Jimmy John’s Vito Review

In the world of fast-food sandwich restaurants, I have a few favorites- Panera Bread for their soups and baguettes, Subway for their myriad of choices in toppings, and Jimmy John’s for their quality ingredients and super fast sandwich-making skills. But Jimmy John’s has a few other things going for them as well, making them a favorite among millions of other sandwich-lovers in the US. For now, we’ll explore the taste and nutrition of Jimmy John’s Vito, their famous 8-inch Italian Sub. 

History and Inspiration

A significant percentage of most chains are corporate-owned; In-n-Out is 100% corporate-owned, McDonald’s is about ten percent. At Jimmy John’s, it’s all about the franchisees; however: 98 percent of all locations are franchise-owned.

Jimmy John’s was founded in 1983 by Jimmy John Liautaud. His father gave him a choice to join the military or start a business, so Jimmy John accepted a $25,000 loan from his father and opened a small sandwich shop in their garage in Charleston, Illinois. These humble beginnings quickly led to success thanks to his location near Eastern Illinois University and his decision to offer delivery services. He quickly paid his father back, opened a handful of stores, developed a prototype, and in 1993, the first franchise opened. By 2001, the 100th Jimmy John’s restaurant opened, and in 2010, the 1,000th store opened. Remarkably, 200 new locations are opening each year in every state except Maine, Alaska, and Hawaii. Jimmy John’s franchises create about 210 new jobs per week, and since 1983, the franchise has created about 45,000 jobs. 

With so many new locations opening all the time, the food must be good, right? Not surprisingly, their sandwiches are delicious and fresh, made-to-order, and delivered almost as quickly as they’re ordered. 

Types of Jimmy John’s Vito

Jimmy John’s Vito is a tasty Italian sandwich made with hand-sliced salami, capicola, and provolone cheese, but it can be ordered a few different ways. You can choose fresh-baked 8-inch or Giant 16-inch French bread, thick-sliced wheat bread, or the healthy breadless version- the lettuce-wrapped Unwich. The Vito comes topped with freshly-sliced lettuce, tomato, onion, oil & vinegar, and oregano-basil. Any extra toppings can be added for free, so you can customize your sandwich any way you like. 

Jimmy John’s Vito Review

Jimmy John’s Vito Italian sub features Genoa salami, provolone, capicola, onion, lettuce, tomato, and an Italian vinaigrette on bread (or lettuce!). Still, my personal favorite is the French bread, which is strong enough to hold all the ingredients together yet soft enough to chew.   

1.      Taste and Texture [5/5]

I’ve already mentioned the bread, but it’s worth mentioning again. The French bread is perfect for a sub sandwich, and it’s freshly baked all day every day. The whole wheat is also a great choice if you want a slightly healthier version of the Vito. Crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside, and hinged together down one side to hold everything together, this is perfect for eating on the go. The meat, cheese, and veggies all work together well, with none of the individual ingredients dominating the others. Sometimes “meaty” sandwiches are so full that I pick the meat out about half-way through eating it. The meats and cheeses are brought in fresh and sliced by hand daily in every single Jimmy John’s location. I also appreciate the freshness and crispness of the veggies- the tomatoes are nice and red, and the onions and lettuce are sliced perfectly, giving you a clean, crisp bite throughout the whole sandwich. The oil and vinaigrette top it off perfectly, making one flavorful Italian sub.

2. Are they healthy? [4/5]

Because the Vito can be made in several different ways, you can make it as healthy as you want. Well, within reason. Of course, the meat is high in sodium, but if you order your Vito as an “Unwich,” you can get the carbs down to 10 grams or less. An Unwich is Jimmy John’s version of a breadless sandwich, wrapped in giant lettuce leaves. If you’re really health-conscious, you’ll want to stick to the “Slim” sandwich items on the menu and load up on extra free veggies. This roast beef, turkey, lettuce, tomato, and mayo sandwich is the healthiest choice in the hearty section of the menu, with the lowest calories and fat and more lean meats and veggies than other sandwiches. However, it’s still high in sodium (1,660 mg) and Calories (684 calories). 

3. Are they Worth it? [5/5]

It always seems to me that Jimmy John’s offers slightly fresher-tasting ingredients than some of the other sandwich restaurants, with meat and cheeses sliced by hand daily, and French bread baked daily. Fun tip- you can purchase day-old bread for $0.50, which is excellent for cutting into small slices and baking garlic bread. The Vito is one of the most popular subs, and it’s definitely worth it. 

Final Verdict

Speedy service, fresh ingredients, and perfect portion sizes- for these reasons, Jimmy John’s is high on my list of favorite fast-food chains. The Vito is packed full of yummy Italian flavors, cheese, meat, and dressing, and it’s consistent in flavor- always delicious. I definitely recommend this Italian sub. 

Jimmy John’s Vito Nutrition Facts 

• Calories – 644 (from Fat – 290)
• Fat – 32g (Saturated Fat – 11g)
• Sodium – 1464mg
• Carbs – 60g
• Protein – 30g

Jimmy John’s Vito Pricing 

An 8″ sub is $5.99, which is the same price as Subway’s similar Spicy Italian sub, except Jimmy John’s Italian Vito is 8 inches, whereas Subway’s is a 6-inch sub. (The Foot Long Spicy Italian Sub is $8.49.) Free add-ons at Jimmy John’s range from Dijon mustard to onions to hot peppers. 

What do you think? 

Are you a Jimmy John’s Vito fan? How do you customize your sub? We’d love to hear in the comments below. Also, if you’re a Superfan, check out their online store where you can purchase fun Jimmy John’s merchandise, like boxers, duffel bags, or even winter coats.