Schlotzsky’s (20th Street)
94 S. 20th StreetLast Tuesday was one of those days I got a lot of windshield time.
My day started at 10 AM in Battle Creek. Once I finished that job assignment, I needed to head to Grand Rapids to pick up some things at the home office.
I wasn’t in a super big rush to get to Grand Rapids. It was just a supply pick up that needed to be made so it wasn’t like I needed to get there at a specific time.
I got done with my assignment in Battle Creek around 11 and I figured I may as well take my lunch break before making the drive north.
I was on the west side of town near the airport again. There are a lot of good options out that way so I had a lot to choose from.
I picked the Schlotzsky’s on 20th Street just north of Columbia Avenue. I knew there were Schlotzsky’s in Battle Creek. There is one downtown and one out on B Drive North, but I had no idea this one in Columbia Plaza existed. It’s been there for years taking up the corner spot on the southside of the plaza but somehow, I’ve missed it every time I’ve driven down 20th Street.
It’s been a pretty long time since I’ve been in a Schlotzsky’s. We don’t have one in Kalamazoo anymore. The last remaining store was on the corner of Milham and Westnedge in Portage. That one closed in February of 2020 just before the COVID pandemic started.
This Schlotzsky’s on South 20th Street in Battle Creek looks like it’s been remodeled somewhat recently. It’s a really big space with wood floors and a bright color palate against more neutral browns that livens up the space.
The order counter is in the back of the store. There are two cash registers with the menu board hanging behind them. I was kind of hoping for kiosk ordering so I could take my time and look at each sandwich but that was not the way it was. I did find something pretty quickly and put in an order for the Beef Bacon Smokecheesy. I made it a combo which brought the total price up to around $14.
This Schlotzsky’s is co-branded as a Cinnabun. THere is a case next to the cash registers with some cinnamon rolls. It was tempting but I passed this time.
Like I mentioned earlier, the space is really big. There is a large dining room that fills the rest of the space. There different types of seating and different combinations. All of the tables have the same design of modern wood backed chairs.
It took a little over five minutes for someone to come out of the kitchen with a bag and call my name. I grabbed the bag without looking inside it. I believe the combos are supposed to come with chips. Not sure if I was supposed to grab those on my own or what but there were no chips in the bag when I got outside and opened it up. I suppose I could have went back in and asked for them but I feel weird doing that after I’ve left the business.
The Beef Bacon Smokecheesy is a pretty simple sandwich of roast beef, bacon, smoked cheddar cheese, and chipotle mayo on a sourdough bun. For a chain restaurant sandwich, there was quite a bit of roast beef piled on to the bread. The cheese had melted in to the layers of beef giving a great cheesy flavor in each bite. I know it’s been a while since I’ve eaten at a Schlotzsky’s but I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this sandwich from top to bottom.
We don’t have a Schloltzsky’s in Kalamazoo anymore but I am in Battle Creek quite a bit (I still haven’t blogged about the one in Emmett Township but I feel like I’ve eaten there before…weird). This sandwich was much than I expected when I stopped in for lunch and you can’t beat the price. Had I just ordered the sandwich, it would have been just under $10. Good value and good food. Can’t complain about that.
SW Michigan Dining 