months-​past holiday.

food: hmmm… the sandwiches and salads are just ok. they never really hit the spot for me…
service: the worst thing about this place is you smell HORRENDOUS as soon as you walk in. you smell like oil all day long afterwards. and the service is NOT friendly
final thoughts: meh, there are better places on brand.

Wouldnt go back… it was ok, I have had better. x2 Chicken plates and a gyro sandwich, everything was too salty. I was full thought, but…
I got a sandwich plus free side and drink, where was my side? I asked for fries… I got x2 plates that should come with x2 side, plus salad and a drink. Can I swap my rice for fries? Yeah sure… okay, then I present a coupon and he changes his mind… no you have to pay extra for fries???
BUT I GET A FREE SIDE WITH MY SANDWICH buddy!!!
I hate when people do this. I am paying you, I might come back again if you are not rude/​try n charge extra for fries when I didnt even get my free side with my sandwich, did I complain? Nope, I just won’t go back.
Congrats to you guys behind the counter, I went to the bathroom to wash up after and then some dude in the kitchen bangs on the door ‘oh man! some one in here?’ yeah, its coz you only have one restroom dude.
Weird, not great service and okay food. Too salty though to be honest. Should not have tried to shaft me out of my free side and should not hav charged me extra to get fries!!! Big mistake!!!

The guy at the cash register was texting while we were placing our order. They ran out of feta cheese and the hummus was flavorless — and it’s supposed to be a Middle Eastern-​inspired café, really? The place was dirty. It was overpriced, and I say that after using a Groupon discount.

This has real gem potential BUT:
owners/​workers — stop going out to smoke when there is work to be done and when you are in the midst of preparing food.
the counter, tables and glass doors are filthy. Clean them! Windex? Anything?
too much mayo in your tuna. WAY too much.
Good news — great variety on the menu. not generic at all. I’ve had some really nice sandwiches here
Bad news — as noted above, I think the owners/​managers are getting complacent. There’s more work to be done and they actually look lazy. In fact while I stood at the counter and the cook and owner were outside smoking. No, either cook or clean gentlemen. They need to sharpen it up if they want their really promising menu to thrive.

Great little independent sandwich/​salad place. All the sandwiches and salads are only $ 6, or for the same price you can order half a salad and half a sandwich. All sandwiches are served on pita bread, white or wheat, or a French roll.

The prices are cheap and the food tastes good. The lady at the counter is also very friendly. Great corn chowder soup, not to mention their Shawerma — try it and see for yourself.

For a NOT-​SO-​QUICK-​SERVICE for lunch… expect it here. It took 20 minutes for my sandwich to reach my eager little hands. Yes, I clocked it. (yes/​no on being OCD, but really, l was expected to be somewhere in the next 20 minutes).
Distracted by shiny objects: «Lunchbox» sign was so cute and green… it got my attention. hence leading me to this location.
Pros:
— Varied selection of $ 6 pita sandwiches that are typically not found in your local Subway/​Quiznos. Also serves Pizza, salads and pasta.
— They take phone orders.
— Delivery option.
Cons:
— Obstructed view of food preparation. (Ignorance is bliss — seriously. sometimes)
— Long wait during lunch time.
— Limited seating.
— Overuse of mayo.
I might give it a second chance…

I’m going to have to agree with Erika here. Yes it’s quick and probably convient if you’re walking from that parking lot but…
Flatbread sandwiches need to standout more when you’re in walking distance to a Subway/Quizno’s and local deli. The soup was okay, but nothing outstanding. I personally don’t mind the paper plates, to go arrangement, the place is called lunchbox and not sur de table after all.

Stumbled across this place coming out the parking garage. Location is very quaint and away from all the madness. Customer service was outstanding and the salad/​sandwich combo for 6 bucks was really tasty. Mos def will go back if I happen to park in that area and I’m hungry for a quick bite.

Wish I loved this place as much as the other Unilocalers do!
The prices are good– but…
I had the pizza, it was inconsistently cooked (cold in the middle and burnt edges) and a half house salad; $ 10.00. I dined in the establishment and was served pizza on two cheap paper plates.
The other negative was watching the employees go in and out of the restaurant to smoke and then going back in to prepare food. I prefer my salads with-​out a serving of stale nicotine. Stick with Porto’s or Subway and fight the lines.

This is the best lunch spot in Glendale. As my boss says jokingly, «Lunchbox FTW!»
If you want something light for lunch (or not) they make excellent sandwiches, soups, and pastas. I eat there often and most days I can only eat half a sandwich. It’s a lot of food. Of course, I always take the 2^nd half with me and eat it for a snack later on — it’s too good to waste!
Today, I saw a girl eating a half sandwich and a salad and right next to her at another table, I saw this guy there today eating french fries with philly-​steak on them.
Listen, it’s way better than Subway or Quiznos. The quality of everything they do is top-​notch. Some people say they don’t like to go there because they have to wait 5 – 10 min for a sandwich when it’s busy.
Maybe they didn’t know that they can call in their order beforehand, and by the time they walk over, it’ll be ready.
Also, this is the place that I always bring anyone who comes to visit me for lunch.

Today was my first, but definitely not last, visit to Lunchbox and I am so pleased to have figured out this little shop was here!
They apparently have been around for 8 months, unbeknownst to me or anyone I know. How I finally figured out they were there was because they finally put out a sign boasting $ 6 meals, and happened to have a guy passing out menus. I have walked by the same spot where the sign is a dozen or more times in the last 8 months and swear it was never there before.
At any rate, it was the menu that drew me in. First off, the prices are incredibly cheap with $ 6 being the maximum they charge for anything (oven toasted sandwiches, 9″ pizza, full salads). Next, they have a yummy assortment of American and Lebanese fare with a good ratio of healthy to indulgent. With the prices so cheap, I was wondering if they possibly served teatime sized sandwiches and used lunch meat instead of the good stuff. This is not true — their portions are good, the ingredients are super fresh and I’m pretty sure Oscar Mayer isn’t anywhere in this lunchbox.
Since I’ve only been there once, I can’t vouch for the deliciousness of every menu item, just the things I have tried so far: the veggie delight sandwich (delightful) and the gyro (really good and has this AMAZING home made tzatziki). I brought back a shawerma sandwich for my picky boss, and he enjoyed it.
Basically, so far, so great at this little place. With everyone being on a budget, spending $ 6 on a delicious lunch is pretty easy. Oh, by the way, that $ 6 includes tax. It’s literally $ 6 even and you can’t beat it. I can’t wait to go back and try more things!

I forgot to add, that they also have pastas. The Mac and Cheese is pretty good and sooo filling.

Delicious!
When we still had the budget we would order breakfast and lunch for our office. They delivered on time, nice setup, and friendly service. Really nice people!