Secret Sandwich Society — Restaurant in Richmond

The BEST sandwiches in Virginia with outstanding service and excellent ambiance.

Rarely do I like the place well enough to return. However, Secret Sandwich Society (SSS) has become my favorite place to go to for lunch, and I go there pretty regularly. Big kudos to the male bartender who's delivering absolutely outstanding service, and makes the experience top notch!

Price: The pricing is reasonable and comparable to other restaurants in the area. Sandwiches are in the $8-$14 range. With it, you get chips. However, you may upgrade to fries for $1 or loaded fries for $2.

Quality of food: I have tried multiple different sandwiches at the SSS. My most favorite one (captured on the picture) is Truman. It's really, really tasty, with lots of amazing flavors. As a matter of fact, my mouth waters when I think about this delicious sandwich. I have oftentimes upgraded my side to fries or loaded fries (with pimento cheese). I'd highly encourage you to upgrade to at least fries. Ask for a ketchup. It's home-made and it is absolutely DELICIOUS. During my previous visits, I had a caramel pie, it's sweet and salty, and it's pretty darn good!

Service: Staff is very kind and friendly. I want to highly commend the male bartender. He delivers high class, top notch service. He is familiar with his customers, he knows what they like to drink or eat. Always approaches customers with smile.

Cleanliness: The place is well maintained, including the bathrooms!

Ambiance: Very lovely, beginning with decor to small details like staff's t-shirts.

Bathrooms: There are two uni-sex bathrooms in the back. They are clean.

Accessibility: Accessible for people with disabilities. Kudos for that!

Final Verdict: I look forward to visiting SSS again! Perhaps SSS will one day offer some coupons to loyal...

I stopped by for lunch on a weekday and lucked out with timing—walked right in and grabbed a seat at the bar with ease. The dining area was only about a third full when I arrived, but by the time I left, the place had filled up significantly, with most tables occupied and the bar bustling.

Service at the bar was excellent. The bartender was cheerful, welcoming, and knowledgeable about the menu. She offered helpful suggestions, and I went with one of her recommendations. The food arrived fairly quickly, which was a nice touch.

I ordered The Eisenhower sandwich and swapped the usual chips for fries. Unfortunately, the fries were lukewarm, which was disappointing, though the seasoning was spot-on. Had they been freshly fried, they would’ve been fantastic. The sandwich itself had great flavor when all the ingredients came together in a bite. However, the execution left much to be desired—the bread’s heel was too thin and quickly became soggy from the vinaigrette, causing the sandwich to fall apart. The lettuce looked carelessly placed and lacked freshness. Worst of all, I bit into a stemmed cherry pepper. I love those peppers, but biting into a stem is a major oversight—it’s inedible and off-putting.

With more attention to detail from the kitchen, this could’ve easily been a five-star experience. One final note, unrelated to the food: I noticed a sign in the window and read the manager’s response about it to a previous review referencing “basic human rights.” While I appreciated the front-of-house service, I believe restaurants should focus on delivering great food and hospitality. Messaging that highlights social divisions can feel out of place in a dining setting and risks detracting from the shared experience that good food and service are...

I recently dined at the Secret Sandwich Shop located at 501 E. Grace St. in Richmond, VA, and I can confidently say it was an exceptional experience. The restaurant's modern street-style ambiance, combined with its vibrant and social clientele, sets the perfect backdrop for a memorable meal.

The service here is top-notch, and our host, Ryan, deserves special mention for making sure everyone had a great time. He was quick, attentive, and added to the overall enjoyment of our visit.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show - the food. The quality of the dishes was excellent, and each item we ordered was cooked to perfection, served hot, and incredibly juicy. Whether you're a fan of Beef Burgers, conventional sandwiches, or salads, you'll find a fair selection of delectable options to satisfy your cravings.

What's even better is that the prices are entirely reasonable, especially when you consider the exceptional service and the high quality of the food. It's a great value for the experience you receive.

The restaurant's location is convenient, and there's ample parking in the area, making it accessible to a wide range of diners. In terms of cleanliness, the place is spotless and well-kept, which is always a plus.

The atmosphere strikes a balance between modern and historical, drawing on the urban vibe of Richmond. It adds to the overall charm of the restaurant.

I wholeheartedly recommend the Secret Sandwich Shop. I would absolutely return, and I rate this experience a solid 10/10. If you're in Richmond, don't miss out on this gem!"

UPDATE This place still rocks! The epitome of what a great sandwich joint should be. However, they got rid of the Sweet Potato Fries (booo).... Still a great dinner and...