TJ's Hero Shop II — Restaurant in Town of Brookhaven

TJs seriously makes the best heroes on Long Island. Whether you are native here and call them heroes, subs, grinders, or just sandwiches “sammiches”, TJs in Patchogue is undoubtedly a must-visit place. The new location at the old Robinsons at the end of Oak St is a tremendous upgrade from the previous location on Main st. The coolers are stocked with all the necessities and the aisles are full of last minute grab-n-go items. You MUST try their homemade iced tea and Mac/potato salad too. 10/10. Double entrances and a large parking lot, the location couldn’t be better. I will admit it’s a bit pricey, I used to come here 2-3 times a week, but can only afford this once every 2-3 weeks now because as soon as everyone in the family knows I’m headed to TJ’s, they place their orders and I’m dropping almost a Benjamin on each visit. Finally, after all these years they’re accepting VISA/MC as a form of payment, and Laura and the phenomenal staff have NEVER gotten a hero order wrong in the 10+ years I’ve been going here. Never. Not once. 3’+ Party heroes are also outstanding. So grab a couple heroes from TJs, some drinks and sides, and head out to the beach, the dock or boat, the racetrack, a picnic, or simply back home, and enjoy the very best lunch (or dinner) on Long Island. -Dave...

Google's Oxford Dictionary defines a sandwich as: "an item of food consisting of two pieces of bread with meat, cheese, or other filling between them, eaten as a light meal." Those 23 words tell a false story about the operation of TJ's Hero Shop. To describe the artistry of The Louisiana(Grilled cajun chicken, with lettuce, tomato, onion, & their spicy Stealth sauce) an "item of food" is a disservice. It is a sculpture. An edifice. A monument that feels like it could last as long as the Pyramids. And ordering even a 'half' size would very inappropriately be described as "a light meal."

To get down to brass tacks, TJ's Hero Shop is a community hub where blue and white collar folks gather to order some of Long Island's best sandwiches. Choose from their selection or design your own, and trust in their work. During peak hours you might think you are watching chaos incarnate, deli slicers moving faster than the eye can follow, staff barking out names and orders over the din of hungry conversation. You might spy someone dart into a far closet and emerge with a pair of heroes six feet long. But again, trust in their work. Order ahead if you hate the wait, make sure to grab a quart of iced tea to guzzle down with your meal, and don't forget to tip. These artists...

Sadly, TJ's Hero Shop Patchogue is no longer the great experience it had been for many years. A recent $100 Uber Eats order was disappointing, with heroes that were skimpy on the contents, requests for dressing on the side that were ignored. There seems to be new young staff that don't seem to carry on the same integrity that the shop had been known for. Visited on July 5, signs in the window said open 'til 6 PM. Arrived around 5:20, door was locked and I was waved away by a young female inside the store. Three more cars pulled in to the lot, all disappointed too. That's very bad for a local business that has had a loyal following. Honestly, we recently tried Jersey Mike's and the heroes were larger, more generously filled, less expensive, and though not Boars Head, still very good quality. No longer a fan of TJ's. Good luck...