Ideal’s Sandwich and Grocery
Phone: (919) 724-0241
In East Durham, Ideal’s Sandwich and Grocery bakes bread daily for its Northeastern-style deli sandwiches, including chopped cheese, Philly cheesesteaks, Italian heros, roast pork with broccoli rabe – you get the idea. Expect a line spilling onto the sidewalk until the sandwiches sell out each day. While you wait, browse the curated selection of Italian grocery items, natural wines and to-go packages of the shop’s focaccia and loaves.
Cuisines
- Bakery
- Deli/Sandwich Shop
Hours
Monday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
Friday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
Friday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
Map
Google Rating
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What a killer sandwich!!! Primo's on Focaccia is a whole other level of delicious. Perfectly cooked chicken cutlet delivered on perfect crispy-yet-soft bread. Arugula salad is generous but not overpowering. Swung by after some library programming on a Saturday and wound up waiting maybe 50 minutes from line to sandwich in hand. I arrived around 1220, not sure if you could spike a better spot if you show up around 1145 or so. Enormous sandwich, ginger beer + tip came out to around $25, but half of this beast would have been plenty, so the value is there. Interesting little spread of delicacies inside as well (tinned seafood, pannetone, noodles), I decided to avoid the brown butter chocolate chip cookie (next time!) although supposedly garlic potato chips are also available?
Yes, it's a like, and yes it's a wait, but try for yourself. They're making it happen, and if you check their socials, also working on scaling up a little (!!!!). I'll certainly be back! -
It’s so good!!!! So fabulous and full of flavors that I don’t understand how I just learned about this place but I’m so glad I did!! I only ate half of my sandwich but I can’t wait for leftovers. You can’t beat the chicken cutlet! My new favorite spot in town.
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Easily the best sandwich in the City, region, state or even my life. I got the uncle primo and spouse got the roasted turkey. Expect a very long wait and to eat in your vehicle or “take out” but you cannot go wrong with either of those options. The fresh chips were also quite delectable!
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I visited Ideal Sandwiches for the first time today after hearing so many great things about it being one of the best sandwich spots in Durham. Unfortunately, my experience was anything but ideal.
I waited outside in line for about 20 minutes, which I expected, given the hype. Once inside, I ordered a simple egg and cheese sandwich on an English muffin...something I thought would be quick and easy. However, after placing my order, I ended up waiting nearly 40 minutes inside.
During that time, around 20-25 people who came in after me received their food before I did. Even more frustrating, new customers were coming in and getting their orders almost immediately. It wasn’t until after that the staff realized my order had never been made. I had to remind them, show my receipt, and explain what I ordered. It seemed like there may have been a computer error or some other oversight.
After nearly an hour total, I finally received my sandwich along with a quick apology. While I understand that mistakes happen, I was disappointed that there was no effort to make things right—no discount, no offer to compensate for the long wait, or even a more thoughtful acknowledgment of the inconvenience.
To make matters worse, the sandwich itself didn’t live up to expectations.
I came in expecting a quick, quality experience based on the restaurant’s reputation, but left feeling overlooked and underwhelmed. I truly hope this was just an off day, but based on my first visit, it was far from ideal.
RESPONSE TO COMMENT:
Thanks for the response, but this doesn’t accurately reflect what happened.
First, I was not offered a free cookie or chips after the issue. I paid for my cookie as part of my order. Presenting that as a goodwill gesture is simply not true.
Second, attributing the situation to a system error doesn’t address the real problem...how it was handled. I waited close to an hour for a basic sandwich while numerous customers who arrived after me were served first. No one checked in until about 40 minutes in, and my order was only addressed after I brought it up and presented my receipt. That’s a service failure, not just a tech issue.
Saying I should have “said something” sooner shifts responsibility onto the customer for a mistake that was entirely on your end. It’s not unreasonable to expect a paid order to be tracked and fulfilled without customer intervention after a long delay, especially during a first visit.
Finally, the tone of your response—suggesting I shouldn’t return—is telling. I left an honest review based on my experience. Dismissing it and misrepresenting details doesn’t reflect accountability, and only reinforces the concerns I had in the first place. -
Excellent! It’s been on our bucket list for a while, and we finally experienced the WOW. We felt like we were back in Philadelphia or New York enjoying their classic sandwiches. They perfected them in Durham with an added touch. The service and people were top-notch and very friendly. We had the roasted pork and roasted turkey sandwiches, and both were outstanding. It’s a must-go-to spot in Durham for lunch or dinner! The sandwiches are large enough to cover both meals. We will be back, and our only disappointment was that we didn’t get there sooner. Nicely done!
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