The best poor boy stand in the Quarter and one of the best in town, Johnny's makes all the classic local sandwiches. Then it goes on to produce an unusually wide range of other poor boys with ingredients few shops serve anymore. It's close to the perfect poor boy experience. They also have a reasonably good basic breakfasts and a few plate specials.
Johnny and Betty DeGrusha bought the St. Louis Street building and opened shop in 1959. That makes it the oldest poor boy shop in town under the continuous ownership of a single family. Johnny's absurd but catchy motto--"Even my failures are edible"--proves that the place understands that the making of poor boy sandwich is an art, but not one anybody should wax academic about.
The dining room is more pleasant and spacious than it appears from the outside, and if it's full you'll find more tables in the rear. You order at the counter and they bring it out to you. Recently Johnny's opened a sweet shop upstairs with ice cream, coffee, and pastries.
Split two different poor boys three ways. Don't hit the place right at noon. Don't come in a hurry; the sandwiches must be made to order.
| Attitude | 1 |
|---|---|
| Environment | 0 |
| Hipness | 0 |
| Local Color | 2 |
| Service | 0 |
| Value | 3 |
| Wine | 0 |
