Nostalgia (and Butter Cookies) at Potbelly in Ballston

Hey guys, it’s another post from Tom, my husband and the co-designer of badsentences.com! Usually, he helps out with the blog’s design and maintenance, while also lending a hand in the photography. His talents also include: eating and reporting back on the types of seafood I don’t care for, always choosing an excellent bottle of wine, and being the best (non-canine) travel companion a girl could ever have.

Upon first being invited to try out some of the new menu items at Potbelly, I realized that I had not eaten there in quite some time. I had memories of eating Potbelly’s pizza sandwiches back in high school, with a vanilla milkshake on the side, of course (could never resist those little butter cookies on the straw). I was curious to check out the sandwich shop again and also to see if my beloved butter cookies were still finding a home on those straws.
My office is located between Ballston and Virginia Square so it was only a short walk over to the location on Fairfax Drive. We’re always looking for different places to eat lunch in the Ballston area, so it was nice to add something new to the mix when I’m not brown-bagging it.
The Potbelly in Ballston was cozy and the decor and staff were both warm and inviting. I reviewed the menu and noticed my tried-and-true pizza sandwich was still there, but I was set on checking out the new stuff. I noticed some unique art for the shop (seen below) that the manager told me was done by a Potbelly employee for this and one other local shop.
I went with the pastrami and swiss, their current special, with a side of Zapp’s Voodoo Heat potato chips and a frozen raspberry lemonade shake (complete with butter cookies). The staff advised me to keep it simple with the toppings for the pastrami and stick to mustard (which I had on the side) and pickles, a wise recommendation.
The combination pastrami and gooey cheese was classic, with a touch of sweetness and tang from the pickles. The pepper crust on the meat lent it good spice and made for a tasty sandwich.
The Voodoo Heat chips were delicious and had a nice spice to them. They came across as part BBQ and part sea salt and vinegar. The frozen raspberry lemonade shake had just the right amount of sweetness and refreshment to balance out the pepper on the pastrami and the heat from the chips. I was a little worried I would regret not getting a classic vanilla or chocolate shake, but I was not disappointed. And yes, the butter cookies are still on point.
I left pleasantly surprised by my meal and with an alternative lunch spot close to the office.
Editor’s Note: He didn’t ave a sip of that shake for me, or even a butter cookie. Good thing I like him.