My search for a great steak and cheese led me out of Winchester into nearby Charlestown WV. A friend suggested a new chain that came to the area called “Jersey Mike’s.” A quick check of their website and I found they talked a pretty good game so we decided to check it out.

The store design is nice and they have a great brand going but unfortunately that’s as far as the “goodness” goes. The poorly trained, distracted people working there were enough to make me want to walk out, but we soldiered through and completed our order. When I got down to the register, I couldn’t believe how filthy it was. It looked like it had been dragged through the mud. Whatever it was, the fact that the manager didn’t have sense enough to do something about it spoke volumes about the overall service. The store was not busy when we were there, yet every table was filthy.  We had to bus and  wipe down our own table.

When we finally got to the food, it was underwhelming. My wife ordered a club sandwich that was good but not particularly noteworthy. I ordered a Chipotle Steak and Cheese that was fairly well executed but the whole concept of the sandwich was ill-conceived. They seem to take pride in making their own bread, which was pretty good. But the steak and cheese was not in a sub roll, it was in a sliced roll. When they assembled the pile of meat and toppings it became a slippery, oozing mess that required a fork to eat because it all fell out. The sandwich as a product was a failure before the poor souls in the store ever tried to make it.

For a cold sub this place is a maybe, but for a hot sub I’ll pass, or should I say “Fugetta’bout it!”

71-C Jefferson Crossing Way
Charles Town, WV 25414
Phone: (304) 725-0070

http://www.jerseymikes.com/