I am obsessed with Darwin's. Everyone I know from friends to coworkers has heard of Darwin's and most probably been and recommended it to their friends too. I love that the menu changes every two weeks to be able to experience all the different flavour combinations that they have to create. Staff is always friendly and remembers my name every time. Music is always playing and the decor is fun. Great lunch spot, just wish they were open on weekends! read more

Today I decided to give Darwin a second go as I was downtown and this is one of those reviews that really stuck in my craw. Because with so much positive feedback I had a feeling I caught a bad special or an off day for the person making the food. Today I stopped by and decided to skip the special and just get a mainstay sandwich off the menu their "hungry like the wolf" which is basically like an oddball philly steak sandwich with roast beef and onions and peppers and such. The cross section on the sandwich showed me so much more fillings this time. The meat was sliced a lot thicker and every bite had a lot of filling and bread vs the last visit. It had flavor and wasn't bland the bread was fresh and incredibly chewy as it was the stretch bread and by all accounts light years a better experience to where I actually got to finish the whole thing this time. Still a little more expensive than your average sandwich jawn. Because the sandwich itself isn't huge. Maybe 7-8" and the sandwich with a drink and a small bag of chips was 13.50, so it's definitely not a place I'd come to all the time for a lunch. But definitely this time made my taste buds and stomach happy. Also kudos to the staff. I will say both visits I'm highly impressed with their efficiency of getting food out while still being friendly and helpful. Two visits same experience there. Owners should be proud of them. read more

Darwin - "Cuban" sandwich and buffalo mac and cheese. - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

I'm writing a follow up review to emphasize how much of a focus Darwin has on customer service. Yesterday, I went and picked up a sandwich, as I do usually once a week. When I got back to work and dug in, I noticed it was missing a key ingredient. Knowing Darwin pre makes some of their sandwiches ahead of time, I messaged them on Facebook to let them know they may need to check their pre mades as they may be missing an ingredient. They messaged me back within an hour, apologizing and explaining my order was mixed up with someone who ordered the same sandwich without that ingredient. They offered me a free sandwich for their mistake, which was unexpected and unnecessary, but they insisted. I stopped in today to take them up on the offer, and everyone was extremely friendly about it. The counter guy said "let's make up for yesterday" and thanked me for letting them know of the mistake. They offered me a drink and chips on top of the free sandwich, and as I walked out, the employee who handed me my meal said "thanks for not getting upset and making a big deal about our mistake. It only makes us want to continue to have you as a customer." Not only do they make delicious, creative sandwiches, but they have a staff full of friendly, first class employees who make you proud to patronize them. We could use more businesses like them in the area. read more

See all

This is the best places to get lunch downtown. It's fast. it's fresh. It's delicious. The staff is top-notch and you'll never meet a more friendly bunch. There menu changes every couple weeks and is always good. They have great vegetarian options and one of the best salads I have ever had. They will also put any sandwich over greens if you ask. They also have different soups every day, which are always on point. if you haven't been there give it a shot, you won't regret it! read more

After seeing such high ratings I thought I'd give this NY deli a try. I can definitely tell you it's a rip off and nothing like the typical NY delis. My sandwich was 12 bucks and it had two thin slices of Turkey on it. Complete rip off. So said because the staff was super friendly and the place was cute. Terrible to serve a 12 dollar sandwich with basically no meat. Check out the photo. read more

Darwin - 12 dollars for some bread because they definitely aren't filling it with Turkey. - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Absolutely adore this restaurant! The food is so delicious and healthy! I ordered my sandwich and forgot to order it as a wrap (my mistake) they re-made our sandwiches into wraps for us! How kind! They really made our day and made us and my infant child feel very welcome. Dining downtown is difficult with a baby but Darwin made it easy! I also noticed they have vegetarian options and a large selection of daily soups! I got the Nashville hot chicken noodle to go! read more

See all

Like most of the reviews I have posted, and for the restaurants I will eventually review, I have been to them previously. In my recent Yelp decision to document all of the restaurants I love (with few exceptions of those I have not favorably encountered) I am writing them as I go, to ensure the most recent and honest review. With that said Darwin is a place I have visited probably 10 times, and it is a sandwich evolution. Ugh, sorry. While I do support/indulge in/highly defend Wegmans' subs, Darwin is just what Syracuse needs. It's a sandwich place ideal for the nine-to-five-er who just needs something besides ham and cheese or a ranch salad. Darwin is located right by Clinton Square, a recent relocation just further down from its original spot, where Glazed and Confused now operates. Let me just say that when I come here, there are always businesspeople coming in and out and this just proves what a success Darwin has become. A champion of lunch; it's most likely a five to ten minute walk from any lawyer, broker, manager, assistant to the regional manger, salesperson, or basic employee of some job in one of those tall buildings. It's open 8-10 am throughout the week, then they reopen 11-3 pm, and they are closed on the weekends. They have a different menu every two weeks with the staple sandwich genres: chicken, seafood, pork, beef, vegetable and one or two other options. But wait--there's more. Along the "cafeteria style line" you can choose from a selection of soups, salads (but let's be real, you're here for the sandwiches), sides: bleu cheese potato salad, buffalo mac and cheese, pasta salad, and array of Dirty chips, including my favorite flavor--Maui Onion. To finish there are baked goods: cookies, brownies, bars. Today's selection of sandwiches: a roast beef, bacon, cheddar, bleu cheese, avocado sandwich. There were other things on here, but I can't quite remember. This is what my dad had. I chose the chicken: breaded chicken, some homemade tomato sauce, some sort of mayo, greens (spinach?). I think Darwin must utilize sous-vide because their meats are always tender, juicy, and just-done. Honestly, it's pretty easy to mess up chicken and turkey--any white meat--but it takes practice, knowledge, and skill to season correctly and cook at the right temperature and time. They've had Cuban sandwiches, they do twists on the BLT, they make their own sauces/marinades, and provide Pasta's--the one right across Pastabilities--bread; it's chewy and stretchy and just the best vehicle for such a sandwich. Guys I could on about their sandwiches but you just need to come here, enjoy the modern and tastefully decorated atmosphere (there's indoor and outdoor seating) and enjoy yourself. Side note: one thing I just discovered and I could be totally wrong, but my dad did mention this too, the sandwiches appear slightly smaller than what we both remember. Huh, idk. A bit of a disappointment, seeing as their sandwiches are like $8-11-not unjustified, definitely ok seeing the ingredients and quality--but I remember being able to eat a half a sandwich and being stuffed. Today I had 3/4 of my sandwich before I felt full. read more

Darwin - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Sandwiches are so good and creative!!! We look at the menu every time a new one comes out.

Charles would be decently impressed. I told my girlfriend that if I could eat the Bama Boy for lunch everyday for the rest of my life, I would. However, can't say the roster of sandwiches would strong arm all opponent sandwiches. That's My Jam, though highly rated, seemed a little blah for a $12.00 panini. It seemed like a sandwich that should be hot pressed before serving and the auxiliary ingredients on the sandwich were sparse. Aside from this moment of strong conviction, the sides were out of this world and sell out quick. This along with the cool interior easily pushes Darwin's tides in favor of being the strongest sandwich spot in Syracuse. read more

If you have a group of hipsters who know how to make great sandwiches and soups... you get Darwin. With its unique and unconventional pairing of ingredients, Darwin manages to create some GOD DAMN good sandwiches. The staff is super friendly and the cost of the sandwichs is all less than $10. Probably the BEST lunch spot in Syracuse! Each sandwich is prepared fresh with amazing balance in flavor. There's a hint of spice here and a hint of sweet there, but there is no flavor that overpowers the other. The texture of the sandwich is great because their bread is not stale​ nor soggy. I was also impressed by their soup and sides! The coleslaw and their sausage soup were delicious. Apparently, ​Darwins has over 100 different sandwiches in their arsenal​, which allows them to switch up the menus every 2 weeks, so there is no recommendation for any particular sandwich. This also means you might never have the same meal twice! Can't get more hipster than that. With sandwich names like "D's 3 Little PIGZ and BAMBOOZLED", I am assuming the king hipster has the naming privileges. Continuing with their hipster vibe, Darwin has their unique hours of operation, from 11A-3P, M-F. They also RELOCATED to the Chase building downtown! ​ read more

Darwin - Example of their menu. They change their menu every 2 weeks or so. - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Randomly stopped here on a work trip looking for a unique lunch spot. The place was hard to find because it's a small shop in a building (which appears to only be a Chase bank). There was a line when we arrived but it moved quickly. I ordered the turkey sandwich mostly for the bacon jam. It was delicious! My coworkers got the veggie sandwich and the pork sandwich and they were both very pleased. I would say it's worth the pricier price tag (~$9/sandwich). Definitely would stop again for another fresh sandwich and a side (like bleu cheese potato salad). read more

Darwin - Menu items for the day - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Some of the best and interesting sandwiches in syracuse:) very friendly staff too. If I'm free at lunch always try to go

Darwin has turned me into a sandwich lover. Sandwiches just aren't that interesting to me - but now I find myself visiting this place multiple times a week to make sure I can try everything before the menu changes. At lunch, you'll wait in a quickly-moving line, greeted by friendly staff. The menu consists of just one sandwich per protein category (chicken, beef, pork, turkey, fish, and veggie-based) and rotates bi-weekly to keep things interesting. Most of the options come on Pasta's stretch bread, or you can turn them into a salad over greens, if your will power is that strong. Everything I've tried has been fantastic. A recent bahn mi inspired sandwich was incredible, but spins on more classic sandwiches are also solid. There are also salads and soups and cookies on the menu, but I haven't strayed from the good stuff yet. Come here, try everything, leave happy. read more

Invited to a yelp event for first time! Parking could be challenging during peak times but I had no problems at 2p. Menu is simple but has some great sandwiches. I had the French quarter and it was very good. Meat was on the side medium and slow cooked. You put it on your sandwich. The buffalo Mac and cheese reminded me of my favorite pizza. I'd come back here for sure read more

Darwin - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Found a great halfway stopping point when traveling to Toronto! Darwin is a charming lunch spot it the downtown business district of the 'Cuse. Situated inside an office building, they have been in this location for about 11 weeks now and their business is booming. Kudos! Limited hours that cater to the lunch crowd. Their sandwich menu changes weekly, but we were able to get a Mufalletta which was not on the weekly menu. They are able to take any sandwich and put it over greens for the non carb crowd. Sandwiches came out quickly. Food was fresh and well prepared. Best thing is that we were in and out in 30 minutes. Staff was super friendly, a go to lunch spot for the area! read more

Darwin - Inside - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Darwin's has the best sandwiches in Syracuse, hands down. Local bread, great ingredients, awesome atmosphere, and good people.

I am not exactly sure why the current profile picture for Darwin is Mac and Cheese, because this is a sandwich place, but there we are. This is far and away the most popular Syracuse joint according to yelp, so I knew I had to stop in for lunch during my business trip to the area. .....and I don't really get it. I'm still going to give it 4 stars because the sandwich I had was good. It was very good, in fact. However, I really don't understand the dozens and dozens of absolutely INSANE raving reviews that are posted here. You'd think these people had never had a sandwich before! My dining experience, overall, was none too different than when I have gone to, say, a Potbelly in the past. Anyway, the basics: -This place is kind of hard to find. It's in the same building as the Chase bank, but it's around back. The best way to find it is to walk into the lobby of the bank and hook a left near the hallway generically marked "Restaurant" -The menu apparently rotates frequently. This is a fun idea. I went with the Optimus Prime. -Fried Green Tomatoes is a great topping on a sandwich. -The restaurant proper has no bathrooms, you have to go out into the lobby area and also get a key. This is... annoying. -The staff here all very clearly love working here and believe in the mission statement of the store (written on the back wall). This is nice to see! Long story short, this is a good restaurant whose reputation seems to have become sliiiightly inflated due to hype. read more

See all

Ladies and gentlemen....I have an announcement. Best sandwich place in Syracuse. I'm sorry. But I'm right. read more

This place has a rotating menu every couple of weeks to months. In all the times I've been there (10+), I've never been disappointed. I cant specifically remember all the sandwiches that I've eaten there, but it's always been 5-stars in terms of taste, quantity, and price. They really know what they are doing there. The staff is friendly; their food is amazing, they serve their food very quickly and efficiently. One minor detail I think they could improve on, is the temperature of their hot sandwiches, which runs on the luke-warm side of things. They also have sides such as soups, mac n cheese. I'd say these things are good, but its really the sandwiches that bring it home for me. read more

This place makes an amazing sandwich ! And the staff are all very friendly . Fast service , consistent taste !

Great place for a lunch bite. The sandwiches are delicious and the atmosphere is cool. I had the Optimus prime and it was fantastic. My wife had the vesuvio chicken and she ate it so fast I couldn't take a picture. I guess by the look on her face that it was really good. read more

Darwin - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

I have really enjoyed the food I have ordered from here. Although I really wish they had more options. It would also be nice if there were additional combo options (sandwich + salad). There was only one type of bread I could make this work with. Aside from that, this restaurant makes a great lunch spot for you and your co-workers and is in a decent location. read more

Darwin - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Yelp to the rescue once AGAIN! I read the negative reviews first, and I gotta say, people are insane. Sandwiches are amazing, you can put anything between two slices of artisan bread and it's going to taste delicious. Darwin's makes a damn good sandwich, and its actually different. I tried two sandwiches on my first visit. Their menu changes quite frequently and also I didn't bother remembering what they were called. Sorry. Both were perfectly distinct and savory. It's not a new cuisine from a galaxy far far away, but for a sandwich in Syracuse, NY it's a goldmine. *My lady reminds me that we had something with pork, the three little piggy maybe and "Spring Chicken." Again, the menu changes almost weekly it seems so, I can't promise that either will be available. Enjoy. read more

This is such a great lunch spot downtown that is popular with my office because it has something for everyone - always a chicken, beef, pork, seafood and veggie sandwich, but their menu rotates every couple of weeks so it isn't boring. They have fun names and imaginative ingredients. And I hear their lobster mac & cheese is amazing! read more

Um, this is the best lunch place in Syracuse! Parking isn't always easy, and I really wish they were open on weekends as well, but it is worth it! The menu often varies, and everything is delicious. Go! read more

Awesome spot love the 70's decor. The soup - daily was incredible I will go back on my next visit

have to say that I find few things better than a really good sandwich. When done right with well-baked bread and great ingredients a good sandwich can be among the best things on earth to eat. These days there are "reasonable" sandwiches all over the place. But few are really notable or memorable. Darwin, however, does sandwiches well. In fact, they are some of the best I've had anywhere in upstate New York. I live in Binghamton - and might even be convinced to make the drive to 'Cuse simply to have another sandwich. They are really that good (and the local venues are really that mediocre/terrible). We had the "crabbie" and the lobster roll. I was warned that Syracuse is certainly not close to Down East and that I shouldn't have particularly high expectations. However, they were both excellent. I suppose the lobster wasn't as fresh-from-the-ocean as a shack on the coast but so it goes. I really give Darwin kudos for the great bread and the well-selected condiments, lettuce and what-not. The lettuce wasn't from a bag, the mayo-with-celery for the lobster was light and well seasoned, and it all tasted great. I highly recommend this place. It is funny that subway is around the corner (and sad that people still go there - are they nuts?). When I was leaving Darwin, we saw a bunch of business guys exit the next door Subway with their sad-sack bags -- too bad for them but good for you: get to Darwin now and have a really good sandwich. read more

WOW! This place just gave me an excellent sandwich while I was Syracuse today! I was overwhelmed at first by how small it was inside, and it was fairly busy. Somehow, my sandwich was done within a minute or two of ordering it, and it looked small. This made me skeptical. I ordered Mojo Rising, which was roasted turkey with smoked Gouda, bacon, fried egg, and hot pepper mayo. One bite, and I was sold! Whatever bread they are using was perfect for the sandwich - soft, yet it held everything together while soaking up all the flavors. It was also very filling. Definitely one of the better sandwiches I've had in my life. Next time I'm in 'Cuse, I will be back! read more

Darwin - Mojo Rising - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Hands down the best lunch spot in the Cuse! Don't be afraid of the line, the service is great and they get you in and out very fast. The place is very small, so it is definitely a take out place. In the summer time they have a few tables outside or you can walk over to Clinton Square to enjoy your lunch. Check their website before you head over, their menu changes weekly. Always a unique selection of offerings and great vegetarian options. Today ordered The Bamboozled - black bean and corn cake folded into a whole wheat wrap, shredded cheese, salsa, lettuce, with a hit of cilantro-spiked ranch. Great wrap, nice flavors. Try this place out you won't be disappointed. read more

Darwin - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

This is a very welcome addition to Syracuse. This is a place that values innovation. They're menu is constantly changing, sandwiches added and removed each week. I ordered the Hawaii 5.0 and was blown away by how much thought must have gone into the flavor and texture combination. The pork, ham and Swiss would have made for a good sandwich on their own. Shredded pork had a wonderfully soft texture on the same brad they used, and the lettuce have it a slight crisp. The fried onions were just slightly crunchy on the outside but spiffy and juicy inside. I was a little worried about mayo, but they use just the smallest amount to add a little bit of flavor without filling your mouth the consistency of yogurt. And the savory tastes were countered perfectly with the sweetness of pineapple salsa and chili. I'm the type of person who always tries to order something new, but I'd the Hawaii 5.0 gets a permanent menu spot I may find it hard to follow that creed at Darwin's! read more

Darwin - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Super cool spot, the pot roast sammy was so good! Everyone was very friendly and I had a lovely time just eating by myself :)

I had heard a lot of hype surrounding this sandwich and was a bit disappointed by what came of it! Having finally had an afternoon off to walk on down to Darwin's, I ordered their beef sandwich at the time (as their menu regularly revolves). Had a good amount of meat, some fresh veggies, decent sauce, but the bread wasn't anything special. For $10 and the limited hours they had, I was hoping for a better sandwich but realized a few bites I realized I enjoy Wegman's fresh bread a bit more. I encourage you to stop by and see if something they have on the menu catches your eye, but it's not the end all be all of sandwiches in the Syracuse area. read more

ships in the night is really stinking good. yep, devoured the whole thing...served on pasta's amazing stretch bread, the sandwich was stuffed with fresh ingredients. I had to take off a few slabs of the mozzarella for more proportional bites, but the flavors were perfect. also got to sample the mac and cheese which was pretty damn tasty, as well as the chicken and biscuits (not my cup of tea, but quite good). these sandwiches are hefty and indulgent, definitely not an every day lunch experience. I only wish that they had a simpler sandwich offering- maybe something that doesn't have three kinds of meats or an egg. read more

Nice spot for sandwiches. I had the Rock Shrimp po boy and a cream of mushroom soup for lunch. The soup was tasty but it was super thick.. to the point where there would just be a layer of solidified mush on top. The sandwich was large and looked pretty impressive, but it lacked in flavor. I had really good po boys in New Orleans and this just couldn't compare. The atmosphere was nice and service was prompt and friendly, but the food was just okay. read more

Love their sandwiches and they are always switching it up every week. One of my many places to go to for lunch.

Stopped for a quick lunch on my way out of town. I was going to go to Jimmy John's(across the street) because of speed and someone told me to go to Darwin because it's faster. Well not only was my Oder of the daily beef sandwich and blue cheese potatoes salad done by the time I paid...it was delicious!!!!! So fresh and with a daily rotation of specials, this place will never be stale! read more

Darwin - Beef shocker and blue cheese potato salad - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Sensational place. Original menu, which rotates every 2 weeks. Adventuresome combinations. They do miss occasionally when trying out something new, but there are 5 or more choices every day, so there is at least one that is sure to please. You couldn't ask for nicer people. Simply the best. read more

Spring chicken is tender chunks of chicken and very tasty ciabatta like bread. Located just before the Armory Square with parking next door, and a great staff with wonderful atmosphere and great people. New go to lunch spot!! read more

They moved locations to closer to armory square. The space is much larger and has a much better atmosphere. Sandwiches are still around $9 but the good ones (such as spring chicken) are real good. I come here maybe once a month when I'm feeling a hot sandwhich. The quality is better than pasta's daily bread but the price is also higher. I come here for luxury sandwiches, but I still usually go for the $6 sandwhiches at other venues. Darwin's is definitely worth checking out if you've never been and a nice break from the mundane cheaper sandwhich options. read more

Darwin - Spring Chicken - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Got food to go: Seafood Chowder, it was thick and creamy w/big chunks of fish, bread that came with was exactly what it need. I got a Henry(roast beef) sandwich. It was roasted to perfection, so tender and full of flavor. Man it hit the spot while we watched the Masters Golf. Dad got a Roast Beef, but got it made to his personal liking. He loved every bite. Not your standard sandwich, but they deliver with delicious love! read more