# Which end of a sub do you start eating from? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484 "2011-01-13T18:06:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/21 "2011-01-14T16:21:52Z")
I eat mine like the proper way. The same way cartoon characters always eat ears of corn. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/22 "2011-01-14T19:26:00Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The end that’s closer to my mouth, as it’d be rather difficult to start with the other end. > > I don’t even get how a sub has a “left end” or “right end” to begin with. It’s not just you. I have no idea how a sub has a left or right end, either. ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/23 "2011-01-14T19:37:48Z")
If it’s a whole sub I’ll start at the left end. If it’s cut in two I’ll start with either the right side of the left half or, the left side of the right half. Open side always facing me. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/24 "2011-01-15T04:42:44Z")
Hmm. I just had a Jimmy John’s a couple hours ago. Those are on a half-roll, so one end is cut. I start from the rounded butt-end. I like that part the least, so start there and end up with the cut end and smooshy-gooshy goodness for the finish. Though I will switch sides if stuff starts falling out the other end. I’ll eat what’s coming out so it’s even with the bread again, and then go back to where I left off on the other side. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/25 "2011-01-15T07:19:17Z")
Galley, starboard side. ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/26 "2011-01-15T10:09:42Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Galley, starboard side. I see what you did there and, nom nom nom! ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/27 "2011-01-15T17:19:09Z")
I initially refused to answer because I despise split-cut sandwiches. The bread should be sliced all the way through and the meat should stack symmetrically outwards on both sides. (ETA: Cold meat subs anyway - hot heroes with sauce or gravy, like meatball parmigiana or hot roast beef, require the proper backing to avoid major leakage.) The fact that Subway does this - cut to a seam and fold the sandwich shut in a V-style - where Blimpie’s does it [in proper deli-style](http://www.blimpie.com/) (at least in all the one’s I’ve ever been in) puts Blimpie’s a notch up in my book. When eating a Subway sandwich though, I concur with **Alpha Twit** - the sandwich is cut in half, so I pick up one of the halves and eat from the middle. If I put the sandwich down with the unfortunately mono-split side facing me, I would take the “left” half first; but for purposes of the poll I interpreted this as the “eat from the middle” answer, as I don’t eat from one of the “pointy” ends. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/28 "2011-01-15T17:32:41Z")
Most subs are cut in half and I’ll eat from the middle. I’ll eat whichever half looks messier first. If there’s stuff coming out the end I’ll eat that first so it doesn’t drip later. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/29 "2011-01-16T01:22:11Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > It’s not just you. I have no idea how a sub has a left or right end, either. As mentioned in **robardin** ’s post, the poll assumes that the bread is not split completely, and thus has a “seam” in it where the top and bottom are still attached. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/30 "2011-01-16T04:45:28Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > As mentioned in **robardin** ’s post, the poll assumes that the bread is not split completely, and thus has a “seam” in it where the top and bottom are still attached. This does not in any way make the concept of a sandwich having a right or left side clearer. A top and bottom, perhaps, but not a left or right. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/31 "2011-01-16T10:38:09Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > This does not in any way make the concept of a sandwich having a right or left side clearer. A top and bottom, perhaps, but not a left or right. I assumed that, if you looked at the sandwich with the open edge facing you (and the attached side behind), then from that perspective, the “left” side is the side in which, if you have that end facing you, the seam is on the left and open edge on the right. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/32 "2011-01-16T17:51:04Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > This does not in any way make the concept of a sandwich having a right or left side clearer. A top and bottom, perhaps, but not a left or right. How not? Once you have a top and a bottom (usually there is a distinguishable “top” side to the bread due to the bottom resting on a flat pan in the oven), and a front and a back (the open side is facing you and the seam is away from you), you have a left and a right. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/33 "2011-01-18T06:33:49Z")
Exactly. Specifically with Subway buns, but generically with most other places, the bread is sliced down the middle to stuff the fixins into, but not completely through. This creates the “backstop” for juices and whatnot. Usually with the “top” being more fluffy, or thicker, with the more solid base, or “bottom” thinner side. Fill with fixins and cut lengthwise and you enter into the handedness preference. I am right handed, so I prefer to keep the open cut to the inside of my hand with the open end on the left side. This way, if I set it down, I can set it down on the flat thin bottom and it sits just fine. If I am eating the other side in this manner, I usually eat it upside down (with the top side on the bottom so the open cut stays to the inside of my hand), but it will roll over if I set it down to answer the phone or whatever. One must be careful not to spill the contents, especially if it is a “wet” sub (meatball or saucy or whatever on it). This method was originally designed to prevent spillage, but has not proven 100% effective. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/34 "2011-01-18T18:07:23Z")
I beg to differ. Once you cut it in half, each half now has a left and right end - there is no middle. I cut the hero, and then start at the right end of one of the halves. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/35 "2011-01-18T18:18:26Z")
Me too. Otherwise the meat and fillings squirt out where it was cut. Eat from the middle cut towards the pointed end. The other half I eat the next day. > [@Oredigger77](#): > > If it’s cut I’ll eat both halves from the middle if it’s like the picture then I’ll start on the right. ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/36 "2011-01-18T18:32:11Z")
Well, usually once they’re properly restrained, I start at the ankles, and work my way up from there. Then, just before reaching the target zoner, I switch over to the inside of the wrists and work my way back down. Takes a little longer, but it’s worth the effort, and the journey is a reward in itself. Oh, wait. \*\* Sandwiches\*\*. Middle from the cut working out. Sorry. – Though, admittedly, it’s been a while . . . God dammit. Not just late to the punchline, FOUR DAYS late to the punchline. Ah, well. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/37 "2011-01-18T18:38:48Z")
The end with all the naughty bits, of course … what? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484/38 "2011-01-18T18:40:00Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I start from the forward torpedo end. Thank you. Someone sane at last! 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-end-of-a-sub-do-you-start-eating-from/567484.md?page=1)