Here's the one thing about Eat Unique: the food is quite good -- interesting and tasty. Here's the other thing about Eat Unique: if you go during the lunchtime rush, they will take forever to finish your order, and then there's a good chance they will have gotten the order wrong. The counter is a whirling nightmare of poorly designed space, with various customers milling around waiting to order, waiting for their order, or trying to figure out if the mysterious back register is open or not. If you're here during the lunch rush, your only hope for not dying of starvation is ordering pre-made food: salads and soups. If you order a grilled sandwich, you're completely screwed. This is a shame because, as I said, the food is actually pretty good. If they could turn an order around in less than 5 minutes, I'd eat here every day. But until then, I can only take eating here about once a month. I want lunch to lower my stress, not increase it. On a positive note, they do have good breakfast sandwiches, and the place is usually not busy at breakfast, so you can grab a good bite to eat there in the mornings. read more

Pretty typical. Do you want cutely presented sandwiches, salads (that may or may not actually be healthy, depending on how many tortilla chips they put in it)? Do you want a place where your most exciting vegetarian options are probably hummus & veggie sandwich with vegan chili? Do you want a place that will get out of your way and let you talk with the girlfriends? Then this might be the place for you. Utterly inoffensive, but fine if you want a place like that. Think of it as a slightly hipper version of Panera. read more

Oakland is full of lunch places, but if you are looking for something light, healthy, and fresh, you're pretty much out of luck....except for Eat Unique! I had lunch here earlier today, and was so excited to see a menu of sandwiches and salads that didn't contain french fries.... The atmosphere is minimalist. There are some bright colors, but it's mostly just cafeteria-style tables and chairs, no decoration. You order at the counter, then wait awhile - about 15 minutes in our case - for your lunch. My boyfriend got the meatloaf melt, and I ordered the grilled chicken pesto sandwich. It was hard to wait so long, but as soon as we got our sandwiches it was obvious why we had been left hanging - the food was FRESH. My sandwich was hot, the chicken fresh off the grill, the tomatoes sweet and flavorful, the pesto made in-house (you can see the rustic bits of pine nuts and basil, definitely not the jarred stuff), the ciabatta roll lightly toasted and crispy. I was really impressed from the first bite. There's nothing really unique about the sandwich, except that it is made with high-quality ingredients and hasn't been sitting in a case all day, but that made a huge difference! I tried my boyfriend's meatloaf sandwich, which wasn't as big as I thought it would be, and I liked it okay...the sauce was pretty sweet. I preferred mine - it tasted so garden fresh. For dessert we had a black bean brownie - yes, really - and it was great! Who knew? It just tastes like a creamy, chocolatey brownie. You can put black beans in dessert!? This changes everything. Definitely craveworthy. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the ambiance. Since you have to wait so long, it'd be nice if the dining area was more comfortable or better maintained. There was lots of water on the floor and I almost slipped a few times, we had to wipe down our own table....not a huge deal, but we noticed. There are lots of big, sunny windows, so that's a plus. I was also disappointed in the small Styrofoam cups for water - I hate drinking out of Styrofoam, it feels so wasteful (and the cups are so small you have to go back a million times to refill). But I'd definitely come back - maybe for takeout next time - if I was very tasty and unlike anything else you can get in the area. read more

Good food and often good desserts, but can be a little bit pricey. For example, for $7 you get a sandwich, with nothing.

While their sandwiches are tasty, there's just not enough for the price. It's crowded and just not worth it when Quizno's and Subway are throwing $5 footlongs at your feet. read more

I drove by this place so many times, but never got to stop in until today. Always hard to find parking here since its right in between CMU and Pitt's campus. The Parking Gods were on my side today as they parted the parallel parking sea for me. I heard they had good sandwiches, but I thought there was a waiter service. Its more of a deli counter style where they call your number when its ready. Nothing fancy. And WoW does one of the girls have some strong vocal cords. Good for a quick lunch break or dinner before your class. Prices were reasonable. I had the Meatloaf sandwich. Great for a chilly day. The sauce, blue cheese, and bacon on top definitely set it off. I'm going to be craving this bad boy for a while. My BF had the Tuna Melt. It was very good as well, but you better be a fan of banana peppers. If you are like me, and usually drink water over soda pop, the free water you have to get yourself. I did not know this.....so I was standing there waiting until I was pointed to the self serve area with tiny styro cups and tiny sink for tap water. No ice. I understand the water is free, so I'm not asking for much. But when you are eating a heavily seasoned Meatloaf Sandwich......you are going to be thirsty enough to put down 4-5 of those cups. So either A. Come prepared with your own cup, B. Spring for a $ bottle of water, or C. get some exercise getting up and down to get water and work off your Meatloaf Sandwich. read more

Extremely rude staff. Food delivery presentation very poor. Food containers were really cheaply made and everything was stuffed into small bags. When we realized they forgot one of our sandwiches and called to get refunded, they refused to admit they made a mistake and accused us of lying. Won't be ordering from here again. read more

First visit, but definitely not my last. The white bean chilli was excellent and the chicken salad sandwich was flavorful and tasty. It was busy, but worth the wait. Enjoy! read more

I visited on a random Tuesday during the lunch rush, but I managed to grab a table to devour one of the delicious (and vegan) veggie burgers. I usually steer clear of vegan options since I'm clearly not a vegan, but the Malibu Avocado burger was pretty good, however the bun was strange. All in all, Eat Unique is just average-- kind of like a Panera, but with more options for those who have dietary limitations. Nothing too memorable. read more

I usually order for here b/c the food is fresh. The sandwiches are good, certainly beat eating pizza, wings and salad everyday. I generally walk and have had my ordered screwed up a couple of times ( not so bad in the summer, but winter can be furious. The wait staff is ok in person, but on the phone they can be terrible with a capital T! All and all could be better but I guess for Oakland those unflattering behaviors are acceptable. read more

This sandwich shop reminded me of a more intimate Panera Bread. They have sandwiches made to order and pastries on display as well. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Prices are reasonable and sandwiches are tasty! The order area was a bit cramped and I waited for a good 15 minutes for my sandwich. The employees are super friendly though. There are plenty of seats, both downstairs and upstairs. I will definitely be back to try the rest of their menu. I recommend this place for those in the Oakland area needing a quick lunch or a place to meet up with old pals. read more

I love Eat Unique! I'm not really a meat-eater, so I really appreciate that their menu has so many veggie options. Every sandwich that I've ever ordered has been delicious, I usually try whatever is written on their blackboard when I enter the restaurant. Pretty much anything involving: goat cheese, fig anything, Brussels sprouts, Brie, or beets I will without a doubt order....their cookies are also ridiculously good! In addition, service is efficient, which makes it an excellent option for lunch. read more

I'm a frequent flier here. Good sandwiches and salads, they're definitely "unique". Some of my favorite items include the chef salad, the white bean turkey chili, and almost any of their chicken sandwiches. The baked goods are also yummy. I think there prices are a bit high for some of their more basic dishes. They also always take forever to get your order out, regardless of time of day and how many people are working. Also the place could use a good floor cleaning in the dining room. read more

Am vegan with gluten free lifestyle. There were many items on their menu that I loved. We had pumpkin pear vegetarian gluten free soup which was yum! Had many sandwich options and we loved zesty pineapple sandwich. Will visit again read more

Portions are small but then so am I. I made a pledge that this would be my lunch place this summer (2008) so three or four times a week I walk over to Eat Unique from campus (Carnegie Mellon) and grab me some soup. Occasionally I get the soup & sandwich combo, but mostly just soup. It's great soup and a nice light lunch. The Tomato-Feta soup is my favorite, the White Turkey Chili is also great. The Southwest Sizzler or the Sweet Bean Hummus are probably the best sandwiches. Lots of veggie options! read more

I believe I got the chicken noodle soup when it was a special. It was full of veggies and noodles and tasted alright. The place had an odd smell inside which made me not want to eat there. Nothing to write home about. read more

Cozy spot. Especially like their desserts and soups. Sandwich specials are usually good too, but on the pricy side (for a student). Favorites are the White Turkey Chili, Zesty Pineapple Burger, and Sweet Bean Hummus. read more

The only other choices you have if you want a sandwich in the area are Quiznos and Subway, so they have an advantage right there, but they're still pretty looks - there's some nice soup options and they have a pretty decent vegetarian menu as well. Some things I like here are the Pesto Chicken Sandwich, the Southwest Sizzler and the Summer Sandwich. read more

At the end of the day, this is your run-of-the-mill cafe. If you don't come here expecting a meal that will blow your mind, you'll be fine, but with a name like "Eat Unique", I expected better. I've had the chance to try a couple salads and sandwiches from here and while all have been fine, none would make me want to come back for more. If you're not in the mood for some of the more ethnic dishes Craig has to offer, this is a fine option for a quick sandwich, but there's nothing really unique about it. As a plus for vegetarians, they have a slew of vegetarian and vegan options that could be great for people who can't find another accommodating place on Craig read more

Great menu with a lot of choices. Portions are OK sized but won't satiate if you're hungry. We thought the food was good, not great. Dining area looked unkempt and a little grungy. There's better options around the area for the general sandwich eater, but having a large amount of veg options helps keep Unique Eats on the radar. read more

Chose this cafe for a quick bite based partially on previous reviews. Very disappointed to find iceberg lettuce and dry, shredded carrots from a package in my salad. I would have done better by going to a grocery store and picking up a Pre-packaged salad. The carpeting to the restroom was filthy which was a definite turnoff. read more

Review is only based on cookies and service. I have only tried their vegan cookies (ginger molasses and snickerdoodle) and let me just say that those are very tasty! Not too sweet, and honestly, you wouldn't even be able to tell that they're vegan. Every cashier that I've seen so far has been kind and smiley. Shout out all cashiers who put effort into their jobs! read more

Whatever haters, this place is great. As someone who has certain dietary needs and preferences, I usually have to find a few solid "go-to" spots for affordable food. Having lived in California most of my life, I value a vegetable-heavy meal, especially for the right price, and that can be more difficult to find in this otherwise lovely city. So thank you Eat Unique, for consistently supplying me with a hearty, healthy option on a tight budget. Your fresh meal-sized salads for under $7? You are awesome. Your chicken chili with chard and corn in it for $4 and some change? OMG I love you. If y'all want to talk about crappy sandwiches, go across the street for an overpriced bagel, or better yet, hit up Panera (ew). But if you want delicious fresh food, a big selection, and not feel robbed? I'd totally recommend this place. read more

If you want a place to eat a good sandwich AND catch up on Pitt sorority/fraternity gossip, have I got the place for you! I came here twice during a quick trip to PGH, once for dinner and once for lunch. For dinner I had the mushroom melt, recommended to me by the cashier, and got it to go. Little did I know what gossip I may have missed by this decision! I ate the sandwich in my hotel room while watching Friends reruns. Not. The. Same. (The sandwich, btw, was fantastic. As was the pumpkin cookie I got with it.) The next day (a Sunday), I couldn't think of a lunch option I wanted more, so I returned, this time getting a "fresh mozz baguette." Saying "mozz" instead of mozzarella kind of weirds me out, but it's not them, it's me. The sandwich was great. This time I ate in, in the little room behind the ordering area. This was both the best and worst decision I made while at Eat Unique. Because I didn't know it at the time, but a nearby table had two hungover sorority girls, dishing about a party they'd gone to the night before. I was both riveted and disgusted for the rest of my meal. Recommended. read more

I thought that their prices were a bit high for what they were offering! Although I can't give any suggestions because I didn't particularly enjoy it - I know a lot of people enjoy their pesto chicken sandwich read more

Just because you are unique does not mean you are good. I've been to Eat Unique about ten times in the last year and those experiences were bad to mediocre. The food is fine, but everything else about the place is annoying. -Your half sandwich, half soup options are limited to the most boring sandwiches on the menu. I understand that not all sandwiches halve well, but this seems like a cheap trick to force the customer to buy a whole sandwich when they only want a half with their soup. If you read my other reviews, you'll note that this sort of upselling gimmick is a huge pet peeve of mine. -The area in front of the register is always crowded with fidgety hungry people scrutinizing the four-digit numbers on their receipts and waiting for their food. There's a second register behind all these people, but it's difficult to see and even more difficult to reach. -The decor is well-painted dinginess. The demeanor of the staff waffles between deadpan and morose, probably because they're tired telling customers that they can't order the half sandwich they want with soup. The water fountain is a weird little sink. The tables wobble. It's like they're not even trying to be a good restaurant and are thriving on the low standards of craig st diners (myself included). I will praise their southwest sizzler, and turkey chili as very solid (and, dare I say, "unique") culinary offerings, but most of what I've had there has been boring and overpriced. read more

This was my second time in eat unique. They have a very high footfall during lunch time mainly from people at Cmu. So it's crowded and you've to wait for quite some time after you place the order. They however do have a good variety of vegetarian sandwiches. Although I'm a non vegetarian I eat the veg sandwiches in eat unique because they really are that unique and interesting. Today we tried a zesty pineapple sandwich which was pretty yummy. We also ordered a hummus and avocado sandwich which was a little dry but it tasted fine. Their sandwiches are very filling, even the vegetarian ones. read more

I'm not so sure what's so unique about this place--they offer a bunch of different soups, salads, sandwiches, and wraps, which seem pretty standard for cafes like this one. They're tasty though, and it's a decent option given the mediocre restaurants on Craig. I liked the summer berry salad, which tasted literally like a medley of healthiness; the Hawaiian chicken sub was another delicious fruity option, with the pineapple providing the sweet zest in the sandwich. Lots of other things sound good too, and we may keep trying different items as long as we're nearby. read more

I thought it was a little expensive for a salad in a box that I ordered from a counter and ate outside because it was so packed inside. It was a good salad though. I think I will try some other places on my find out where to eat lunch tour before I go back here. read more

Ehhhh I didn't think this was unique at all, but it was tasty. We came here on a whim about 15 minutes before they closed. I ordered a California chicken club and they were out of focaccia so I had to have it on a regular bun-type of bread. It was pretty good. My friend had the chili and she loved it. I also got a pumpkin cookie and that definitely hit the spot on multiple levels. I'd go back just for that cookie. The two ladies working there the other night were nice and helpful with menu items, which is alway a plus. read more

Of all the places you can eat on Craig Street, eat unique is the most healthy. Everything is fresh and made to order. They get very busy at lunchtime and sometimes you can wait a few minutes for your order and the waiting area is tight. But you won't be disappointed. read more

This place is good. The food is fast, priced very fairly, quite good, and the staff is awesome. Probably the best place to eat on Craig street in my opinion. read more

True to its name, the food here is indeed pretty unique. Definitely a nice place and convenient place to have so close to campus. They have an awesome selection of vegetarian options. I usually get the summer sandwich along with a soup or a bag of chips. I accidentally ordered something non-vegetarian once, and the lady at the counter was nice enough to replace that with something vegetarian for me free of charge. A pretty regular lunch/dinner spot while I am still in CMU. read more

Don't you wish this place was cheaper? And faster? And didn't have such a garish color scheme? Nicer employees? Maybe better food too? Well, actually a place like that exists. It's called schenley park cafe. read more

Love, love, love their turkey chili--even more than mine! Gazpacho was fresh and bright--and as good as mine ;-) great prices for hearty, unique salads, soups and sandwiches. Also had a piece of my daughter's some sort of green tea cookie, I honestly can't stop thinking about it!! It was crispy on the edges and soft in the middle, and sweet and salty at the same time--so delish! read more

I have no idea why others are giving this place four or five stars. Something tastes off about their sandwiches and soup, which aren't cheap to begin with. read more

Nothing special but there is ample seating room. I had the half sandwich and soup. It was kind of pricy for what it was so I dont think I will be back. read more

Eat Unique - Half turkey sandwich & white chili soup - Delis Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Tasty sandwiches including a lot of vegetarian options. Service isn't fast and ambiance isn't great, but a good healthy option near the universities. read more

Edible yet generic. Had the chicken pesto sandwich. Way overpriced, small, mediocre sandwich at a dirty restaurant from a rude waitress. I'll pass. read more

I needed a quick lunch and stopped in here. I wasn't adventurous, just a turkey and provolone on multi-grain bread, but it was fresh and delicious. I also got a big ginger cookie, nice and chewy. Staff were friendly and helpful. I went right at lunch time, so it was crowded and busy, but that's to be expected. I'll be back. read more