Things Sub Shop Staff Wish You Knew
None of this is secret exactly. It is just the stuff that is obvious from behind the counter and invisible from in front of it.
On ordering
The things that make your sub better and the queue faster:
- Say changes at the start. The sub is built in a fixed sequence and a late change means rebuilding it.
- Extra vegetables cost nothing. Extra meat and cheese are charged. Ask for more of the free things.
- Ask for dressing on the side if you are not eating immediately — it is the difference between a firm roll and a soggy one.
- Any sub can be made in a tub, on a salad or as a wrap, at the same price.
On timing
The busiest shop usually makes the better sub. High turnover means meat is sliced continuously and bread is baked more often — the opposite of what people assume.
Cookies are baked in the morning. Before noon they are soft; by late afternoon they are ordinary.
On value
Check the app before you order, not after. App-only offers are not on the board.
A pickle spear does more for a rich sub than a bag of chips, costs less, and is around 15 calories instead of 220.
Frequently asked
Is it rude to customise heavily?
No. Everything is built to order and staff expect it. Just say it all at the start.
Is a quiet shop worse?
Often, yes. Lower turnover means meat and bread have been sitting longer.
What is the most-missed free thing?
Extra vegetables, and the tub option. Neither costs anything and neither is advertised.
Keep reading
Ordering for the First Time: What to Know
Say your changes at the start, not at the till.
Read →
The Cheapest Way to Eat at a Sub Shop
One specific order, and the two things to leave off it.
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What Does "Mike's Way" Mean?
Seven components, no extra charge, and one of them is worth asking to reduce.
Read →