The Linden Store, 162 Linden St. (781) 235-9837
Our take, February 2015: The fun family-owned deli that seats 31, including 2 handicapped-accessible spots, has a ton of variety on the menu (from sandwiches — cheesesteak is yummy — to smoothies to soup) and can be a real madhouse at lunch, though the staff does a great job juggling it all.
Owners (and brothers) Greg and Mark LeBrun expanded the 1,380 square foot restaurant into the once- empty space next door in February 2015, increasing their business to 2,400 square feet.
We stopped in on the first day they re-opened to see what they’d done with the place. Walking in was a bit like entering a saloon in that everybody seated at the stools near the entrance stopped eating, stopped talking, checked us out, and then went back to their lunches.
Clearing that hurdle, we bellied up to the counter and ordered lunch. There was plenty of friendly, efficient staff on hand to take our order of a toasted meatball sub with cheese and a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sub, no mayo. Both items came as ordered, and we were moved along smoothly to the cashier, and then to what was, at the time we went in (12:30, weekday, school cancelled due to snow day), plenty of seating to choose from.
The meatball sub was hot with plenty of cheese in the proper state of melt, and a nice tomato sauce. My companion reported that the BLT came with lots of bacon, tomatoes that are about as good as they can be in the middle of the winter, and crisp lettuce.
The menu has all the old stand-bys, but the place has certainly changed in appearance. The white subway tile backsplashes and the crisply painted grey, white, and bright blue accent walls give it a clean feel. The gleaming stainless steel appliances let you know that the owners made their wish for more modern food storage a reality. Look for the university pennants and other homey touches to go back up in the next week or so as the LeBrun’s make the space their own.
The Linden Store is open:
Monday: 6:30 a.m. – 4:00p.m.
Tuesday through Friday: 6:30 a.m.- 5:30p.m.
Saturday: 6:30 a.m.- 3:00p.m.
Closed Sunday (Open by appointment only)
