The Lunch Basket

The Lunch Basket has been a fixture in Marietta for over 35 years and I have lived there for 16. This was my first visit and I did not know what I had been missing. This is the quintessential small independent sandwich shop that existed in every Atlanta suburb in the 70’s. The difference here, The Lunch Basket is a popular survivor.
Since many of my predecessors gave the chicken salad positive reviews I opted to be a little different and opted for the Reuben. Freshly made, hot, and served on well toasted Rye with moist flavorful corned beef it was a nice size for lunch, not one of those behemoths you get a some places and at under $ 5 had a price to match. A very good sandwich made right.
Clearly from the orders I was hearing placed the egg salad and chicken salad are very popular choices among those in the know. The dining areas were small rooms, each with 5 two top tables, and an equally small outdoor deck on the front of the building.
The staff is friendly and engaging but definitely trained to be food cost conscious which is probably how they maintain the very reasonable prices. Sandwiches that traditionally call for cheese, such as my Reuben, cheese was included but a Ham sandwich is different from a ham and cheese sandwich. They will put what ever you want from a list of accompaniments but will verify that you mean «all they way» if you say «all the way». A nice pickle spear is included at no charge but you do have to ask. I guess you could call it, get what you want but want what you get.
If you find yourself around Kennestone and looking for a nice good value lunch, The lunch Basket would be a good choice. They will certainly see me again soon.
Note: Credit Cards are accepted but there is a transaction fee between .75 and $ 1.50 depending upon what brand card you use. Not at all unreasonable that they pass the cost to where it is incurred. Always good to see cash is still king.

Best chicken salad sandwich anywhere. Hole in the wall and only open for lunch but so awesome. Be aware sandwich has cucumber slices and onion on it, but you can as to hold those. Ask for pickle. Awesome.

Like the others have said, if you don’t pay attention to the address it’s easy to miss :) I had the Chicken Salad since everyone raves about it. It was no frills but just really basic, I personally thought that makes it easy for you to add your own Salt and Pepper to taste etc… I loved that they had lots of choices and they are friendly and nice. Their Prices are AMAZING, sooo cheap for how much food you get! I would definitely go there again.

Great little hole in the wall place with SUPER good sandwiches. I got egg salad on toasted sourdough with all the garden included. I needed a fork to clean up my plate. The egg salad and chicken salad are my favorites. From talking to the owner, she has recently opened a new store the behind Kennestone Hospital. The atmosphere is better at the new place, but the food can’t get any better.
I love family owned and operated businesses. Stop by and give them a try. You wont be disappointed.

Just a great little sandwich shop up the road from my office. Really small, but has an outdoor patio. Great sandwiches and other treats… cash or check only so beware. Also, only open for breakfast and lunch.

I took a risk and stopped her after seeing only one review and I actually asked some people what they thought about it at the Starbuck’s as well. The restaurant is located inside an old Brick Apartment building along with several other stores/business’s. So this spot is what was probably a one or two bedroom apartment. It is very small. But there are two sitting areas. It was really cramped in the line that lined up in the front eating area where there are about 6 tables. It took 10 – 15 minutes for me to get to the front of the line and then 5 more for them to take my order.
I ordered a Chicken Salad sandwich on Onion Roll and a Turkey sandwich on French Roll. Initially the young lady preparing my Chicken Salad Sandwich slathered a pile of Mayo on both side of the Onion Roll and I asked her «Who is that for?» she politely said you and I said «No ma’am! NO MAYO for me.» So she then took the knife and removed all of the mayo from both sides of the bread and said do you want mustard. Well, as nice as I cold at that moment, I said «I want bread that does nor did not have Mayo on it. So that Onion Roll is not going to work for me. But to answer your question, yes ma’am I would like Mustard. NO MAYO.» Of course now I understand from Boo #2 that I was being mean. But if you go out with me then you know the first thing I say after the Meat and Bread types is NO MAYO. Plus it’s a CHICKEN SALAD Sandwich there’s already enough Mayo in it… Sooooo once we got past that part everything else seemed to flow properly with my Turkey sandwich order. Although I did say Thank You and she acted as if she didn’t hear me. Hmmm!
So as far as the food review goes… I really enjoyed the Chicken Salad sandwich. It tastes like the kind my grandmother used to make. Fresh out of the slow cooker then the chicken is chopped up very fine. I enjoyed the fact that it did not have apples nor pecans in it. The Turkey sandwich which I ate half for dinner just now was also very good. The Turkey itself was not sweet like I like my turkey but it was still very moist and thinly sliced. It did have two tomatoes that I would have not allowed to be placed on my sandwich if I was able to see them. And this place charges extra for Cheese. WTF? Sandwiches come with Lettuce, Tomato and Cheese. That’s like a standard thing right? But they did have these ultra thin slices of cucumber on each sandwich. for less than $ 9 just for the two, no soda nor chips, I think it’s a good deal. Oh yeah and there is an additional charge if you want a Croissant as well.
Will I go back? Maybe. Especially if I am hungry as hell like I was today and low on cash. I did REALLY ENJOY the food, but my Anger Management class taught me to just not do attitudes nor people with them so the 4 Star is now a 3 Star.

You’ll miss it if you blink. So don’t blink! This comfy, little, hole-​in-​the-​wall produces some of the best sandwiches you’ll ever have. Given my complete reverence of all things sandwich, I do not make these statements lightly.
First of all, this place has been around thirty years. THIRTY. For sandwiches. That should tell you something. And it’s only open for lunch (10am to 2:30pm, M-​F). All sandwiches are made to order using nice, soft bread with freshly prepared meats, cheeses, and locally grown produce. You can easily feed yourself a meal of sandwich, chips, and a drink for right around $ 5. It is their specifically stated goal to keep their customers happy with high-​quality, inexpensive meals. Let me tell you, you won’t be disappointed.
I had a chicken salad sandwich the first time I visited, and I can see why this is a best-​seller. I had a warm turkey sandwich the next day, and knew then that I’d be a Lunch Basket devotee if I lived anywhere near the place.
Owner Tonya Bruce bought the place ten years ago (she was an employee there for a decade before that). She and her staff are clearly putting heart and soul into their work. Employees joke with each other and sing while they’re working – always a good sign. There seems to be a very loyal following of regulars, and Tonya takes a personal, friendly interest in her customers. I have the suspicion that regular customers are something like family in this place.
Have I raved enough, yet? Did I mention that The Lunch Basket also serve wraps, hand-​crafted soups, and desserts? They do. Let’s go. I’m driving.