Absolutely delicious, go here!!!! Best Italian I’ve had in NC.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brandon
If I could give this place 6 starts I would. Best sandwich in the triangle hands down. There's a reason they have a line down the block when they
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aakash Gupta
Durham’s best kept (not so secret) food spot
Taylor Fulwider
Tried the special- “Chicken Rancher” + the “Roast Turkey” today…would absolutely recommend the special if they have it on the menu again, it was a 10/10!! The roast turkey bread was a little dry but the ingredients were super flavorful and fresh—overall, would definitely recommend giving it a try & will go again if in the area!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Alex Parker
Best sandwich and bread in Durham. No frills environment, but amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Cutlet Broccoli Rabe
JSF GIG
I’m from outside Philadelphia where hoagies and the bread used is key to an amazing hoagie and Ideal’s has it all. Amazing bread and fresh meats! We waited in line for about 40 minutes and it was well worth it. We came from downtown Raleigh and will be back!
This joint is everything you want and more from a sandwich shop. I heard about this place from background conversations in a co-working space. As a self proclaimed sandwich connoisseur, when “this is honestly the best bread I’ve ever eaten” gets thrown around, I turn my head and interject. Boy am I glad I did. A 3 mile stroll across town on a Saturday morning led me to this gem at approximately 11:40 AM, 20 minutes before this place opens. I was met with at least 30 people already in line. Not only does the line add to the anticipation, it is filled with joyous locals socializing and chatting. Refreshing. The line is part of the experience. Okay okay, on to the sandwich. I went roasted turkey on focaccia. The only problem I now have is going back wanting to try ‘em all but not wanting to deviate from RT. Everything fresh. Nothing they sell they don’t make in house. In a world where everything and everyone seems to be polarizing and divisive in some way, Ideal’s forces you to put the world on pause and come together with your neighbors to break bread they way it’s meant to me. I’ve never been a huge “stare at art” and think it’s cool guy. But that changed today. These sandwiches are art. And yes, the homemade chips are required. Truly iconic place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Akilah Smallwood
Best sandwiches in town!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Harlem Chopped Cheese
Erwin Soto
Probably one of the best sandwiches I’ve eaten in this area. Highly recommended!
This is the best sandwich in the Triangle. It’s gotten really popular, but still worth the wait.Vegetarian options: The fried eggplant sandwiches are delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Eggplant and Ricotta, Eggplant and Ricotta on Rosemary Focaccia, Harlem Chopped Cheese, Focaccia Sandwich, Chicken Cutlet Broccoli Rabe, Uncle Primos Chicken Cutlet
Claudio Gonzalez
Updated score. Customer service hasn't improved much but this time we were able to try the food!
If I could give more stars, I would. This place is UNREAL. Been here 5 times and tried 5 diff sandwiches and I always feel like the previous one can’t be topped…but they always find a way ? Make sure you get there early enough because they do run out of bread occasionally, but you will NOT be disappointed for going out of your way to try Ideals. THANK YOU IDEALS!! Y’all deliver the best sandwiches around
Absolutely delicious, go here!!!! Best Italian I’ve had in NC.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If I could give this place 6 starts I would. Best sandwich in the triangle hands down. There's a reason they have a line down the block when they
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Durham’s best kept (not so secret) food spot
Tried the special- “Chicken Rancher” + the “Roast Turkey” today…would absolutely recommend the special if they have it on the menu again, it was a 10/10!! The roast turkey bread was a little dry but the ingredients were super flavorful and fresh—overall, would definitely recommend giving it a try & will go again if in the area!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Best sandwich and bread in Durham. No frills environment, but amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Cutlet Broccoli Rabe
I’m from outside Philadelphia where hoagies and the bread used is key to an amazing hoagie and Ideal’s has it all. Amazing bread and fresh meats! We waited in line for about 40 minutes and it was well worth it. We came from downtown Raleigh and will be back!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Broccoli Rabe with Roast Pork, Italian, Pulled Pork, Chicken Cutlet Broccoli Rabe
this place
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Uncle Primos Chicken Cutlet Sandwich
This joint is everything you want and more from a sandwich shop. I heard about this place from background conversations in a co-working space. As a self proclaimed sandwich connoisseur, when “this is honestly the best bread I’ve ever eaten” gets thrown around, I turn my head and interject. Boy am I glad I did. A 3 mile stroll across town on a Saturday morning led me to this gem at approximately 11:40 AM, 20 minutes before this place opens. I was met with at least 30 people already in line. Not only does the line add to the anticipation, it is filled with joyous locals socializing and chatting. Refreshing. The line is part of the experience. Okay okay, on to the sandwich. I went roasted turkey on focaccia. The only problem I now have is going back wanting to try ‘em all but not wanting to deviate from RT. Everything fresh. Nothing they sell they don’t make in house. In a world where everything and everyone seems to be polarizing and divisive in some way, Ideal’s forces you to put the world on pause and come together with your neighbors to break bread they way it’s meant to me. I’ve never been a huge “stare at art” and think it’s cool guy. But that changed today. These sandwiches are art. And yes, the homemade chips are required. Truly iconic place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best sandwiches in town!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Harlem Chopped Cheese
Probably one of the best sandwiches I’ve eaten in this area. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Broccoli Rabe with Roast Pork, Chicken Cutlet Broccoli Rabe
Restaurantji Recommends
This place is amazing. The wait is absolutely worth it. I cannot recommend the chicken cutlet sandwiches enough. The focaccia roll is amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Italian, Chicken Cutlet Broccoli Rabe
This is the best sandwich in the Triangle. It’s gotten really popular, but still worth the wait.Vegetarian options: The fried eggplant sandwiches are delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Eggplant and Ricotta, Eggplant and Ricotta on Rosemary Focaccia, Harlem Chopped Cheese, Focaccia Sandwich, Chicken Cutlet Broccoli Rabe, Uncle Primos Chicken Cutlet
Updated score. Customer service hasn't improved much but this time we were able to try the food!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Harlem Chopped Cheese, Uncle Primos Chicken Cutlet
If I could give more stars, I would. This place is UNREAL. Been here 5 times and tried 5 diff sandwiches and I always feel like the previous one can’t be topped…but they always find a way ? Make sure you get there early enough because they do run out of bread occasionally, but you will NOT be disappointed for going out of your way to try Ideals. THANK YOU IDEALS!! Y’all deliver the best sandwiches around
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best sandwiches in
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Cutlet Sandwich, Turkey and Cheese, Chicken Cutlet Broccoli Rabe