# 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:** 7
**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, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/121 "2018-04-25T23:05:52Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > I’m not saying those vehicles are bad, I’m saying they’re the same vehicle with different trim options. If you think a Corvette is the same as a minivan or a truck, you really don’t get it. They are most definitely NOT “the same vehicle with different trim options”. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > Not only are there far more than 4 ingredients in that very picture, if you asked to have it made that way, would you be offended that they ask about guacamole, because it is an extra charge, or would you be offended because they went ahead and charged you without asking? Poor attempt at a gotcha. The picture has guac? Then I want guac. > [@jayjay](#): > > Tell them what you want on your sandwich. That’s it. I’m not sure what part of it people aren’t getting. the part you and many don’t seem to get, is, if there is a new advertised sandwich, we don’t know what we want! What goes good with the new meat? What doesn’t work? If I go into a greek restaurant and order a gyro, but have them remove the tzatziki sauce and substitute ketchup, I’d be having it my way, making my own sandwich. And it would taste terrible! And then I’d tell all my friends that that shop make terrible gyros. Would I be right in saying that? ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/122 "2018-04-25T23:07:45Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > It’s not even close. Chipolte has like four ingredients. If you brought in [this ad](https://amp.businessinsider.com/images/58106768362ca4372e8b4994-750-562.png), and asked for that, they would certainly give it to you exactly like that. (I snipped it) My standard bowl at Chipotle has 8-9 ingredients, depending on my feelings about lettuce at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/123 "2018-04-25T23:37:28Z")
> [@Wolf333](#): > > (I snipped it) > > My standard bowl at Chipotle has 8-9 ingredients, depending on my feelings about lettuce at the time. Recently Chipotle had a featured burrito, with a picture on the sign and the actual list of specific ingredients (sour cream, cheese, white rice, the specific meat, etc.). They were totally flummoxed when I said I wanted it, referring to it by name and pointing at the picture. They still had to ask me about everything, even when I asked them to make it excactly as advertised. I’d be satisfied if they had to turn around all the time to read the sign, but they couldn’t even do that. It was really frustrating. Chipotle typically isn’t my thing because I consider part of the prepared food purchasing experience to be outsourcing decisions as well as preparation, so I like to just order things without customization. I’m not terribly fussy, and would rather let the alleged professionals decide what goes good with what. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/124 "2018-04-25T23:38:13Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Oh of curiosity, is giardiniera just a Chicago-area Subway thing? I mean, I know giardiniera, as we know it here in the Windy City and its environs, is fairly regional. I’m just curious as a Subway condiment it’s specific to the area and its tastes or if it goes beyond. (And if it is specific, are there other areas with specific condimentation.) To be honest, that’s the only thing that saves a Subway sub for me. Ditto, though they make a good, basic tuna salad. As for giardiniera being a Chicagoland thing, if it’s served elsewhere it’s that ghastly shit in vinegar, loaded up with silfites, that nearly killed Wife and I. Anaphylactic shock is not fun, and I avoid it by avoiding peppers that look like science experiments. ---
**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, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/125 "2018-04-25T23:44:50Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Ditto, though they make a good, basic tuna salad. As for giardiniera being a Chicagoland thing, if it’s served elsewhere it’s that ghastly shit in vinegar, loaded up with silfites, that nearly killed Wife and I. Anaphylactic shock is not fun, and I avoid it by avoiding peppers that look like science experiments. I’m familiar with the giardiniera that is just a pickled salad thing with big vegetable chunks, is that what you’re talking about. [Something like this](https://www.mezzetta.com/our-products/detail/giardiniera)? Almost like an escabeche (and there’s another name that escapes me for it) you get at a Mexican place? You can find that here in Chicago, too, but that’s definitely different than Chicagoland giard. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/126 "2018-04-26T00:06:15Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m familiar with the giardiniera that is just a pickled salad thing with big vegetable chunks, is that what you’re talking about. [Something like this](https://www.mezzetta.com/our-products/detail/giardiniera)? Almost like an escabeche (and there’s another name that escapes me for it) you get at a Mexican place? You can find that here in Chicago, too, but that’s definitely different than Chicagoland giard. I’m trying to figure out what Chicago style is. As far as I can tell, it’s packed in oil rather than vinegar but I can’t tell whether the vegetables are pickled first. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/127 "2018-04-26T00:14:17Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > That’s cute and all, but if you go in and ask for “a Whopper” they don’t ask what you want on it, they give you the default Whopper. If you want it different, that’s fine, but if you just as for “a Whopper” you don’t get just two buns and a slice of meat. It’s no longer true, but I used to love going to Burger King because they were the only chain where I could order a bacon double cheeseburger and get a bacon double cheeseburger, not a bacon-cheese-revolting red goop-revolting yellow goop-lawn clippings-cucumber slices soaked in diesel fuel-double cheeseburger. Sadly that ended well over 20 years ago. ---
**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 26, 2018, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/128 "2018-04-26T00:26:48Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > I’m trying to figure out what Chicago style is. As far as I can tell, it’s packed in oil rather than vinegar but I can’t tell whether the vegetables are pickled first. It’s chopped relatively finely (like maybe 1 cm dice, or 1cm thick slices), and packed in oil and vinegar. It should have an assertive spicy kick to it. You can get it mild, but giardiniera is synonymous with a hot pepper kick to it. That’s basically the point of it. Spicy pickled vegetables that you put on your Italian beef or any other sandwich. Or even pizza. ETA: [Here’s a good run-down of Chicago giardinieras](https://chicago.seriouseats.com/2013/11/taste-test-the-best-giardiniera.html) accompanied with pictures from Serious Eats. Celery and hot peppers are probably the two most important ingredients (in fact, there are at least one or two Chicago beef places where the house giardiniera is only those two vegetables, but typically it also has carrots, maybe bell peppers, maybe olives, sometimes cauliflower.) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/129 "2018-04-26T00:28:54Z")
It’s obvious that you folks are reading something into the promotions that Subway has no intent to convey. It’s not a place that decides what the best combination of ingredients is for any particular sandwich. And even if they did mean it, what’s obviously happening is that all but a handful of Subway customers expect to choose their ingredients so it’s impractical for store managers to force the sandwich artists to learn particular combinations. When you have to do a repetitive job like that your brain is going to create an efficient pattern. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/130 "2018-04-26T00:30:59Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Except that your alternate-timeline version of a Chevrolet dealer is well-known for being a made-to-order car shop, and you just don’t know how to Chevy, just like you apparently don’t know how to Subway. > > It’s neither rocket science nor brain surgery. Tell them what you want on your sandwich. That’s it. I’m not sure what part of it people aren’t getting. You aren’t allowed to get the sandwich you wanted in the first place. Maybe put it this way: Subway doesn’t make any sandwiches at all. Subway makes a Subway, and adds vaguely sandwich-themed ingredients. When I eat there, what I receive doesn’t remind me of a sandwich, except for the fact that it sounds as if it ought to. ETA: I know **how** it works, I’m questioning **whether** it works. ---
**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 26, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/131 "2018-04-26T00:43:01Z")
Given they’re the largest fast food chain by both locations and revenue, I’d say what they’re doing is working. I don’t like them at all, but I can’t argue with the numbers. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/132 "2018-04-26T00:50:33Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m familiar with the giardiniera that is just a pickled salad thing with big vegetable chunks, is that what you’re talking about. [Something like this](https://www.mezzetta.com/our-products/detail/giardiniera)? Yeah, like that. I’m having problems finding ingredients online but Marconi’s giardiniera in oil as served at Portillo’s is sulfited. ---
**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 26, 2018, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/133 "2018-04-26T01:12:25Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Yeah, like that. I’m having problems finding ingredients online but Marconi’s giardiniera in oil as served at Portillo’s is sulfited. Oh, if the problem is sulfites, then I think a lot of giardinieras have sodium bisulfite in them. I currently have Natali brand in the fridge, and it has it. Looking online, it seems about half of the giardinieras out there have it. (But not Subway’s, which is Alpino Brand, apparently.) ETA: [Here’s a “master list”’ of giardinieraa](http://www.eatgiardiniera.com/master-giardiniera-list/%22'). Marconi does list sulfite in its ingredients for all their giards. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/134 "2018-04-26T01:23:23Z")
> [@Dingbang](#): > > No sneering here. God bless the Subway employees. > Pantastic, I don’t think anybody is going into Subway, pointing at a pretty picture of a generic prop sandwich and asking what’s on it. That’s not the issue here, not from my reading of the OP or anyone’s comments. Has anyone argued for that? > You note that they do offer specific advertised specials and that the employees know how to make them. Good, that’s what we expect. The OP’s experience, and mine too, has been that when you ask they don’t know. So there’s the problem. Yes, that is what you guys have said. You keep demanding what comes with the special, but that’s just the meat and maybe a sauce. You have to specify everything else, and that’s what the OP is upset about. The only source for the other stuff is what was in the ad, so that is what you are asking for. You’re asking them to know what food is in the ad. The issue is not that they don’t know. It’s that you are demanding a service that Subway does not provide. The OP should be happy they don’t just give him what comes on the sandwich–the meat (You generally have to specify the bread). Or that they don’t berate him for not comprehending the sign that specifically says you have to say what you want on the food, or not reading the menu that does not list any toppings. There are actually legitimate reasons to dislike Subway. Their online ordering is horrible and can result in them stealing from you. Sometimes the employees are surly to your face–something I’ve never had happen at any other fast food restaurant. There is almost never a manager there, just the sandwich makers, resulting in lax food safety and stuff. But having to specify the topping at a build-your-own style sandwich shop? That’s not a legitimate gripe. ---
**Author:** ![NJ\_Kef\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b487fb/32.png) [@NJ\_Kef\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NJ_Kef_1)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/135 "2018-04-26T01:29:52Z")
At an Italian deli in the Italian quarter when I order an Italian hoagie, I’m asked, “Do you want mayonnaise on that?” This used to annoy me until I realized the deli can’t afford to assume its customers know the difference between an Italian and American hoagie. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/136 "2018-04-26T02:10:15Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > ETA: [Here’s a “master list”’ of giardinieraa](http://www.eatgiardiniera.com/master-giardiniera-list/%22'). Marconi does list sulfite in its ingredients for all their giards. I have to be careful because it can be everywhere and in all its forms. I read a lot of labels. ---
**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 26, 2018, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/137 "2018-04-26T02:13:13Z")
> [@NJ\_Kef](#): > > At an Italian deli in the Italian quarter when I order an Italian hoagie, I’m asked, “Do you want mayonnaise on that?” This used to annoy me until I realized the deli can’t afford to assume its customers know the difference between an Italian and American hoagie. Heck, just to SDMB this: it’s my understanding that some folks, at a hot-dog cart, ask for one with everything and mean _mustard-and-onions-and-WHOA! What the HELL?!? No, not ketchup! Put that evil away!_ And it’s also my understanding that some folks who ask for one with everything mean “including ketchup”. So . . . what’s a hot-dog vendor to do? ---
**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 26, 2018, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/138 "2018-04-26T02:30:21Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Heck, just to SDMB this: it’s my understanding that some folks, at a hot-dog cart, ask for one with everything and mean _mustard-and-onions-and-WHOA! What the HELL?!? No, not ketchup! Put that evil away!_ And it’s also my understanding that some folks who ask for one with everything mean “including ketchup”. > > So . . . what’s a hot-dog vendor to do? Here, it’s generally accepted that “everything on it” does not include ketchup. There are very, very few places where ketchup is included in that list. That said, “everything on it” can be a range of toppings. At a minimum, an “everything” dog should have mustard, relish, onions. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/139 "2018-04-26T02:44:44Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Here, it’s generally accepted that “everything on it” does not include ketchup. There are very, very few places where ketchup is included in that list. That said, “everything on it” can be a range of toppings. At a minimum, an “everything” dog should have mustard, relish, onions. This, of course, is barbaric. Catsup and hot dogs are mutually inclusive. That is to say, catsup is only edible if it’s on a hot dog, and hot dogs are only edible with catsup. Onions and relish are optional, but not sufficient. Mustard has no place anywhere, and when I am king of the world it is one of the very few “foods” that will be banned, along with mayonnaise and macaroni and cheese. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/140 "2018-04-26T02:56:40Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Here, it’s generally accepted that “everything on it” does not include ketchup. There are very, very few places where ketchup is included in that list. Getting a bit regionalist there, **pally**. I ain’t originally from 'round these parts and like ketchup just fine on hot dogs that also ain’t from 'round these parts, the ones that look and taste like skinny baloney. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089.md?page=8)