Even Stevens is a restaurant which makes it a priority to give back to the community and every sandwich you buy helps with that mission. For the Tempe location, the local non-profit partners are Tempe Community Action Partnership, Tumbleweed Center for Youth, UMOM, and Operation Care Food Bank. As of this writing, they have donated over 1 million sandwiches to various groups since they first opened in Utah in 2014. Here is how it works directly from their website:
- You buy a sandwich.
- At the end of every month, we tally sandwich sales. Funds for sandwich making ingredients - bread, meat, cheese and produce -are then placed into a Sysco food account.
- Our non-profit partners access the account and order sandwich-making ingredients as they need. A few days later, a truck delivers the order to their doorstep. Free of charge.
- Non-profit staff and volunteers build sandwiches.
- Individuals in need are fed and our non-profit partners can put their money where their passion is.
In order for this to work, you need to know what's on the menu, which includes everything from sandwiches, salads, sides, and breakfast items. Some notables:
- Mihami Vice - Roast pork, ham, whole mustard, swiss, pickle spears, baguette.
- Sprang Chicken - Chicken, provolone, bacon, avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers, greens, honey mustard, multi-grain bread.
- JP Grilled Cheese - Melty white cheddar, poppin' cream cheese, garlic, roasted jalapeños, French bread.
- Jackfruit Torta - Jackfruit carnitas, pepitas, guacamole, salsa morita, radish, cilantro, lettuce, pickled onions, sweet bun.
- The Goathugger Salad - Roasted beets, spinach, arugula, candied pecans, goat cheese vinegar, rye toast.
- The Breakfast Sandwich - Two eggs scrambled or medium, choice of bacon, ham, sausage, avocado, or pork belly (add $1). Tangy maple mustard, cheddar cheese, Hawaiian bun.
- The Undergrad Breakfast Burrito - Flour tortilla, two eggs, bacon or sausage, white cheddar, tater tots, house sauce, sriracha.
- Party Tots - A hot heap of tots piled with cheese, bacon, and avocado slices.
Along with the above and craft beer, Even Stevens uses local companies and products in their restaurants. At all three Arizona restaurants, these include Peixoto Coffee, Noble Bread, Cotton Country Jellies, and Santan Brewing.
Is the Tempe location a little out of your way? Want to know which non-profits the other two Arizona spots are working with? Check out the Phoenix location (21 W. Van Buren St. Phoenix, AZ 85003) or the Gilbert location (384 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert, AZ 85234).
Should you go here? Is it worth it? Let this fellow who knows a little something about "Even Stevens" (though he is in no way affiliated with the restaurant) answer your question:
