Gandel’s Liquors

DO NOT GET THE SANDWICHES. I REPEAT DO NOT GET THE SANDWICHES. There are 3 other sub shops that are in delis so offer way better quality. Or you could go into the Library of Congress and just get a subway sandwich for roughly the same price. They get 2 stars because their liquor selection is pretty good. Especially their single serving beers and stuff. Go for the alcohol, but stay away from the questionable sandwich.

This place has been on my radar for awhile. A sub shop in a liquor store?
Running around all day for others, I needed some me time! Heading to grab coffee and a paper and I see a not so normal we have an Italian delicatessen sign. Again I say sub shop a liquor store ?
This is a deli and you can find all of the usual suspects here. In addition to the norm you will find Liverwurst, Italian sausages and meatball subs! Tuna, shrimp, chicken and egg salads are offered as sandwiches or you can top off a simple garden salad. From what it looks like you can pretty much make a sandwich into a salad! I don’t know why but they offer meatballs over a garden salad!
What impressed me the most was the freshness of the product that I received. I think they may be sliced to order! I ordered the Gandel’s Deluxe with Mortadella (heat cured pork product) pepperoni, capicola, genoa salami, prosciutto, provolone, lettuce, tomato, red onions oil & vineger and… green olives?
The slices were huge! I mean like two slices covered the entire 8″ sandwich huge! Most sub shops/​deli wannabe places in this area give you that crappy pre shredded and bagged iceberg lettuce. Not here! Fresh leaves of bib lettuce and pretty much fresh sliced tomatoes. Green olives? That seemed odd but actually worked well. I would have enjoyed a olive spread but I can’t really complain. You are offered an average selection of breads from hard & soft italian rolls (soft roll rocks) rye, pumpernickel, wheat and white sliced breads.
This place is a sleeper and I am sure that all if the Capital Hill interns love this place! I will pay $ 10-​$ 12 for a sandwich but the most expensive sub was $ 6.48! This is leaps and bounds above you Quiznos/​Subway sandwich shop!
As far as the liquor store aspect… It was random. The wines were dirt cheap and American heavy. For some reason there was a large selection of ports, sherrys, Manischewitz and I even saw a bottle of Raki! It is what it is and I guess it is working for them!
Public Service Announcement:
Skip the standard Reuben and get the #7! It is similar but twisted… In a good way! Hot turkey pastrami, coleslaw, swiss cheese and Russian dressing.

I could come here for a sandwich every day. Sometimes I do. You’re not going to beat this place for a good ol’ fashioned deli counter sandwich. It’s kinda too bad they don’t stock cheddar cheese but whatever. They’re big and cost less than $ 5. Grab a soda or orange juice to go with your delicious sandwich, too, and it’s only about $ 7.50 or $ 8.
Find me a better, cheaper lunch near Capitol Hill and I’ll give you $ 100. Too bad you won’t.

Nice sandwiches made here in the little deli area.

I was so hoping for good things here. It looks like a real unpretentious sub shop, has a good selection of meats. Passive aggressive counter people hurt the experience («capicola and roast beef sub? that’s not on the menu but I’ll make it for you”– could do without the literal-​mindedness, assholes. It’s a deli! People get two meats sometimes!). But the real sin was that I asked for mayo, and what I got was definitely the evil, terrible MIRACLE WHIP! Any sandwich place that doesn’t think there is a difference, and that therefore they should specify, is by definition run by dumb-​asses. Plus, they obviously also think there is nothing wrong with the taste of miracle whip, which makes them anti-​food people. Yuck, I can still taste it. I feel like I ate a sandwich out of a vending machine. or egg salad from a supermarket food bar. Ugh. So, since there is practically no sandwich on earth with which I would not want mayonnaise, I won’t be going back here. Too bad, because the other ingredients seemed okay, and it was cheap.

Regarding Dogfish Head beer (Delaware microbrew), they only have 60 Minute IPA and Raison d’Etre.
They can do much better than that!

This definitely goes in the list of lunch spots near work. It’s a surprise to see a deli in the corner of a liquor store, but there it is. The sandwiches are pretty good and the service is relatively quick. They give you and order slip and you pay at the counter for the whole store. I managed to get a turkey pastrami sandwich, an orangina, and some salt n vinegar utz chips for less than eight dollars out the door. Big plus for having honey mustard. The liquor selection seems decent, with a bunch of wines under $ 10 and quite a few more under $ 20. NB: $ 20 minimum on credit cards. Be a mensch and buy lunch for your friends if you don’t wanna wait in line at the BoA.
Deli Hours:
Monday-​Friday: 10am-6:45pm
Saturday: 10am-4:45pm

Back when I worked on the Hill we would scare the crap outta interns by asking them if they wanted to go to the liquor store to grab lunch. They’d always think it was some kind of test (although some were a little too eager), then we’d all have a sandwich. They use really good soft sub rolls and will make just about any sandwich you want. I like the #2 w/​russian dressing b/​c pastrami is the most sensual of the salted, cured meats.
They also know my weakness and have fountain cherry coke (although the fountain at Burrito Brothers tastes better for some reason), and also carry plenty of liquor, beer, and wine if you need a stronger beverage. Did I mention its pretty cheap? $ 5 or $ 5.50 for most sandwiches, some less. Excellent option for Penn. Ave. lunch when you don’t want to tangle w/​lines at Cosi, Good Stuff, etc–

Politicos in the know lunch at this unassuming liquor store on Penn that sports an outstanding and reasonably priced deli. Also don’t miss the delicious soups during the chilly months.

Actually I don’t come here for the liquor, but their sandwich deli is good on those days when you’re starving. I like the cheese combo on toasted rye, piled high with onions and olives and hot peppers. The sandwiches are big and very affordable — So affordable that you can even buy a big 99-​cent bag of Funyuns to go with lunch. (This meal is not recommended if you have an afternoon meeting because your coworkers might die from your dragon-​breath). The guys behind the counter are nice and laid back. During the noon rush there’s usually a wait, so plan your lunch break accordingly; bring a book or blackberry or whatever. (Though I find it kind of fun to peruse the wine labels while they make my sandwich).