Pot Belly @ 17th and JFK Blvd.

History of My Discovery: I received a coupon in my mailbox from this restaurant. The coupon had a free salad or sandwich offer and I decided to give a try. What best to try a restaurant than for free?

Location: It is located on the left side of 17th st when heading south on 18th from JFK Blvd intersection.

Ambiance: Well lit with large section of tables with space for many customers to sit. The place is a self serve fast food chain kind of a place. It had 2 sections, The upper section had the food counter where you can order food and small place with 2 tables. The lower section, had stairs connecting from the upper section, is bigger and had many more tables to sit. The street outside is always busy and you can distinctly feel that noise coming in.

Food I had: I had a Veggie Salad that had artichoke, roasted peppers, chickpeas, cucumbers and tomatoes. Nothing else stuck out of the normal to try from the menu. They are different sandwiches, pan pizza and salads on the menu. They also had smoothies, cookies, coffee and other beverages.

Portion size: Had to compare the size of a salad. To me a salad seems to fill the appetite for only about 30 minutes.

Price: $7-$9.

Rating: 3/5

Cosi - American @ 201 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA

About the Place: Cosi is a cozy place where you get hand tossed salads and flat bread sandwiches. It's a fast food place with ambiance of a good restaurant. I usually get a sandwich. For those who have not been to Cosi's, the sandwiches here are unique from the regular sandwiches. The bread has the feel of a pizza crust and the bread could be seen kneaded and put in the oven while you are waiting for your order. It is a little salty though.

Wait Time: The wait time is about 15-20 minutes on average and could be a little more sometimes depending on the day of the visit.

Location: Located just a block away from the Rittenhouse square on the Walnut Street in Center City. It offers a great ambiance to sit in during winters or sit out during summers and fall. Since it is a block away from Rittenhouse Square, I prefer taking my sandwich to the park during summer especially when some event is going on there.

What I had: I tried different sandwiches namely Tandoori Chicken, Hummus & Fresh Veggies Sandwich, Vegi Muffaletta, Turkey Light Sandwiches. I normally take a side of carrots with them, though you have an option of taking Potato Chips instead with your sandwich. The bread is well baked and contents in the sandwich are fresh. The sandwich is about 6 in. length and honey mustard spread they use on the bread is my favorite. The package is good to handle. It is handy to eat with your hand directly or with the warp around it. The contents are not greasy and do not leak. You need something to drink along with it, a glass of water, coke or whatever is your choice.

Cost: The sandwiches cost $6-7 and add a buck or so with Tax.

Quantity: The size of the sandwich is on the conservative side. The menu selection if of healthy lifestyle and hence the portion of it as well.

Recommendation: 4/5

Conclusion: I would highly recommend this especially when I am in a mood for a good walk and am in mood for a light meal on a wonderful day. If you are hungry and are in a mood for a heavy lunch, this is not the place. But the location, ambiance makes it a great place to have food with your friends/colleagues. There is one more store just a 2 blocks away at 1700 Market St, Philadelphia, PA, but it always has a huge line during lunch. Be on the lookout for the local metro that occasionally carries a $2 coupon on a sandwich or a salad and an additional coupon that can be used for a friend accompanying you. The Missing star is due to the wait and size of the portion.