Capriotti's Sandwich Shop — Restaurant in Madison

Got to visit Capriotti's for lunch recently. This is a chain restaurant but the first one in Huntsville. Saw lots of people strongly anticipating the shop's arrival and I was looking forward to trying it.

Located in the Clift Farm area, on a busier day or a more peak hour I can see how parking might be a challenge. I managed to snag a spot right by the entrance, which was nice, though backing up into the busy street to leave was a bit nerve-wracking.

I walked into a tidy sandwich shop and was promptly greeted by an employee. The decor isn't super eye-catching or unique but it doesn't need to be. Limited seating and space inside. Seems like there is more seating outside but idk if that will continue as more tenants move in to the surrounding storefronts. The women's restroom was very clean.

The menu is a little overwhelming but I'd done my research online first and knew what I wanted to order, so I got a half-size classic cheese steak (5 inches, according to the website), a bag of chips, and a Coke for right at $15. Pricy, but I dunno if I'd call it insane. The half size is fairly small, but I personally appreciate the ability to order a smaller portion, especially at lunch time.

I noticed too late that they actually have French fries here! Not on the online menu. Probably would've ordered those if I'd seen it earlier, but oh well, probably saved me some calories.

My sandwich took an average amount of time to come out; I was neither wowed nor annoyed by my wait time. It was wrapped nicely and probably would've traveled well. The way it was wrapped made it look a good bit larger than it actually wound up being, but like I said, I don't mind a smaller sandwich at lunch. I managed to get a small table inside and decided to eat it fresh and people watch.

My verdict on this cheese steak is: meh. Admittedly, I've never had a cheese steak in their Philadelphia motherland and my experience with them overall is fairly limited, but I'd prefer a Jersey Mike's Big Kahuna cheesesteak any day. I did like the bread on this sandwich, and I liked it well enough to finish it, but it was just sort of...weird. The beef had a chunkier quality to it and was a little tough; I got basically no heat despite the hot peppers I asked for (honestly think they might've been forgotten); and worst of all, there was an oddly gravy-like consistency to the whole conglomeration. I had several bites that tasted exactly like the peppery gravy you put on like a sausage and gravy biscuit and those bites were big turnoffs.

Writing this, it sounds worse than it really was when I ate it, but I'm having a hard time articulating the parts that I enjoyed, mostly because the not-bad parts were inoffensive if unremarkable.

I dunno. 3 stars at best. Appreciated the clean restaurant, good air conditioning, and opportunities for personal choice and customization. If I return, I'll try something else...

This is a world of chain restaurants, of sterile, focus-grouped flavors. You walk in, and you're braced for mediocrity. But then, something happens. You’re greeted by staff who, against all odds, seem to actually care. They point you toward a sandwich that defies all expectations, a monument to a truly American kind of decadence. They call it the Hot Bobbie. A name that sounds like a character from a B-movie, but the sandwich itself is a star. This isn't just a sandwich; it’s Thanksgiving, crammed into a roll, and it is a thing of unholy beauty. You’ve got thick, moist shreds of turkey—not the bland, deli-sliced cardboard you're used to, but real turkey. Then, the stuffing. It's a soft, herbed cloud of comfort, a flavor that transports you directly to a holiday table. And the cranberry sauce—it's the real genius here. It cuts through the rich, savory notes with a sharp, sweet tang, a bright spark of acidity that makes the whole thing sing. This isn't just a sandwich you eat; it's a sandwich you experience. I'd fly back just for this. Then, there's the other contender: the cheesesteak. It's a standard bearer, a classic, and for what it is, it's... fine. You’ve got the steak, a decent cut, not gristle and fat. The cheese is melted, gooey, and does its job. The roll is fresh. It’s a perfectly acceptable cheesesteak. It won’t offend you. It won't disappoint you. But it also won't stay with you. It's not a top-ten contender because it doesn't try to be. It's the reliable friend who shows up on time but never tells a good story. It exists, it fills a need, and then it's gone from memory. So, yeah. Capriotti's. The cheesesteak is a decent enough diversion. But the Hot Bobbie? That’s the real reason to go. It's a testament to the power of taking a classic American meal and unapologetically turning it into something messy, glorious, and unforgettable. It's a sandwich with soul, and that's something worth...

Ordered chicken philly. Almost no chicken, little cheese and peppers. The chicken is PROCESSED ground chicken with a terrible texture and no, repeat: no flavor, aside from the black pepper it had been doused in. This chicken is TERRIBLE and contains every part of a chicken you would not normally eat (it's not a breast cut up into pieces like almost all other places that make them). Almost no peppers and hot peppers addition was requested. The fries were soggy, yes, soggy and not seasoned well; clearly not properly cooked and just thrown out to get the orders gone. Clearly, food quality is not their forte' nor their target.

There was 1/2 to maybe 1/4 of the sandwich ingredients it should have vs. the bread ratio. Absolutely looked NOTHING like the picture of the sandwich. I basically ate a lightly chickened-flavored bread loaf, and even then I threw out half of it. The place was busy, as it's new, but once people tire of the terrible food quality, that will change. The food prep stations, and the floor, were over-run with food bits everywhere behind the counter. Watched the food prep staff really not practicing any food safety at all, no real on-the-go cleaning to prevent cross contamination; I do not remember seeing glove use. Dining room area is very small inside. It took them almost 40 minutes to get my order done; I might as well have gone to a sit-down restaurant instead.

Ultimately, due to the quality of the food and time, avoid this restaurant at all costs, there are better options.

The rating this place has is clearly inflated, paid for, or the public here is desperate for a good sandwich shop, which this one is not. Consider looking at a picture of a chicken and punching it repeatedly, pour black pepper in your mouth, all the while burning a 20 bill in front of you before going to...