Last week my friend Russ Salazar and I decided to go to Schlotzsky’s, which is located at 3023 Forni Road (behind the Arco station where Del Taco used to be) in Placerville.
He was a little late, so while I sat at an outside table waiting for him I checked out their signs. I would call them “Bunz and Punz,” since everyone of them utilizes the “Z” or “SKY” from their name to be intentionally funny.
For instance, the one on the door says, “No Shirtsky, no Shoesky, no Schlotzsky” and their logo says, “Every Bite Lotz Better.” There are many of them, similar to these, all over the store if you look for them.
To give you a bit of history on Schlotzsky’s, in 1971 a small shop on South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas was home to a single, one-of-a-kind sandwich. The menu was succinct: one delectable sandwich composed of a unique combination of premium meats, cheeses, and marinated black olives served on hot Schlotzsky’s sourdough bread. From humble origins, The “Original” has created a passionate customer following.
Now over 40 years later, Schlotzsky’s is an international franchise restaurant chain with locations in 35 states and four foreign countries.
When Salazar arrived he looked at the picture of one sandwich and said, “I really want to try the bread on the sandwich. It looks great.”
We went inside to order our sandwiches. After mumbling a bit, we decided to try the “Original” and an interesting one from their “Angus Round-Up,” limited time menu, the Chipotle Guaca-Beefsky.
The “Original” is made with lean smoked ham, Genoa and cotto salamis, and melted cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses layered with black olives, red onion, lettuce, tomato, mustard and their signature dressing on their toasted Sourdough bun. The Chipotle Guaca-Beefsky is made from shaved Angus roast beef, pepper-jack cheese, lettuce and red onion, with chipotle pesto and guacamole on their toasted jalapeño cheese bun.
They come cut in half, so we divided them between us and started eating. From the first bite, they were both full of flavor, delicious and excellent, and the Chipotle Guaca-Beefsky had a bit of nice spiciness.
Although Schlotzsky’s uses the highest quality ingredients to make what they believe is the world’s best sandwich, I think the primary reason for their delicious taste is the bread. It is made fresh throughout the day at every one of their 350 stores. They call their bread “The Best Bunz in Town” for a reason.
I would describe their bread as being similar to a ciabatta bun, but more tender inside and with a nice thin crust. By itself it is airy and delicious. Whomever it was who said, “The bread makes the sandwich, the crust makes the pizza,” was right.
We decided that we should go back as soon as possible and try their Angus Pastrami & Swiss, along with another sandwich we haven’t picked yet.
The “Original” sandwich is still the mainstay of Schlotzsky’s, but now you can also enjoy fresh baked bread, delicious hot sandwiches, specialty pizzas, toasted wraps, freshly tossed salads, gourmet soups, and more.
The menu starts with their “Serious Sandwiches,” including The “Original,” Smoked Turkey Breast, Turkey Bacon Club, Angus Roast Beef & Cheese and Fiesta Chicken, Chicken Breast, Fresh Veggie, Turkey & Guacamole, Albuquerque Turkey, Homestyle Tuna, Texas Schlotzsky’s, Chipotle Chicken and more. Sandwiches are available as a small, medium or large and can be combined into a meal with chips and a fountain drink.
Pizzas include Pepperoni and Double Cheese, BBQ Chicken & Jalapeño, Combination Special, Fresh Veggie and others.
Their “Lotz Better” Fresh Salads, which look beautiful in the pictures, include Cranberry, Apple, Pecan & Chicken, Hearts of Romaine Chicken Caesar, Turkey Avocado Cobb, Turkey Chef and Garden.
They also have kids meals, sell Cinnabon cinnamon buns and do catering.
Join their “Bun & Fun e-club” and get a coupon emailed to you. We both did.
The Placerville Schlotzsky’s is open daily from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. and can be reached at (530) 621-3025.
By the way, Schlotzsky’s is very involved in working with JDRF (formally Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) to fund essential research toward curing Type 1 diabetes.