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Grove Grinder
Rating Details »
Category: Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: Lemon Grove3345 Olive St
Lemon Grove, CA 91945
(619) 462-5071
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- None
12 reviews for Grove Grinder
MMMMmMMm.
SO good! I get the Godfather, and it is so so good, but every sandwich I've had there is good. And the Mac-n-Cheese is really good too!!!
I can never remember which weekend it is but they have BBQ sometimes, and the Tri-tip is amazing, you can get it in a sandwich or as a 'plate'.
Also, I'm sure other people have mentioned this; their Root Beer selection is huge. Now, I can't go there without trying a new Root Beer every time. It makes the experience special and somehow enhances the flavor of their sandwiches.
And the service is great! The people who work there are so friendly and helpful, that make a big difference. I try to always support local business, and these guys make that a pleasure.
If you love root beer, you will love Grove Grinder. They have about forty plus root beers that you might have a difficult time selecting which one to drink. The presentation of the sandwich is cute and simple. They put a toothpick to hold it down with a single pre-sliced olive on the toothpick. When I ate the sandwich, I thought the bread was a bit dry, but the meat and quality inside the sandwich was pretty decent.
Inside the Grove Grinder, you will notice antiques dated back from the 1940s to 1960s. It makes the place feel homely and eating food back in the decades I mentioned. I do not like eating here near closing time and during the months of November to January because it gets really dark. Plus, there are not enough street lamps on the block of Olive Street.
Pros: their selection of root beer and antique display in the dining area
Cons: not enough street lamps at night
Best sandwiches in all of SD. For just 2 dollars more than Subway you can get 5 times the sandwich. They have all the classic deli meats, meatballs, salads, and lots of other stuff.
I like to get the cotto salami with the works. This is such a wonderful sandwich....I have lived in Lemon Grove all my life but just recently tried the Grove Grinder, and it's amazing!
I love this place you should give it a chance, bet you'll love it!
As you approach the building, you'll be greeted by sign that appears to say, "Cold Beer Served Here." However, a closer look will reveal that it actually reads, "Cold Root Beer Served Here." I thought this was pretty funny, but let me just say, these people are not joking about their root beer. They offer like a bazillion varieties of root beer along with many varieties of sarsaparilla, cream soda, and other beverages.
When Matt and I went yesterday, we decided to get two whole sandwiches and each save half for lunch today, so we could swap and try both kinds. As we tried to chose what meat we wanted, the girl behind the counter recommended the combo, which is ham and salami, and also noted that the turkey was made each day by her mother. So we got the combo and the turkey. She understood that we each intended to eat half of each sandwich, so when I ordered the turkey without onions, she offered to make half of each sandwich without, so that I'd be able to try the combo without onions and he'd be able to have onions on his half of the turkey. I thought that it was nice of her to offer.
Since my co-worker who had recommended the place also recommended Stacy's potato salad, I picked up a small container of that (after a bit of confusion, because the handwritten label read, "Stacy Patato Salad"). Matt chose a unique sarsaparilla and I tried a root beer called Berghoff.
Our sandwiches were good, each was served with a pickle on the side. The turkey tasted fresh out of the oven, as promised, and while the ham on the combo was notoriously square, the salami was really tasty. Stacy's potato salad was a little onion-y for my liking, but that's because I don't like onions.
When we were ready to go, they had the other halves of our sandwiches ready. Not only did they put the oil and vinegar on the side so as not to make our sandwiches too soggy, they also included two extra pickle wedges in a ziplock bag. Very thoughtful, in my opinion.
And today? The bread was a little soggy but they were still great! I will definitely make an excuse to go out to Lemon Grove again. Maybe next time I will try the chili, since I noticed first place plaques from three consecutive local chili cook-offs.
A little over a year on Yelp has taught me that if you actually want someone to read the review you write, you'd better make it somewhat interesting or entertaining. Useful reviews get passed over quickly, and for good reason. If it's useful you're after, check out the business' website - there's a menu on there. After awhile, everyone becomes a victim of their own cliche. Running out of clever ideas and stealing from others. I've written reviews too numerous to mention using the line, "less, better food" is always the best way to go and I stand by that. I guess I just wrote it again, didn't I? Sorry.
Where the hell was I going with that rant? Jesus.. You see... this is what happens when you let Yelp save a review and have to return to it a week later because that particular night you got home far too late from the bar and couldn't collect your damned thoughts the way you thought you could..
Anyway... with The Grinder, I want to be fair to a business that has consistently made good sub sandwiches for years upon years and has always been exceptionally friendly on every visit. The Grinder continues to be family owned after Bob - who I believe was the founder - recently (well, about three years ago) passed away. Bummer. He was a nice guy for sure.
When it comes to sub sandwiches, I'm more a fan of the italian influenced creations but regular subs can be just fine, too. The Grinder features big subs, The God Father especially is so huge that if you were to eat the entire food long length of it, I suspect your stomach lining my tear right open. We're talking about a 6" length that induces automatic food coma. Deal with it.
The Grinder makes some pretty good sandwiches but I'm a bit more partial to sub shops that use higher quality meats. Not to say The Grinder doesn't use some good meat, but something feels like it's missing. Maybe I'm just being a bitch...erm... sub-snob. This is not criticism, per say. The subs are good, go try one.
Non-clever ending in 5...4.....
All I have to say is the Godfather. Amazing 2 sandwiches in one, torpedo and meatball....mmmmmm heaven. Why does the crappiest looking places serve the best stuff. Grinder's in Lemon Grove and Poma's in Ocean Beach. Both phenomenal and both look like total crap from outside! The only downside is its in Lemon Grove.
I love this place! I'd driven by many times but finally got the chance to try it. The little place is so charming and old fashioned, and their old fashioned bottled soda collection is just amazing.
I got the tuna sandwhich and the best part about that, is they don't mix your tuna before you order it, so you can order it with as much or as little or no mayo. My husband ordered the oven roasted turkey and even while he was popping out of his pants, he continued to eat it.
Even though the sandwhiches come with quartered slices of pickle, I bought a whole pickle because they are so good. Very quality.
The Stacy's Potato salad is great too, it has radishes, fresh parsley, olives, bacon and some other unique ingredients in it and it's very flavorful and tasty.
The Mother and daughter were working alone when I went there and they were both very pleasant seeming and since I told the girl I was there for the first time she was very accommodating and went through all of the options with me and didn't just assume I knew what was going to be automatic or optional with the sandwiches
Will definitely go there again and again. Great for a weekend lunch..
I've been going here since I was 2 so there are definite memories to this place for me, but also I can vouch for the consistency too. Although the de Gangi (PLEASE forgive the spelling, it's wrong I know) family (original owners) no longer own it, it is still the same yummy quality. They source their bread from the same bakery as the original owners, Soluntos. The new owners are really nice, very consienscious about quality, they offer the best soda selections I've ever seen (old time sodas that you grew up with and thought were gone, small batch made sodas that are the best (the Frostie Root Beer is my favorite - tastes just like a rootbeer float).
They do try to stick to the original Grider, so if you're a mayo & mustard person, you need to tell them because otherwise it will come with oil and vinegar (as it should). I like the James Special & the Ann Special (depending upon how much meat I'm in the mood for & if I want lovely warm meatballs with sauce that day or not). If it's a lighter grinder I'm in the mood for I just get the Deluxe.
They do homemade soups too. As well as homemade chili. The owners have a farm out in Jamul so when the veggies are in season they bring in the extras and sell them for "donation" (no set price, just whatever you care to drop in the can).
They've been a staple in Lemon Grove forever and I'm glad they continue to have success and a loyal following.
Best veggie sub & the dill pickles are to die for. Also, they have a huge selection of root beer! I prefer this place over any other sandwich spot!
My favorite sandwiches of all time. My family goes here almost every other weekend- my mom is all about it. I can't blame her- tasty tasty! I love the ham and beef sandwiches. The soda fridge is awesome, I try to get a a new bottle every time. My favorite is the spreckers root beer!
If you are in Lemon Grove, STOP BY!! :D
whoa man! Huge hearty veggie sandwich, a bottle of Boylan Ginger Ale and I'm good to go. old fashion mom n pops kinda sandwich shop, i swear Andy Griffith will walk through the door every time that bell jingles on the door. *sigh* one day he'll come i just know it one day
Oh my goodness. BIGGGGGEST SANDWICHES EVER. I think I am full until tomorrow's dinner.
To give a brief history on this place: it's a mom and pop sandwich shop that has been pretty underground in San Diego. The couple that runs it are very nice people, but the husband died a few years ago, so now it's the wife and her kids working in the shop. Very sweet people.
Their selection of sandwiches is fantastic. Today I got a half of a sandwich: the James' Special: Ham, Salami, Pastrami, and Meatballs plus all of your amazing sandwich fixings. When I got the sandwich, I was STARVING, but it took me 25 minutes to eat it, and each bite was a question of whether it was worth the stomach ache later or to enjoy the flavor now. Well, the craving for flavor won.
They've got all kinds of sides of homemade pastas and fresh salads.
For beverages, you'll find a huge selection of different types of bottled root beer which you can rate on their bulletin board. And if you aren't into root beer, you will find bottled Orange Crush, old cocoa cola bottles, etc. etc.
The ambiance has old Campbell's Soup knickknacks which are collections of the family.
The hours they are open vary depending on the day, so sometimes you have to chance it if they are open or not.
If you are trying to be careful with calories, at the bottom of their menus it says that "all sandwiches can be prepared breadless" which might benefit some, but for the rest of us, what's the fun in that?
But I highly recommend going here and contributing to their cute little business.
