ST. LOUIS – One St. Louis man’s passion for sandwiches has become a growing social media avocation. Phillip Ahlemeyer is the creator of STL Sandwich Man, an Instagram account dedicated to sandwich reviews.
Ahlemeyer provides more than just sandwich critiques on STL Sandwich Man; he offers glimpses into his daily life and musings.
“I don’t heavily focus on the actual sandwich review. I mostly talk about some observations going on in my life,” Ahlemeyer said.
“At the end of the review, I’ll put whether [the sandwich] had a spice to it, how the bread held up, the quality of the ingredients, if it had any chemistry, and then leave my review score.”
Each post features a sandwich spotlight, complete with visuals, a rundown of ingredients, and location details. Ahlemeyer mixes personal commentary, ranging from Seinfeld-esque rants to reflections on literature and cinema, creating a narrative around each sandwich experience.
Ahlemeyer’s rates the sandwiches on a scale of 1 to 100. He’s only awarded negative scores for two sandwiches.
“The bread must be on point. The innards can be wonderful, but if you’ve got bread that you have to fight with for every bite, the sandwich is doomed,” he said. “Any place that carries Companion bread is at a big advantage. Kings Oak by Modern Brewery also has some fantastic bread that they bake in-house. The focaccia is amazing.”
Quality ingredients and thoughtful flavor combinations also factor heavily into his evaluations.
LeGrands Market and Catering holds a special place in Ahlemeyer’s sandwich adventure, serving as the starting point for his hobby. What started as a personal endeavor soon turned into a community-driven initiative, with friends and followers eagerly seeking Ahlemeyer’s recommendations.
Reflecting on his most memorable sandwich experience, Ahlemeyer recounts a transformative moment at Vivola Express when he at the Italian Classic. “I remember eating the sandwich in my job’s work van and was in near tears because of how good it was,” he said.
His go-to comfort sandwich remains The Legend at LeGrands.
As STL Sandwich Man continues to evolve, Ahlemeyer remains committed to spotlighting St. Louis’s vibrant sandwich scene.
“St. Louis is blessed with a lot of great places to get sandwiches,” he said.
