If there was an X-Factor for sandwich shops, Pret would murder everyone else in the competition. Literally gun them down Scarface style.
I love Pret because it balances corporate consistency with a warm fuzzy ethical casual feel. This is displayed most effectively in the staff uniforms. A sort of chef-whites esque shirt with jeans/skinny pants. It feels as if pret is a knowing boss who lets you express yourself but knows how to keep that expression at a safe respectful distance from the consumer. Ok I can't believe I just wrote that.
Pret is here to appeal to certain types of people in a certain frame of mind. They like to whang on about their Organic, low air-mile-if-they-can-help-it, freshly prepared, higher welfare produce on their website, but they don't hassle you about it unless you want to know more.
So as well as all that stuff, the drinks, sandwiches, soups and wraps are pretty varied. Say what you like about their coffee, which I have never had but they do an amazing Earl Gray (with optional organic milk) and Tropical Green Tea, which comes in a lovely tea bag if you like tea bags like I do, it's one of those almost nylon fine weave triangle bags that feel really silky if you rub them between your fingers.
Pret make an unmissable christmas sandwich if you are reading this in november-january, which again strikes that perfect balance of being consistently produced but not processed and laser triangle cut. They're sort of tellingly hand assembled but respectfully done so.
Another great sandwich is the Pastrami and mustard sandwich, It has excellent quality pastrami on it, thin and flakey but substantially present in the sandwich. It has exactly the right amount of mustard on it so that it doesn't swamp the bread but it has a definite presence.
Calorie content is on the website, but not on the boxes. That's fine because Pret has free Wifi!!! If you are mindfully consuming calories Pret can be dangerous, the sandwiches especially can be hiding a lot more mayonnaise than first thought, but I usually just eat half the sandwich or buy one of the Slim Prets (Half of one of the core range of sandwiches i.e BLT or Club).
Pret obviously spends a lot of time lecturing its staff on being friendly because in my experience, they are At every one I go to. And they let you use their toilet if you're not dining in AND they are always clean. Which for the city center is a pretty spectacular effort. read more