Jake: Anyone that grew up in the Northwest 25 years ago knows the importance of Hoagie's corner. This was a sandwich chain owned by the 7-11 company, and before closing its doors it was THE place to get a sandwich.  This week, I was drawn in by the name Hoagie's Sub Deli located off 112^th and Bridgeport in Lakewood.  This deli turned back the clocks of time and offered the traditional sandwiches that made Hoagie's so great.

Jason: I was excited to see all the old familiar names on the reader board behind the counter: The French, the cheesy British, the Canadian and the Italian!  And the atmosphere within the deli is simple: a counter to order, a fridge to grab a drink and a few tables for dining in.  A good deli should allow the sandwich to speak for itself.

Jake: I could hardly contain myself, Jason.  Plus, the order slips were the same as I remembered, simply select the sandwich, select the toppings, and best of all, one can order a mayo/mustard combo spread which really makes the sandwich.

Jason: The Italian was my "go to," with two kinds of salami, ham, provolone, lettuce, mayo, pepperoncinis, and oil and vinegar. I ordered this again for old time's sake, along with a fountain drink and chips. The amount of meat was less than I remember, but all the old flavors were the same. And once again, I was just as satisfied as always.

Jake: I ordered the cheesy British, as this was always a favorite.  The cheesy British comes with turkey, ham, roast beef and cheddar cheese and is best served heated with the mayo/mustard combination, lettuce, pickles and onions. The warmed up version is far superior to the cold version, as this allows for the cheese and combination spread to melt down the sides of the sandwich, creating a pool of flavor.

Jason: Same thing with the Canadian Jake. The turkey, ham and veggie mixture is much better warm than cold.  I'm not sure why, but there is just something about a warm, juicy sub that hits the spot when a regular sandwich just won't do.  Plus, all the sandwiches come in two sizes, small or large.  The small is a simple 8-inch sandwich, which is usually enough for one sitting, but the large is a full foot and always offers the option of a full stomach, or a second helping later as a snack.

Jake: I've gone both ways with that, and have no complaints either way.

Jason: Sometimes a little reminder of our days as youth is a good thing, and Hoagie's Sub Deli offers that to every customer in the form of original and tasty hoagies.

Jake: The location is great, just minutes from McChord Field and Joint Base Lewis-McChord.  But mostly I'm just glad you've stopped wearing your high school jersey around town, Jason.

[Hoagie's Sub Deli, 11202 Bridgeport Way S., Lakewood, 253.589.1211]