Babe's Corner — Restaurant in Lansing

So I take sandwiches a little too seriously. That being said, I’m very particular about the quality of a sandwich. Once I have a favorite item on a menu, I seek that restaurant out ONLY get that coveted menu item. So this review really just functions as my love letter to the Lucille.

So Babe’s Corner is a cute shop with fun branding and a little bit of memphis design on the inside. The ac is cool but not humid. The tables weren’t sticky and the menu was taped to the glass at eye level. Every sandwich was a woman’s name, and there were both vegan and vegetarian options that were a page long. This sandwich and soft serve ice cream shop is at the perfect intersection of a self aware “local spot" and an inspired menu that doesn't insist upon itself.

The sandwiches themselves are offered in two sizes, with the “half size” needing a warning that it feeds one to two. My spouse ordered the Louise, which is a correct combination of corned beef, red onion, iceburg, provolone and Pony Sauce— an in house combination of mayo and horseradish. The bread was freshly made and fat, like it rested in a luxuriously large space while the bread rose. The crunch of the toasted sesame seeds filled the time between the intial bite and pull away. My spouse immediately closed his eyes and inhaled, abandoning our conversation and allowing himself the indulgence of chewing slowly and enthusiastically. He looked so at peace and so present in this moment that we three immediately respected the silence he savored his meal. Not to be dramatic but we had been informed that our first bite was one to go to war for.

And oh, my god. My sandwich delivered. I cannot overstate how serious the tone at the table was when we realized how good our sandwiches were. All conversation ceased in the first few minutes that each of us enjoyed our meals, and slowly rejoined only after we felt like we had paid our respects to our sandwiches. My sandwich— the Lucille— was the only one that came with a paper wrap. Babes knew to avoid aluminum foil due to the cool nature of the ingredients therein. This sandwich felt like you could serve it at an afternoon english high tea. The Lucille is the kind of sandwich you bring home to your parents. It’s the only sandwich I’ll come back to, and I’m not going to try and bother ordering any poor reproductions anywhere else in town. I’ll die eating this god d@mn sandwich, okay?

My sandwich— the lauded Lucille— was made with a fluffy white bread that had the perfect crumb. It had a darkened top with the perfect amount of sesame, pepper, and a tasteful amount of garlic. It was slightly warm and it complimented the crisp temperature of the dressing. My ‘Lucille’ had added provolone, subbed the turkey for roasted cold chicken, and included leafy greens like arugula and baby spinach with the creamiest ceasar dressing ive had in my life. After the first chew, everything came together so seamlessly that i too enjoyed the first chew like my spouse had.

These “halves” were all cut in the middle, really bringing into focus just how massive these sanwiches are. My spouse and friends and I thoroughly enjoyed both halves, with a spot of ice cream and Martinelli’s apple juice (the best in the land) and we knew that we’d forever return to Babe’s when it came to sandwiches. It was an immediate truth. There wasn’t even a discussion— we just knew. Do you have any idea how HARD that is to find in sanwiches, let alone a local restaurant? I didnt’ even get into how delicious and inspired the soft serve ice creams are, or how amazing and delicious the vegan and vegetarian options look. No longer will those of you who eat that way will need to settle with a dinky two or three entries— almost every sub here (and ice cream) can be made vegan or vegetarian for you. This is a place that has obviously taken great lengths to make sure everyone can have the kind of sandwich you see god with.

Suffice to say, I am obsessed. My...

UPDATE: I tried it again and got the vegan Fran and it was AMAZING. 5/5

I got the vegan tofurkey Cesar sandwich (I think it's called the Lucille?). It was def a delicious sandwich with excellent bread, salad mix, and standard vegan turkey meat with the only caveat being that it didn't really taste Cesar at all O.o I actually checked for dressing and it was there but it kinda just tasted like a creamy Italian (except veerrry light on the vinegar, mostly just watery mayo or cream) and then dried Italian seasoning flakes like the ones from Subway. I ended up putting some hummus and mustard on it myself since it really didn't seem to have much flavor outside of the tofurky and creamy stuff. Still, it's a very solid vegan sandwich option for an out of towner. Maybe I just caught them on an off day and will try again.

the vegan vanilla soft serve is 10/10, soft of the best I've ever had! It was very lightly sweetened and vanilla bean heavy. Pair it with a canned diet/reg pop of your choice for a true mitten...

Come for the ok sandwiches, stay for the elitist public shaming of reviews on Instagram!

I ordered the Margaret about a week ago and wasn't too impressed. The sandwiches are expensive for what you get (10 dollars for a half sub???), and the bread that is supposed to be special made is a weird combo of too dense, too soft, and way too porous to avoid becoming a soggy mess halfway through the sandwich. They have a decent amount of filling but the ratio feels off. Chips were pretty good, I'll give em that. I would give it 3 stars for the sandwich alone.

I'm even less impressed by the way Babe's owner handled a Google review which is why I'm giving 2 stars. The owner posted the review including a name on Instagram, and told the individual that it was maybe an ordering/financial issue on their part and to 'Go to Subway next time'. It's not a financial issue to want to get your money's worth for a SUB SANDWICH. Extremely bad taste. Guess I'll take my $15 and get 3...