Big Cheese Inc

Reviews 4

A

A Private User

Dont pass it by just based on these reviews. Food is ALWAYS good. Consistently. I was looking to see if this place had a web site and couldnt help chuckling at all of the conflicting comments, because I love the place but for years had to brace myself to go in. I still did, it was one of my treats if downtown. They have been here as long as I can remember and I have been here about 40 years-Im guessing they are going on 20-30 at least. I had to comment-because all of it is true-and the good totally outweighs the bad by far. Excellent Food, yummy cheeses and sodas, yes it is overpriced but absolutely nothing isnt in Annapolis and their sandwiches are larger than most of the same price, There is no seating but this shop has been around forever, probably 20-30 years-originally in the market house which was flooded out-the market house served to-go food for locals and people maybe strolling through. They were forced to move but luckily just down the block. They can be EXTREMELY RUDE, I am not sure what determines your experience because it appears totally random, and I know plenty of people who have commented on it as well. It has never seemed personal exactly - usually just surly and unresponsive, or were in friendly mode randomly - so one customer is getting super duper nice and the other mainly just gets a grudging attitude. I have always been devoted to a couple of their sandwiches and always told them how much I loved them...for the LONGEST time they were rude even when I sang their praises to them. Eventually they became friendly. Honestly I see no reason they should need to cater to anyone they do not want to. I find almost everyone to be extremely rude downtown and plenty do it while smiling appropriately. Ill take the character and quality and just plain local loyalty with the Big Cheese over almost any of the other food service places down here. The Big Cheese always offers more than acceptable service as far as what they sell-it is always consistent in quality and quick and efficient enough getting it into your hands to eat-which works for me. I am usually trying to get my food and run from all of the invading tourists. Ive actually decided I prefer this place to most of the places where everyone puts on a fake smile and chimes "have a nice day" while looking right past you. You wont get the mistakes in orders you get from these robot smiley faces, you get real stuff. People are people and I see so much complete lack of courtesy from smiling service people who dont really give a damn. I can say that when they do want to be nice...they are exceptionally nice, offer samples, know their stuff, and show sincere pleasure in what they do...I think they maybe even love it. So go anyway, because its no more overpriced than anything else down here, is really tasty, has been around longer than most businesses here have clung on-even after Isabel which devastated many.

A

A Private User

This was our first and last trip to this deli. I noticed right off the bat how slow the service was. After finally ordering, my daughter accidently dropped a bottle of tea on the ground which shattered. The old woman behind the counter freaked out and said, “That’s why we don’t allow kids to hold glass bottles.” Ok, where was the sign that said that?!? 1) That felt like a dig at me (the mom) who happened to be holding my infant. Did I mention my daughter is nine and was only trying to help me while I held her crying brother? 2) My daughter immediately felt bad and began to cry. The lady kept saying how she couldn’t believe it and that it was a bad time of the day for this to happen. It was 11:00 and there were two people in line. As she continued to go on about this tragedy, I told her to just give my daughter the mop and she would clean it up. The lady said it was “too big of a job” and continued mumbling under her breath. She was content complaining about it. I even offered to pay for the broken bottle. After the sandwich was finally ready (it took forever), she continued to shake her head and mumbled in our direction and I reminded her to charge us for the other bottle. Her reply was, “Oh, I will!” Then another shop worker walked in and says, “What the hell happened here?” How completely unprofessional! Then she rolled her eyes at my daughter who at this point was crying. One of the customers was nice enough to come to her and say that accidents happen and that the owners were stressed out apparently over the two sandwiches they were making. After finally paying, $18.92 for one sandwich, one small bag of chips, and two drinks (1 broken), we left. We finally got to eat our sandwich and it was nothing special. Matter of fact, it was just gross and found its way to the trash. We will never go back to this place an urge everyone else not to either.

CH

Cheryl Burke

Two words come to mind when describing my experience today at the BIG CHEESE. Rude. Inedible. I first heard of the Big Cheese in December from my Midshipman. I heard from another friend it was a must try... So after 6 months of anticipation I finally found myself downtown and able to stop in. Initially I was very impressed. The women, who was clearly in charge, helped find a safe place for my sons to sit while I looked at the menu. I was very thankful for her help! When I try a new place- I enjoy reading the description of each item. So I set out to read the menu... after a few seconds the women in charge asked me what I would like to order. I thought- how helpful! I described to her what my friend had suggested. (She did not listen.) She quickly pointed me to a popular sandwich and guaranteed I would enjoy it. I did not. I actually didnt even finish it. What I did eat of it was choked down. But- My story does not end there. When she called me forward to pay I began to order fountain drinks. She interrupted me and said, "We are in a hurry- you need to order faster!" I was shocked! I was midsentence in making my order. If I had not been with friends I would have immediately left. But- being polite to those I was with I ordered my drinks. Paid. Chocked down my way over priced DISGUSTING INEDIBLE SANDWICH. Not to mention this disgusting sandwich was NOT what I had been anticipating for 6 months. I will not be returning to try the actual sandwich I went into the shop to try. I will not be recommending this location to anyone.

A

A Private User

I completely agree with the other reviewer. My husband and I went to Annapolis for a nice weekend away from DC and stopped into this store for a sandwich. The woman who apparently owns the store and runs the register was the RUDEST PERSON I HAVE EVER MET. My husband placed his order, and when I ordered mine she suggested we upgrade our $8 sandwiches to be served on a "French baguette" for an extra $2. I looked at the description of my sandwich and pointed out that it said it came on a baguette. With a virtual sneer she said that was "an American baguette." I said the American baguette would be fine, and she continued writing down our order physically shaking her head with obvious disgust. When the guy behind us ordered a sandwich on the French baguette, she looked pointedly at me and told him that "he had excellent taste." I personally do not understand why someone so rude would even dream of being in a customer service position. We will NEVER go back there, and we tell everyone we know to avoid it...which is too bad because the sandwiches were quite good.