Things I Love Thursdays: Jason’s Deli

Believe it or not, Chick Fil-A is not the *only* place we’ve been spending money this summer (we’ve been eating out for lunch more frequently than we should).   Another place I love to to take the kids is Jason’s Deli.

Here’s what I love about Jason’s Deli:

Location

They may not be close to everyone, but they are close to my hubby’s work.  That makes for a good lunch date with Daddy.

Jason’s Deli doesn’t have the presence of some of the larger chains, but they are out there.  They started in Texas and have over 200 stores  in 29 states.  For my local friends – there are two in our area (Falls Church and Fair Lakes).

Good Food that’s Good For You

JD prides itself on serving healthy food — they have eliminated trans fats, MSG, and high fructose corn syrup from their foods.   And it’s delicious!  I have enjoyed everything I’ve ever gotten on the menu — some of my favs are the California Club, taco salad, and turkey wrap.   They also have  a big salad bar that looks scrumptious and has many organic items.  I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m always tempted.

Great Kids Menu (at an amazing price!)

The Kid’s Menu is a huge selling point for me.   The prices range from $2.60 to $3.60 and include a drink choice of organic milk or juice.  Some of the kids menu items (PB&J, grilled cheese, hot dog, turkey & cheese) also include a side such as organic carrots, organic apple slices, or fresh fruit  (these can be added ala cart to the other kid items).   While not every menu offering is organic, they do have many organic items and the option of whole wheat bread on sandwiches.  I haven’t found many places that offer a comparable quality meal for such a low price.

Other Pluses

Free soft-serve ice cream.  The  promise of dessert helps even my picky eaters clean their plates (usually).

Complimentary cornbread muffins and individually wrapped crackers — these come in handy when waiting for your food with hungry kiddos.

Good customer service. Their staff is well-trained and the managers are attentive.   I’ve always had a positive experience from the employees.  While they don’t bend over backwards like Chick-Fil-A, they have been courteous and helpful.

I like their ordering system too.  You first order your food at a register and receive a number.   Then you grab your drink and pick your table, displaying the number.   Food is brought to you (no need to wrangle kids up to a counter) and at the end of the meal, you simply leave — staff cleans up the tables.   All of this makes it very easy to manage with young kiddos.

Are there any cons?

Well, sure.   For one thing, it’s not as cheap as some other fast food offerings.  The kids prices are great, but some of the regular offerings are higher than I’d like.   It’s understandable, I suppose, since they are working to make the food with high quality ingredients and not taking shortcuts.  But in a perfect world, my meal total would be about $5 cheaper.

Also, because it is popular, it can be crowded at lunch.  I’ve never not found a seat, but there have been times when I’ve had to pick a table crammed amongst other guests and pray none of my children have a meltdown that involves throwing food..

Overall, it’s been a great place to grab lunch.  If you have one near you, you ought to check it out!

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