# Am I somehow in the wrong for doing this at Subway? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [April 25, 2018, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089 "2018-04-25T10:03:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/1 "2018-04-25T10:03:25Z")
There’s something I do in Subway I have never ever had a proper response to. Every time I ask it the people working immediately start stammering or look at me in complete confusion, and I’ve been to dozens of different Subways in the past decade so it’s not just my local place. It happens so frequently that I think maybe I’m the only person who has ever done this or somehow I’m in the wrong for asking. Basically whenever there’s a new type of Sub (such as a promotional one or a seasonal one) I ask “What ingredients and sauces normally go on this type of sub?”. Everyone I have ever asked this to looks at me like I’m the first person to ever bring this up to them. They turn and look at the picture and then try to guess whats on that image then turn to look at me then go and find someone else to pass the question off to them. Then they come back and give me the same spiel “Well, everyone likes different ingredients on their subs so it’s up to you.” I want a sub like that one that’s on the picture, do they not tell their employees what stuff goes best on new promotional subs? I know promotional subs sometimes get their own special sauces or ingredients which is why I always ask so I can taste it like how it’s “meant to be” as opposed to just getting my normal order and possibly ruining the taste of it. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/2 "2018-04-25T10:08:43Z")
This is why I don’t go there at all. So, you are not alone. They have specially advertised subs, but they make them the same way as any other sub. I have never really liked their ordering/assembly process. I don’t even know where a good sub place is near me these days but when I was a kid (no, I’m not THAT old) there were all kinds of gas stations and convenience stores and random places in the middle of nowhere that sold good subs and you just told them what you wanted. Then Subway popped up and it was like the McDonald’s of subs but much worst. At least McDonald’s knows how to assemble their advertised specials. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/3 "2018-04-25T10:46:53Z")
That’s Subways gimmick. Their subs are custom order. What you’re asking, is akin to going to a pizza place and asking them “what normally goes on a pizza?” ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/4 "2018-04-25T10:50:00Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > That’s Subways gimmick. Their subs are custom order. > > What you’re asking, is akin to going to a pizza place and asking them “what normally goes on a pizza?” No it would be more like if I went to Pizza Hut and asked them what goes on a Meat Lovers Pizza and then they just stared blankly at me because in theory every topping could go on a Meat Lovers Pizza. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/5 "2018-04-25T10:57:27Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > I want a sub like that one that’s on the picture, do they not tell their employees what stuff goes best on new promotional subs? It seems pretty clear that they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/6 "2018-04-25T11:00:29Z")
If you’re asking what the meat looks like in a Greek Steak sub, that’s a reasonable question. If you’re asking whether the Platonic ideal of a human being enjoys the flavour of pickles on a Greek Steak sub, I would be equally flummoxed to answer that question. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/7 "2018-04-25T11:04:05Z")
I always ask, “What ingredients and sauces normally go on a sub ordered by someone wearing a shirt this color?” They just look at me and shrug. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/8 "2018-04-25T11:47:33Z")
My problem with Subway is when they ask what toppings and I reply, “everything”. That means everything. Do not then ask me, “jalapeños?” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/9 "2018-04-25T11:56:07Z")
I think the OP asks a reasonable question. They showcase and promote their new, featured, limited-time subs, then when you say “I want one”, they act like “you want _what_?”. mmm ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/10 "2018-04-25T12:09:48Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > My problem with Subway is when they ask what toppings and I reply, “everything”. > > That means everything. Do not then ask me, “jalapeños?” Eff that. I’ve worked in fast food, and 99% of the time the person asking for “everything” doesn’t know what everything entails and upon receiving their order demands to know how jalapeños got in there. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/11 "2018-04-25T12:14:38Z")
If you keep asking the question at multiple locations and don’t get a satisfactory answer, there’s not much point in asking anymore. ---
**Author:** ![pdhenry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pdhenry/32/5561_2.png) [@pdhenry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pdhenry)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/12 "2018-04-25T12:29:45Z")
I’ve never had that problem at Subway. I always had that problem at Quizno’s. (I miss Quizno’s.) ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/13 "2018-04-25T12:35:03Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > No it would be more like if I went to Pizza Hut and asked them what goes on a Meat Lovers Pizza and then they just stared blankly at me because in theory every topping could go on a Meat Lovers Pizza. More like if you asked what type of crust normally goes with a meat lovers pizza. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/14 "2018-04-25T12:38:47Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I think the OP asks a reasonable question. > > They showcase and promote their new, featured, limited-time subs, then when you say “I want one”, they act like “you want _what_?”. > mmm So they’re not really promoting a new sub–they’re just promoting one particular, new ingredient, which generally is some meat that is supposed have some wonderful new flavor. Of course it isn’t wonderful, and taste pretty much like it always does. It doesn’t matter what other ingredients you order, really. It just reminds me why I stopped going there years ago, and make my own sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/15 "2018-04-25T12:43:58Z")
The great shame of Subway is that it pretty much wiped out local sub shops in lots of towns. Now, a sub means the lowest common denominator that is Subway. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/16 "2018-04-25T12:52:41Z")
I don’t go to Subway much, but when I do I usually order the chicken bacon ranch sandwich. And the same thing happens every time. We go through all the usual questions - what kind of bread, what kind of cheese, do you want it toasted, what veggies… then we get to the end and they say “Anything else?” And I have to say… “Uhh, yeah… ranch?” You know, like what’s ON THE NAME OF THE SANDWICH?? :smack: So I kind of get where the OP is coming from. (I guess I should be happy they didn’t ask me if I wanted chicken or bacon on it…) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/17 "2018-04-25T13:07:19Z")
Has anyone worked at Subway? Do they provide them with any kind of recommendations for the sandwiches? It’s a reasonable question…one that Subway should anticipate with a little guide for the workers. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/18 "2018-04-25T13:07:38Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > More like if you asked what type of crust normally goes with a meat lovers pizza. That doesn’t make sense. The crust is akin to the bread. They all get the bread portion. Being told to guess for myself what ingredients are depicted on the Greek Chicken Sandwich is, indeed, a lot like being told to noodle out for myself what Meat Lovers or other specialty pizza. That it has bread/crust is obvious; the question is what goes on top. I think it’s dumb as well but I just go to Jimmy Johns where they know how to make a sandwich without any assistance from me to walk them through it. Being required to pick my own ingredients is just an annoyance without any benefit to me since I’m perfectly capable of reading a menu board and saying “Hunters Club, no tomato” if I’m not in a tomato kind of mood. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/19 "2018-04-25T13:17:13Z")
I’ve never done it for the veggies because I know what I like, but I usually ask for a rec on the sauce if it’s a new sandwich and they’ve always given me one. But also, it’s a subway and they’re minimum wage workers. For 10 bucks I figure I can be the master of my meal fate. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/20 "2018-04-25T13:18:01Z")
There are plenty of other sandwich shops where at least certain sandwiches have a standard makeup, and you can just order “what normally comes on a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_”; but Subway doesn’t work that way. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089.md?page=2)