# The Subway sub shop gripe thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213 "2011-03-28T03:36:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/81 "2011-03-30T01:41:26Z")
> [@Ignatz](#): > > Is it true that an employee got fired after he responded to a female customer who said, “I’d like a 12-inch Italian” and he said “that’s me!” When I worked at Firehouse, my manager said “Ma’am, did you know your daughter can take a 12 inch?” That didn’t go over well. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/82 "2011-03-30T05:23:08Z")
> [@Carmady](#): > > At Quiznos, none of that is true. At all the locations I have gone to, the first thing you do is give your order to someone who will not end up making your sandwich, and without the options in view. You do not watch and interact with the person who makes your sandwich. This lends itself to creating very generic sandwiches. Not true at the Quizno’s stores I’ve been to (mostly suburban Chicago shops). You do order from the person who makes your sandwich (although it’s generally finished by a second person after the toasting) and they always did fine with custom orders. There’s a small chain in the Chicago area called Rammy’s that, in my opinion, makes the best subs. The closest chain in style would be Potbelly, but Rammy’s subs are bigger and they have some excellent local tweaks, including darn good Italian beef subs. In my hometown, they opened a Potbelly directly across the street from Rammy’s. It always makes me wince to see that Potbelly does better trade, since they’re about 45 feet away, charge a bit more, give you a bit less, have a smaller, duller menu, and aren’t locally owned. ---
**Author:** ![phantom\_lamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@phantom\_lamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phantom_lamb)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/83 "2011-03-30T10:54:12Z")
It depends on the region I think. The Subway in Manhattan I frequented would fill the sandwiches quite generously. A big handful of olives, the way I like it. Tons of lettuce, toppings falling out while you eat. The sandwich would also be drenched with Southwest sauce, which makes me very happy. In Germany however, I’ve noticed they are extremely skimpy with all the veggies and even the sauce. They spend ages carefully counting each piece of vegetable and assembling the sandwich, which is very annoying to watch. I get like 3 _slices_ of olives (which amounts to one whole olive) on my 6 inch. Also, they just squirt a thin strip of sauce over the sandwich. You can’t even taste that. I’d feel silly asking for more of everything. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/84 "2011-03-30T14:43:46Z")
I like Quizno’s a lot better, more meat/cheese/filling, and you don’t have to teach them how to make a sandwich. We gotta pepper BAAAAARRRRRRRRR! I get the appeal of the Subway method but it’s frustrating in practice. When there’s a line out the fucking door I’d sure appreciate being able to order a sandwich and pay without answering 42 questions - I looked at the menu and chose a sandwich, just make that fucking sandwich and we can skip the pointless conversation. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/85 "2011-03-30T15:17:49Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > The bad: the cheese selection. Yeah, they have mozzarella, but it’s just grated, and they won’t put much on. Whatever happened to offering provolone? Provolone used to taste so great on a BMT, or on a cold cut trio. White American cheese is so…meh. I can’t eat pepper jack and don’t like it anyway. That must be a local thing. Every Subway I have been to has provolone. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/86 "2011-03-30T17:34:34Z")
> [@Carmady](#): > > At Quiznos, none of that is true. At all the locations I have gone to, the first thing you do is give your order to someone who will not end up making your sandwich, and without the options in view. You do not watch and interact with the person who makes your sandwich. This lends itself to creating very generic sandwiches. Wow, that is quite different from my experience (as I mention, on Long Island NY) - I ate at about 6-7 different Quiznos franchises on the Island over the years, including the 2 that closed last year, and the person who took the order initially prepared the sandwich and feed it into the toaster conveyor (and usually added the toppings like lettuce/tomate/olives etc. after the toasting process. You could follow the sandwich thru the process, and request custom changes (within reason) - no problem. More or less like Subway (except no conveyor, just the ‘pizza’ oven style toaster). What area did you have those ‘Automat’ Quiznos franchises in? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/87 "2011-03-30T17:48:19Z")
We like Subway, and glad to see it is now a larger chain than McDonalds. However, my gripe: The SO likes Teriyaki chicken sandwiches, no cheese. I like the cold cut combo - with cheese. However, whenever I ask that the cheese my SO doesn’t want be added to mine, I usually get a comment of “that’s not allowed”. Why? We are paying for two sandwiches, both come with cheese, so why not just put the extra (pepper jack) he doesn’t want on mine? But other than that - they are usually good sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/88 "2011-03-30T18:18:18Z")
A few years back, I read that the fonder of Subway was sued by a bunch of his franchisees. Leter, the guy was alleged to have mob connections. They also used to advertise that their sub rolls were fresh baked-is that true? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/89 "2011-03-30T18:54:20Z")
Technically yes. They are baked at the store. But they are not _made_ there; I’m pretty sure the store gets frozen loaves of dough from the Subway distributor and puts them in the oven. Every Subway I’ve been to has the bread baking oven right there behind the counter. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/90 "2011-03-30T19:57:42Z")
> [@Carmady](#): > > At Subway you watch and interact with the person as they make your sandwich, so it is much easier to get what you want. You can see all the options in front of you to aid in your precise specifications. > > At Quiznos, none of that is true. At all the locations I have gone to, the first thing you do is give your order to someone who will not end up making your sandwich, and without the options in view. You do not watch and interact with the person who makes your sandwich. This lends itself to creating very generic sandwiches. > [@SirRay](#): > > Wow, that is quite different from my experience (as I mention, on Long Island NY) - I ate at about 6-7 different Quiznos franchises on the Island over the years, including the 2 that closed last year, and the person who took the order initially prepared the sandwich and feed it into the toaster conveyor (and usually added the toppings like lettuce/tomate/olives etc. after the toasting process. You could follow the sandwich thru the process, and request custom changes (within reason) - no problem. More or less like Subway (except no conveyor, just the ‘pizza’ oven style toaster). > What area did you have those ‘Automat’ Quiznos franchises in? Both styles are here in Northern Virginia. Older ones have changes made before tosting whereas newer ones are Subway-style with the option of adding stuff after tosting. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/91 "2011-03-30T19:59:41Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Not having extra napkins available without asking for them IS annoying. And I can’t think of any other fast food restaurant that doesn’t have napkins in a dispenser. The McDonald’s closest to my home stopped filling their napkin dispensers a couple years ago. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/92 "2011-03-30T20:37:11Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > It’s not awesome, but it’s available and open late. Interesting. Most of the Subways around me close crazy early, like 6-7 in the evening. I’ve never understood why. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/93 "2011-03-30T20:48:26Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Interesting. Most of the Subways around me close crazy early, like 6-7 in the evening. I’ve never understood why. Come to the other side of the river and you’ll find one open 24 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/94 "2011-03-30T22:18:21Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > The SO likes Teriyaki chicken sandwiches, no cheese. > I like the cold cut combo - with cheese. > However, whenever I ask that the cheese my SO doesn’t want be added to mine, I usually get a comment of “that’s not allowed”. > Why? We are paying for two sandwiches, both come with cheese, so why not just put the extra (pepper jack) he doesn’t want on mine? Try this… it may work. Next time tell him when they ask him what cheese he can answer “Pepperjack on the side please.” I’m sure it will confuse them but I bet they will put the three little triangles of cheese in the wrap with his sandwich which then you can put on your sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/95 "2011-03-30T23:03:01Z")
I’m another fan of Subway’s veggie patties. But if I really want to blow it out and have a sub that’s terrible for me, I go to Firehouse. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/96 "2011-03-31T00:19:21Z")
The commercial where the man and woman with kids voices bugs me. Not because of the voices, but because they changed it from “melt” to “sub” and the guy just stammers “my…my” instead of being dubbed over like the woman. There’s a gap. It’s annoying. “Give me your melt.” “My… my melt?” “Give me your sub.” “My… my” ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/97 "2011-03-31T00:44:20Z")
> [@FordTaurusSHO94](#): > > The commercial where the man and woman with kids voices bugs me. Not because of the voices, but because they changed it from “melt” to “sub” and the guy just stammers “my..my” instead of being dubbed over like the woman. There’s a gap. It’s annoying. > > “Give me your melt.” > “My… my melt?” > > “Give me your sub.” > “My… my” This is the single worst commercial currently running, and I would be thrilled if everyone involved in the creation of this ad (both the ad agency and the Subway execs who approved it) were beaten to death by rabid, bloodthirsty Hell’s Angels, deep in the grip of a PCP induced psychosis, who are constantly screaming depraved, vile invective in those phony, childlike voices the entire time that they are savagely dismembering their victims. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/98 "2011-03-31T00:45:39Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > The McDonald’s closest to my home stopped filling their napkin dispensers a couple years ago. There used to be a McDonald’s in a vertical mall near my office in downtown Chicago. They very quickly stopped filling the napkin dispensers, and gave out napkins (and ketchup packets) very grudgingly. I don’t know if they had issues with people taking / using tons of them, or if the franchisee was just being cheap…but that was one of the only McDonald’s I’ve ever seen which closed up shop. (The vertical mall itself went belly-up a year or so later, but the McD’s had always done a very good business, at least at lunchtime.) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/99 "2011-03-31T17:36:26Z")
I hadn’t been to Subway in years, but I went today because of this thread, in the spirit of inquiry. Toppings were neither generous nor stingy - I felt they were appropriate to the sandwich, none of this “three olives” thing. And they did have provolone - no pepper jack, sadly. But they may have known I was an undercover operative - they gave me _four napkins for two sandwiches_, an event which is hitherto unprecedented. ---
**Author:** ![Chapulin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Chapulin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chapulin)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213/100 "2011-03-31T17:40:07Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Wait, what? Is this really the standard for most people, to toast the mayo with the sandwich? I like my mayo-based products cold on a sandwich, thank you, unless they’re being spread lightly on the outside of a grilled cheese sandwich to provide extra browning/crisping action. Warm mayo makes me slightly queasy. It would never occur to me to toast the sandwich with the mayo on it–the mayo is for after. I mean, do you toast your mustard and ketchup too with a hamburger? On my hamburgers I only eat mayo, and it goes on cold. But on my sandwiches, and all the sandwhiches made at Quiznos, the dressings go on first with the meat, and into the toaster. It tastes wonderful. There is nothing grosser than having pieces of your sandwich nice and warm and then all of a sudden something cold in the middle of it. I want the whole thing to be toasted, not just the meat with cold dressings. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-subway-sub-shop-gripe-thread/576213.md?page=6)