Martone's Market & Café — Restaurant in Essex Junction

*ATTENTION ALL RAILFANS Great place for sandwiches & train watching!!! This place is very close to the NECR tracks in Essex...just some info on passing trains (I know of 4 that are almost certain to pass) First train that should pass is the Southbound Amtrak Vermonter, train PO55...this train runs from St. Albans to D.C every day....This train is led by one GE P42DC with 4-5 Amfleet cars in tow..the scheduled time it arrives in Essex is 9:27 am......the next train to pass is NECR 500 AKA the Burlington Electric "Chip Train" This train runs from just North of St. Albans to the Burlington Electric plant in Winooski. This train usually passes the Amtrak station at around 12:47...(It can come sooner or later so I come a hour early) Grab a Sandwich and Coke and wait for the train....(One way to tell if the train is coming and you do not have a scanner is by walking to the signal just South of the station...(Directions, From the Amtrak station Walk South across the tracks onto Railroad street and just down that road you should see a signal (I think a ABS)...Anyway...the Signal aspect should be Red over Solid Green...(Diverging Clear.) also check the switch alignment, should be set so trains will turn right. if all that is good then the Chip train should be coming. Motive power is usually NECR 2048 GP38-2 is in th mix...today I got a surprise with a GP40-2CU in the lead...The same trains pass through in the evening..(I have only seen the Chip train returning from the plant three times so I am not sure the exact time it passes...I will say around 5:00pm....Amtrak PO56 Nothbound Vermonter should pull into Essex at 8:17 pm from D.C ...Other trains I am not sure about...sometimes late night trains pass through but I do not live in Essex Junction so not quite sure on other schedules...anyway...once again....AMAZING PLACE TO EAT AND WATCH TRAINS!!!! Happy...

Have enjoyed getting on of the best sandwiches in Vermont at Martone Market in Essex Junction. Big thick sandwiches with fresh ingredients, Boars Head meats and homemade bread are simply "The Best in the Area", Unfortunately on today's visit the service was very poor with no empathy, explanation or apology from either of the staff members we spoke with. They acted like they didn't care, and we would get our order when it was ready. We came in the store just a few minutes before 1 pm and there was a line with 6-8 customers in front of us. The counter person who waited on us was Cheerful and we placed our order for 3 sandwiches and paid for our order, chips and drinks. After waiting 35 minutes and seeing customers who came in after us already getting their meals, I approached the counter and asked if someone could check on our order. He returned to tell us it would be done shortly. Now almost an hour after ordering my wife went up again and asked about our order since we had just seen a couple come in and place an order and within about 5 minutes had their sandwiches and were eating them. The young women checked and told her they would be next up and true to her word we got them shortly thereafter, but none the less over an hour after ordering. I have never experienced this before and since no explanation was given for the delay, I hope this is no trend, but a one-off problem. We love eating here when we are...

I really like this place. It's become our go to sandwich shop as locals and we always take our extended family here when they visit. The sandwiches are good, consistent, and the pricing is great for the amount of food you get. Usually a young man answers the phone and is so pleasant and light hearted. I would've given 5 stars except for my experience today. Martones often changes the hours and I always seem out of the loop. Usually on a Thursday they are open until 5. I called at 3pm today to order sandwiches.

Girl picks up "Martones?" Me "hi I would like to order..." Girl "ma'am we close at 3 today" (interrupts me, in a disgruntled tone, calling ma'am?) Me (looks at clock, 3:06pm) "okay, you guys just changed your hours again?" Girl "a little while ago." (Gaslighting me) Me "okay bye."

Checked their website and it's says they are still open at 5pm today. I use their website often to make custom sandwiches. Google says they just changed their hours "7 days ago by mobile phone."

I've been in customer service a long time. That girl could've handled the whole conversation with a lot more compassion and general patience. As a customer being attacked and emotionally abused for not knowing your ever changing hours is beyond incompetent. I'm so bummed to have to look for a new sandwich place but I literally would never want to run into someone so...