Have you ever looked at a submarine sandwich roll and thought, “Hey, that kind of looks like a giant pickle?” Well, someone at Jimmy John’s had that exact thought, and it has culminated in the creation of “The Picklewich.” Available for a limited time, this unusual offering replaces bread entirely with a massive dill pickle, and as a seasoned fast-food reviewer, I felt it was my duty to dive headfirst into this briny adventure for the benefit of sandwich enthusiasts everywhere.
As someone who genuinely loves both pickles and sandwiches, the concept of merging them so literally by using a pickle as the bread seemed like a bold, perhaps even excessive, move. Would the pickle flavor overwhelm everything else? Could the fillings even shine through? And more practically, could one eat this in public without making a complete mess?
Driven by curiosity (and professional obligation), I ventured to Jimmy John’s the moment the Picklewich was launched to experience this dill pickle sandwich firsthand. Here’s my honest take.
Decoding the Dill Pickle Sandwich: What Exactly is the Picklewich?
The name really says it all: Picklewich = pickle + sandwich. For this limited-edition menu item, Jimmy John’s ditches their signature freshly baked French bread and instead uses a large dill pickle, sliced lengthwise, to house the sandwich fillings.
According to the official Jimmy John’s website, the initial rollout featured two specific versions: the Vito Picklewich, loaded with salami, capocollo, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, oil, vinegar, and oregano-basil; and the Turkey Picklewich, featuring turkey, provolone cheese, lettuce, and tomato. However, upon ordering in person, the friendly staff informed me that they could transform virtually any Jimmy John’s sub into a Picklewich, which was an unexpected and welcome level of customization.
Taste Test: Is the Jimmy John’s Picklewich Actually Delicious?
Jimmy John's Cuban Picklewich: A dill pickle sandwich with bacon, ham, provolone, mayo, and mustard, reviewed by Taste of Home.
Intrigued by the possibilities, I requested the Jimmy John’s team to “Picklewich-ify” their Cubano. This variation usually includes bacon, ham, provolone, mayo, and mustard, in addition to the standard sliced pickles. While I appreciated their adventurous spirit in creating a pickle-on-pickle sandwich, our initial suspicions were confirmed: it was, in fact, too much pickle. After just one bite, I had to remove the inner pickle slices, carefully setting them aside for later enjoyment.
Even without the extra pickles, the sandwich still leaned heavily into pickle territory. This experience highlighted a crucial point: bread isn’t just a convenient holder for sandwich ingredients; it plays a vital role in flavor balance. Bread acts as a neutral canvas, allowing the diverse flavors of meats, cheeses, and condiments to harmonize. Without it, the intense sodium and sourness of the dill pickle became overwhelmingly dominant, effectively silencing the other flavors. Bread serves as a buffer, a mediator between the strong personality of the pickle and the other sandwich components. Remove it, and you’re left with a flavor profile dominated by salt and tang.
While I have a deep appreciation for all kinds of pickles, in a sandwich context, they typically function best when sliced and used as a complementary element. Using a whole pickle as the primary structure delivers an intensity of flavor that, while enjoyable on its own, overshadows the nuances of ham and other fillings. Despite its shortcomings as a traditional sandwich, the Picklewich does possess a certain novelty. It’s a fast-food curiosity, a conversation starter, and potentially a fun snack to share with fellow pickle enthusiasts – ideally those without sodium sensitivities.
Dill Pickle Sandwich Duration: How Long Will the Picklewich Be Around?
For those brave enough to try it, the Picklewich is currently available at all Jimmy John’s locations nationwide. However, this dill pickle sandwich is a fleeting phenomenon, set to disappear from the menu after November 14th. If you’re a pickle fanatic but unsure about committing to a full Picklewich, Jimmy John’s has also brought back their pickle-flavored potato chips, offering a milder pickle fix.
