# 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:** 4
**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, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/61 "2018-04-25T15:29:39Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > [Here’s a current Subway promotion.](http://www.subway.com/en-us/menunutrition/menu/499footlongs/) The pic of the Cold Cut Combo looks good, but what’s going to happen when you order it? “Sir, which cold cuts would you like in your combo?” You might as well say, “I’d like a sub.” What’s the point of their promoting this? How does the Cold Cut Combo even differ from the Spicy Italian? Hell if I know, and it shouldn’t be up to me to tell them. The difference between the Cold Cut Combo, and the Spicy Italian, and the Black Forest Ham, and the various other sandwiches you can order, is entirely in what kind of meat they use. Everything else (what kind of bread, what kind of cheese, which veggies, which condiments, toasted or not) is specified by the customer. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/62 "2018-04-25T15:31:20Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > 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. The problem here is in the “there are plenty of other sandwich shops” part. Out where I am, sandwich/sub shops aren’t really a thing, other than Subway. ---
**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, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/63 "2018-04-25T15:36:06Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > The problem here is in the “there are plenty of other sandwich shops” part. Out where I am, sandwich/sub shops aren’t really a thing, other than Subway. You don’t have any other sandwich chains (Jimmy John’s, Quizno’s, etc.)? If not, then surely you have McDonalds, where a Big Mac comes standard with _two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun_. ---
**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, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/64 "2018-04-25T15:36:10Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > This, I should think. > [@Jophiel](#): > > The former (for me, anyway). Knowing that Subway operates like Subway operates, I wouldn’t walk into one and start harassing the staff for essentially working in a Subway. that’s just being a jerk. Cool. The comparisons to fainting goats and so on read to me like more of an attack on the employees themselves and I’m never in favor of putting employees, especially lowly-paid ones, between a rock and a hard place when it comes to doing what the customer wants vs what the company wants. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/65 "2018-04-25T15:42:17Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Maybe that’s why I’m wondering what the problem with telling the “sandwich artist” what you want on your sandwich is the issue. I grew up with NY delis. Sandwiches are not one size fits all here (and a regular coffee is milk and sugar [way too sweet for my taste], and a buttered kaiser roll is a common thing). I expect the sandwich to be made with what I like, and do not expect the counter person to know that I despise pickles. Sure. But around here, even with the been-here-for-at-least-half-a-century Italian delis, there usually is a list of standard sandwiches with standard toppings on them. You can add and subtract as you please, but there is a “default.” And I’ve found this the case in most cities I’ve visited. If I go to the local deli that sells sandwiches, there is a menu of standard sandwiches, and then they can also make whatever the heck it is you like. But both approaches make some sort of sense to me. If you’re a deli, and you typically sell deli items and make sandwiches for customers to order for convenience and additional income, it might make sense to me that you don’t really care about any sort of “default” sandwich and want to give the customer whatever they want. If you’re a “sandwich restaurant” where you’ve decided what toppings go with what sandwiches and want to create a more “crafted” experience, then that makes sense to have pre-determined selection of sandwiches which the customer could modify, as they please. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/66 "2018-04-25T15:43:13Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > There’s a Jersey Mike’s about 500 yards from the Subway near me. Hot pastrami, make it Mike’s way please. I really like Jersey Mike’s, they’re the best fast food in my corner of the world. And the “Mike’s Way” is brilliant: they have almost exactly the same choices as Subway, but they also have a default combination of extras that taste pretty good on most sandwiches, and a lazy fool like me can just say Mikes Way and get a pretty good sandwich. Subway should have that as an option. Call it “Subway Style,” and for each sandwich they could have a list of the “Subway Style” ingredients you’d get on it. It’s by no means a required list, but for a lazy fool like me, it’d make ordering there better, especially when they have a special sandwich. Which is all theoretical, since I never go to Subway willingly anymore since I tried Jersey Mike’s, but in theory it’d be a great move on their part. ---
**Author:** ![Dingbang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac8455/32.png) [@Dingbang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dingbang)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/67 "2018-04-25T15:46:06Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > No, it isn’t. “A specific combination of ingredients” isn’t a thing at Subway. It’s not the way they operate. To take your specific burrito example, no burrito place that I frequent has specific recipes either. It’s always build-your-own. There’s nothing wrong with either way. They’re just different models. You’re wrong. They offer both models. From Subway: : “Chicken & Bacon Ranch Melt Saddle up & try the fresh toasted SUBWAY® Chicken & Bacon Ranch sandwich. Stuffed with melted Monterey cheddar cheese, tender all-white meat chicken with seasoning and marinade, crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato, onions and green peppers.” ([http://www.subway.com/en-us/menunutrition/menu/product?ProductId=4271&MenuCategoryId=1](http://www.subway.com/en-us/menunutrition/menu/product?ProductId=4271&MenuCategoryId=1)) From Willys: “Southern BBQ Burrito Try our newest addition while it lasts! Chipotle pork or Adobe chicken with pinto beans, rice, jack cheese, SW coleslaw and our housemade Alabama white sauce.” ([http://willys.com/menu-item/bbqburrito/](http://willys.com/menu-item/bbqburrito/)) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/68 "2018-04-25T15:49:48Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > …and a buttered kaiser roll is a common thing Some folk call it a sling roll - I call it a kaiser roll. mmm-hmmm. ---
**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, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/69 "2018-04-25T15:50:20Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Cool. The comparisons to fainting goats and so on read to me like more of an attack on the employees themselves Not intended as such. More of a playful retort to people who were suggesting that Subway somehow had unique restaurant issues in customers getting an unwanted topping or no way of knowing what should go on a sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/70 "2018-04-25T15:55:13Z")
I appreciate the subject because whenever I go to Subway I tend to like all of the ingredients and then pick just about everything, but later find that the sandwich is too busy. I would have rather just had a classic sandwich. ---
**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, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/71 "2018-04-25T15:55:25Z")
> [@Dingbang](#): > > From Subway: : > “Chicken & Bacon Ranch Melt > Saddle up & try the fresh toasted SUBWAY® Chicken & Bacon Ranch sandwich. Stuffed with melted Monterey cheddar cheese, tender all-white meat chicken with seasoning and marinade, crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato, onions and green peppers.” ([http://www.subway.com/en-us/menunutrition/menu/product?ProductId=4271&MenuCategoryId=1](http://www.subway.com/en-us/menunutrition/menu/product?ProductId=4271&MenuCategoryId=1)) Yeah, it’s promoted as if it has a specific combination of ingredients, but when you go into a Subway and try to actually order one, you still have to specify what you want on it. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/72 "2018-04-25T15:55:50Z")
I’m willing to bet that the percentage of people that walk into a subway and “want it just like the picture” are in the minority. If someone makes 200 sandwiches during their shift, I’d be surprised if less than 175 of them are custom. Like others have suggested, get yelled at once by some jerk because you DID make it “just like the picture”, and you’re gonna start making everyone confirm what they want. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/73 "2018-04-25T16:00:19Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Not intended as such. More of a playful retort to people who were suggesting that Subway somehow had unique restaurant issues in customers getting an unwanted topping or no way of knowing what should go on a sandwich. I’m not saying Subway has “unique restaurant issues”; I’ve seen _other_ restaurants where the staff asks for clarification when a customer orders One With Everything, presumably because they’d get hassled at what I’m figuring is the Subway rate as opposed to what I’m figuring is the Taco Bell rate. ---
**Author:** ![Dingbang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac8455/32.png) [@Dingbang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dingbang)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/74 "2018-04-25T16:02:49Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Yeah, it’s promoted as if it has a specific combination of ingredients, but when you go into a Subway and try to actually order one, you still have to specify what you want on it. Which is the whole point of this thread. It DOES have a specific combination of ingredients and it’s not asking too much for a customer to just order it that way. Fine if the customer wants to change it up, but the sandwich does exist as an offering in a particular way. Shouldn’t be a big deal to ask what that is and be able to order it that way. Totally sympathetic to the idea that Subway employees are asked to customize it more than often than not, but it’s also reasonable to expect that I can order whatever they’re advertising without trying to figure out how it’s made and asking for the right ingredients. ---
**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, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/75 "2018-04-25T16:23:36Z")
> [@Clawdio](#): > > I’m willing to bet that the percentage of people that walk into a subway and “want it just like the picture” are in the minority. > > If someone makes 200 sandwiches during their shift, I’d be surprised if less than 175 of them are custom. Given that there’s no option to NOT get it custom, I’d be surprised if less than 200 were custom. ---
**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, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/76 "2018-04-25T16:32:38Z")
> [@Dingbang](#): > > Totally sympathetic to the idea that Subway employees are asked to customize it more than often than not, but it’s also reasonable to expect that I can order whatever they’re advertising without trying to figure out how it’s made and asking for the right ingredients. Since Subway currently does not, as far as I know, provide their stores with recommended builds for their sandwiches, all the employee has at their disposal is the same poster of the sandwich to scrutinize that you saw walking into the building. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/77 "2018-04-25T16:37:02Z")
The “blank slate item that you pick all the ingredients” is definitely becoming more and more common in the fast casual world. Off the top of my head there’s Chipotle, Qdoba, Blaze, and MOD Pizza. Five Guys is mostly like this, all there is an “All the way” option with a clear set of ingredients. McDonald’s is testing this out with some of their specialty burgers too. Epic Burger, a Chicago based chain does it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/78 "2018-04-25T16:39:33Z")
I don’t see how a Subway ad could differ from what it is now even if there truly is no “default” ingredients. They have to put SOMETHING on the poster. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/79 "2018-04-25T16:39:35Z")
> [@Dingbang](#): > > Which is the whole point of this thread. It DOES have a specific combination of ingredients and it’s not asking too much for a customer to just order it that way. Fine if the customer wants to change it up, but the sandwich does exist as an offering in a particular way. Shouldn’t be a big deal to ask what that is and be able to order it that way. > Totally sympathetic to the idea that Subway employees are asked to customize it more than often than not, but it’s also reasonable to expect that I can order whatever they’re advertising without trying to figure out how it’s made and asking for the right ingredients. If you make a Buddhist Sandwich (One With Everything) you’ll get a mess, because there are incompatible ingredients. Aside from too busy, it’ll be a taste mess. A properly made sandwich will have complementary flavors. I would hope that the Subway Test Kitchens spend time evaluating their new sandwiches, so they should have an idea of what works and what doesn’t. And that is why there should be a default setting for sandwiches. You don’t have to get it, but it should be known. But, some people still want pineapple on pizza. And this is America - it should be available, even so. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/80 "2018-04-25T16:44:29Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I really like Jersey Mike’s, they’re the best fast food in my corner of the world. And the “Mike’s Way” is brilliant: they have almost exactly the same choices as Subway, but they also have a default combination of extras that taste pretty good on most sandwiches, and a lazy fool like me can just say Mikes Way and get a pretty good sandwich. > > Subway should have that as an option. Call it “Subway Style,” and for each sandwich they could have a list of the “Subway Style” ingredients you’d get on it. It’s by no means a required list, but for a lazy fool like me, it’d make ordering there better, especially when they have a special sandwich. > > Which is all theoretical, since I never go to Subway willingly anymore since I tried Jersey Mike’s, but in theory it’d be a great move on their part. The Subway I go to has a sign on the glass that daisy “the works” or something like it. It’s a list of ingredients you get if you ask for that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089.md?page=5)