Quick Take:
Location: Lakeland
What Mike Ordered: The Timmy B (Cold Sandwich)
What Katie Ordered: Pesto Chicken (Hot Sandwich)
Gluten Free Options: Yes
Vegetarian Options: Yes
Final Score: 5/5
Price: ~$10–20 per person
For our twenty fourth stop on our Polk Food Quest, we stopped by Jessie's Gourmet Sandwiches in Lakeland.
Jessie's made it on our list of The Best Sandwiches in Polk County, but after experiencing it for myself I am blown away that it didn't come in the top 3-5...
When I first saw pictures before visiting I was worried I was going to leave hungry, but I was blown away by the food (and how full I was on one sandwich, no side).
But, I'll save this for the full write-ups below...
For now, all you need to know is that Jessie's NEEDS to be in the discussion any time you're discussing the best sandwich in Polk County.
Period.
By the way: if you're new here, the concept of my Polk Food Quest is simple: every week I try a local spot, order the most common thing people get, try a few extras, and rank it on taste, value, vibes, and overall.
This week: Sandwiches!
Which means I ordered a Timmy B (turkey BLT with cheddar and house aioli), and Katie ordered a hot pesto chicken sandwich.
How Does This Work?
I order the standard item for that category (for Jessie's that's a cold & hot sandwich), plus a few extras so I can get a full feel for the menu.
Then I rank the experience on four things:
Taste | Value | Vibes | 
Overall
Taste focuses on the standard item.
The rest reflects the entire experience.
Taste: 5/5
Jessie's Gourmet Sandwiches blew me away.
I was expecting basically the opposite of what I got.
I thought the bread was going to be hard, I was going to be leaving hungry, and the sandwich was going to taste like something I could just make at home.
Completely wrong.
The bread was amazing and the finished product was amazing and filled me up.
Here's a quick breakdown for my quick scanners, though:
- Timmy B: Basically a turkey BLT (my go-to) with cheddar and house aioli. This is my jam, so if you do it wrong, I'll notice and you'll lose me. But this one was not only done Jessie's way, but it was perfect.
- Chicken Pesto: Katie got the chicken pesto and was worried she was going to like mine more and we'd need to split. I was lucky to get one bite just to say I tried it!
Both sandwiches were amazing and we're excited to get back and try more of the menu.
The only issue is how much I liked the Timmy B because now it'll be hard ordering anything else 😂
Vibes: 5/5
Vibes are another easy 5/5.
I rank this on:
- The Physical Location
- Hospitality/Service
- The Interior/Space
And Jessie's nailed all three.
It's in a great location in Lakeland, the hospitality was amazing, and not only do they have a drive-through to make it nice and easy for lunch, but they have a beautiful little outdoor seating section that makes it easy as well (which was also spotless).
Right from the moment we walked in they were extremely helpful, and they even came out to make sure everything was good and cleaned up after us and checked in again (and this is not a sit down restaurant..)
Not much more we could ask for.
The Lean Squeeze
The lowest-calorie, highest-protein, most satiating picks on the menu — chosen by Mike, who spent a decade in the fitness industry before The Polk Squeeze.
Mike's Pick: Chicken Caesar
Romaine, grilled chicken, parm cheese, dressing on the side. Grilled chicken is the protein play here, not breaded. Ask them to hold the croutons and go light on the parm. Use half the dressing instead of all of it. You keep the volume from the romaine and the protein from the chicken and drop the easiest carbs off the plate.
Alternative Picks: Pesto Chicken
Grilled chicken and caramelized onions on toasted ciabatta. Ask for it without the provolone and balsamic glaze. Still bread, so it's a step up in carbs from the salad, but grilled chicken beats breaded chicken every time, and dropping the cheese and glaze keeps the rest of it clean.
Mike's Note: I'd get the Chicken Caesar if I was really dieting and tagging along with people who were grabbing sandwiches, but the chances of me turning down one of the sandwiches Katie and I ordered AS IS ... is slim.
Value: 5/5
With a 5/5 for taste, a 5/5 for vibes, and prices that felt great, Jessie's gets another 5/5 — this time for value.
I was worried about this one specifically when heading to Jessie's because, as I mentioned, I thought I might be leaving hungry.
But that wasn't the case.
We felt the $13 or so for each of our sandwiches was extremely reasonable for the whole experience.
Another easy 5/5.
Overall: 5/5
Jessie's gets a 5/5 across the board for us.
This is a spot that needs to be in the discussion anytime the best sandwiches in Polk County are being discussed.
Would I bring my visiting family there?
Definitely.
This is the perfect spot to escape downtown a bit and relax for a quick bite, or just grab it for on-the-go.
The food quality is what brings you back, but the option to drive-through or sit and stay a bit is a bonus.
Here’s how I’d sum up Jessie's Gourmet Sandwiches:
This is one of those spots that clears every bar at once.
Taste, vibes, value, it's all there.
Nothing about the visit gave us a reason to hesitate on the next one.
If you're new to Jessie's, go in expecting to be impressed.
If you're already a regular, you already know.
Jessie's is at towards the top of my list when discussing the best sandwiches I've had in Polk County.
Before You Go....
Hey!
I want to know what you think of Jessie's Gourmet Sandwiches in Lakeland.
Leave a comment below.
The more you share, the better, but anything is appreciated.
Each comment helps The Best Of Polk articles and eventually, the yearly awards!
Have a place you want me to try?
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I agree 100% with your review. Jessie’s has been one of our hidden gems since they opened. Great sandwiches and service every time .