Earl of Sandwich opens in Downtown Disney District

Earl of Sandwich, the only fast food chain that I know of that has 18th century English nobility as…

Earl of Sandwich, the only fast food chain that I know of that has 18th century English nobility as a motif, opened its only California outlet last week at Disney California Adventure.

Customers waited up to an hour on Friday to order toasted food along the lines of Quiznos. Factors probably included a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mario Lopez and the popularity of the two Earl of Sandwich restaurants in Las Vegas.

For me, a big part of the attraction was that nearly all the sandwiches on the menu cost $6.99. It’s difficult to match or beat that price this close to Disneyland Park.

The Earl of Sandwich chain was created by the actual 11th Earl of Sandwich, John Edward Hollister Montagu. He is a descendant of the fourth of Earl of Sandwich, alsonamed John, who is credited with ordering his servants to slap beef between two slices of bread in 1762, thus changing the course of dining history.

The 11th Earl of Sandwich has succeeded in reinventing Arby’s with its Original 1762, which features roast beef, sharp cheddar cheese and horseradish sauce. Other menu items include a tuna melt, BLT and meatball sandwiches.

The Earl of Sandwich also serves salads, soups and desserts such as brownie creme sandwiches and cookie bites.

The restaurant is on the west side of Downtown Disney, near the Tinker Bell-themed ice-skating rink and an outdoor stage. So depending on when you visit, you could be entertained with ’80s pop (in my case “The Reflex”) or amplified folk music groups.

It replaces a bookstore, leaving this kid-friendly shopping center without one. While I can see the value of affordable meals with quality ingredients, I find it a little sad that it’s become preferable to feed children brownie creme sandwiches to feeding their imaginations with books.