Jimmy D's East Coast Cafe: Turkey with a twist

Sandwich Shop Makes Several Great Ones; Breakfast Isn't Bad, Either

By Linda B. Blackford Lblackford@herald-Leader.Com

Jimmy Duggan is a born and bred Bostonian and professional foodie who stopped in Lexington for a few months of work and ended up liking it. A lot.

So much, in fact, that he's brought his Northern cuisine to the Leestown Road corridor with Jimmy D's East Coast Cafe.

So the name is the first clue that Jimmy D. is "not from around here," as some like to say. Other clues include "grinders" instead of subs, fast service and some very sharp combinations. It's nothing fancy, but it's definitely a step above your average sandwich shop.

Many of the sandwiches come with a nice twist. At a big group lunch with co-workers, we tried, for example, grilled turkey panini with a spinach artichoke spread that added a great bite to a sometimes bland combination. The muffuletta had just the right combination of ham, cheese and salami. The Reuben, a test of any sandwich shop, passed muster with ease.

On the other hand, the veggie sandwich was good but not quite hot enough. The daily special was lasagna, ordered by a Jimmy D's fan, who said it was the only time he's been disappointed there, because of the lasagna's blandness.

(He says he's going to stick with his favorite: the sausage, onion and pepper grinder.) The chicken parmesan grinder was good but not breathtaking, although there were many compliments on the quality of the bread.

My companions and I went with more complicated choices, but there are plenty of straight-up deli offerings, like a hot pastrami with mustard or a cold meatloaf sandwich.

Jimmy D's is open only during the day, but it serves breakfast with good biscuits and freshly made scrambled eggs. The breakfast burrito of bacon, egg and cheese was delicious, and the coffee and grilled potatoes were definitely above par.

As someone who thinks there can never be enough sandwich places, I think Jimmy D's make a great addition to Lexington; judging by the lunch crowd there, plenty of people agree. It's a casual place: You order and then find a seat, but the service was speedy, so it allows for quick lunch breaks.

Sandwiches, which come with chips, range from $4.75 to $6.95. Everything on the breakfast menu is $3.99 or less.

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Jimmy D's East Coast Cafe

Address: 1395 W. Main St., in Meadowthorpe. Hours: 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Phone: (859) 246-1708. Online: www.jimmydsecc.com. Other: Handicapped accessible.