tesg's guide to big chain road food consumption

CHAIN -- Jason's Deli
Owner -- Privately held
Primary Operating Region -- Mostly southern and midwest states
Number of Locations -- Over 200 (2008)

Ever not gone to a restaurant because you were worried you wouldn't know how to go through the order process?

It happens more often than you'd think.  I had a friend who refused to eat at Wendy's because of it, until I took her to a mall location where she could study the whole process from afar without calling attention to herself.  I have this problem with the Great Big Deli format. It's confusing. There's usually multiple menu boards, sometimes multiple starting points, a lot of choices, and a lot of confusion. A good one will flow like a cafeteria with as little confusion as possible. Yet we have a local deli chain that is about as confusing as one could ever be, and they are absolutely treasured.  That's because great delis are hard to come by.

Jason's Deli didn't start out as a Great Big Deli.  It had 12 menu items total when Joe Tortorice opened the doors of the original Beaumont, Texas location in 1976.  The second location came three years later, the first franchise outlet in 1986.  There's over 130 of them now.  Menu items?  There were nearly twelve SOUPS on the menu alone when I went there for the first time.

Speaking of that first time...I pulled up to Jason's and headed for the door before realizing there's two of them on either side of the facade. The first one I saw said "To Go Orders". The one I blindly walked by said "Entrance". So I entered there. Then I walked straight to the second door that said "Entrance" before realizing it also had an arrow pointing right, to a second door that said "Entrance". So I went to the second door. This followed a path to where it said "To Go Orders"....until I realized if you veer left down a diagonal direction, you get to the "I'm eating here" order area. It's there where you'll figure out that you could have come in the "To Go" door and still gotten here anyway, or vice versa.

If you haven't turned around and left in frustration yet, you're probably looking at the menu board. It has six sandwiches on it. To the right of it is a soup menu board.   That's it. Nothing else. Huh? Turns out there's a three-fold menu with dozens of sandwiches, salads, pasta salads, potatoes, and more, available up near the order area. There's some back by the entrance too, but I didn't think to look for such a thing.  Frankly, the best option is to go to their website, download the menu (which is available specific to your local Jason's Deli), and figure out what you want beforehand.

One person takes the whole order. They hand you a paper order sheet which you take down the line to the cashier.  They also may or may not hand you a number to place at your table for the food delivery.  Along the way to the cashier is an impulse-buy row of candies that, at least here, included Lindt white chocolate truffle balls. Like I could EVEN resist. The cashier runs up your total, and you take the paper order slip and put it on a tray by the people who put it all together. If you have an order number, go sit down.  If you don't, some guy will tell you to go fill your drink cup and come back for your food in a couple of minutes.  So you do.  Then when you return, he takes care of like five people coming from the cashier before acknowledging you, then will say something like "Do you need something?"  And you'll say "Yes, my food, which is right in front of you."  He'll look confused for a moment, then get you silverware and give you your food.  His job title should be "Butt Head".

The Unwritten Rulebook of Deli Decor probably says "All delis must scream New York".  Jason's Deli appears to...initially...until you look closer, then you realize there's a bigger bend on New Orleans here.  The massive dining area has booths and tables. The walls are covered in tightly placed framed art that looks world touristy.

You may come off thinking Jason's is really pricey initially...until you get used to things.  My first lunches cost me nine to eleven bucks a pop.  That was for a sandwich, soup, and a drink.  But I later figured out that everybody either orders just a sandwich and drink or the "Manager's Special", which gets you a half sandwich and a cup of soup.  Plenty of food for most of you.  Throw in the drink and tax and you're still under $8 (at least you were in 2005).  Considering this includes chips and a pickle wedge on your plate, PLUS complimentary mini muffins and garlic toasts from the salad bar, AND free soft-serve ice cream, that's not bad at all. 

There is a wide variety of sandwiches available from bread-based to onion buns to Po-Boys.  There's a salad bar buffet type deal, which is freaking HUGE.  There are baked potatoes which are sold as a main course, not as a side.  When you see these monsters, you'll understand why.  There's a few wraps.  There's an occasional pasta dish.  Finally, there's "Muffalettas", another New Orleans thing.  Muffalettas are nine-inch round Italian breads (it looks like a big sesame seed hamburger bun...sort of) sliced into sandwich slices and dressed in a sort of olive-pesto mix.  Jason's offers two versions...ham-salami or turkey.  You can order a quarter-muff, half-muff, or whole-muff.  A quarter is enough.  Really.  They're a little weird.  They're good...just...a little wierd.

Apparently most everything is made on site, and there's a health bend.  Jason's Deli claims to have a trans-fat-free menu.  I guess trans-fats are bad for you, or something.  That doesn't mean everything is low fat.  Especially that chili.  Which is good because that means everything is really...good.  Yeah.  Jason's Deli recently eliminated high fructose corn syrup from its food, and would like to from its soda tap if only the stupid soda companies would oblige.  I once suggested they use Dublin Dr. Pepper...and according to their website, they are now.

Every Jason's Deli has a soft serve ice cream machine which you may help yourself to.  I read an article where a franchisee claimed anybody can use it...even somebody who walks in without buying anything.  Geez, I'm not THAT rude.

A co-worker of mine told me about her first Jason's Deli experience.  The place was a sea of customers.  She went to the "To Go" line.  A woman ahead was completely lost.  "I have no idea what I'm doing!" she exclaimed.

Go to Wendy's, lady.

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