Sandwiches to make your mouth water

Food around $10 while on a college budget? I think “Yes.”

Shut Up and Eat Sandwich Shop is a restaurant that resides in Southeast Portland on at Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Gladstone Street. I live a few blocks away and usually make food at home. The restaurant’s front door has always been intriguing to me.

Upon arrival, I was greeted by a lovely woman behind the cash register. She described her favorite sandwiches for the morning and afternoon – those being the butternut squash, egg and Italian sausage sandwich, and the sweet Italian sausage and peppers sandwich.

The cooks were in the kitchen area seemed to enjoy their jobs as they sung along with a song that played from speakers.

I got the grilled Italian chicken sandwich (which is available after 11 a.m.); honestly, I thought I could finish the
whole sandwich at first, but then I ate half of it and felt full. The cashier mentioned that nearby Reed College students have ordered the sandwiches and find them great for groups, because two people can help finish one order.

The first bite of chicken was flavorful with a lemon scent, along with a bell peppery flavor and cheese atop of it. Maybe the fact that I hadn’t eaten until 11:30 a.m. on a Friday morning had built up that burst of flavor in my mouth? I started munching on a vegetable that left some of its leafy greens in between my teeth and it had a hint of mustard flavor, making me believe it to be mustard greens – a popular Chinese vegetable.

I somehow went past the middle fillings and made it near the bottom of the bread and ate a squishy, soft, green pepper. I realized the filling was cooked thoroughly and a lot of it was warm and soft. The red pepper placed on top was pretty much happiness for me – it was really flavorful and it had steam rising from it as I picked it up to eat.

I completely forgot to mention the onions, because I’m used to onions in my food and I like them. Many people tend not to like onions, but the thing is, it adds flavor and a hardly noticeable scent (I probably lied on that one, because a lot of people can notice it… I’m just used to it. Hahah.).

I actually ended up eating all of the filling and ate the baguette last, because that’s how I am.

While eating, I noticed one of the owners observing and watching over the shop and cleaning tables as customers bussed their tables and drifted out of the store. He smiled as I awkwardly looked up as he walked by and I realized he really enjoyed his job.

The food is great and the staff are incredibly friendly, and it can also be shown from their awesome chalkboard that they hung. I rate this establishment a 4.5 out of 5.

Advocate Staff