Hoagies, Heros, Zeps etc.

What do think about the Subway sandwich that is getting more popular then Micky D's?

Out here in CA, Subway's getting a real run for it's money with the Quizno's chain, which
offers HOT sandwiches... and the meat doesn't seem to be ultra-processed like at Subway either.

I personally do not like Subway !!

There is a chain around here call Sub Station II and they are much better. They fresh cut all their meat and used fresh bread that they toast before making the sub ! I think Subway is overrated and a bit overpriced ! IMHO

But, having said that, I will take a subway sub over a MCD burger any day !!!

I am a fan of Blimpies when I can't find good roadfood. I like the way they shred the lettuce for the sandwiches.

Don't like Subway. It's no wonder those guys have lost all that weight eating only their subs - they don't put anything on them! We have Quizno's & Blimpies here too but I have never been to them either. There are too many good delis in my neighborhood that put out wonderful subs to go to a chain and settle for mediocre.

I've been dieting Oh no! That word does NOT belong on this board! ...and have found that Subway hoagies are especially worthwhile while you are watching. I just don't have the time to cut lettuce, onion, tomato, bake bread, grab some sweet peppers, etc., so while I'm "downsizing", it's a pretty good lunch. It's also four blocks down the street.

Personally, I can't get to excited about any national chain sub shop whatsoever when there are so many independent places with some character that do sandwiches so much better. Consistently coast-to-coast insipid food is contrary to the whole concept of roadfood as I see it.

Mike, I agree with you. Both of us live in the "Delaware Valley", a place that is hoagie/sub/zep mecca.

quote:

Originally posted by RC51Mike

Personally, I can't get to excited about any national chain sub shop whatsoever when there are so many independent places with some character that do sandwiches so much better. Consistently coast-to-coast insipid food is contrary to the whole concept of roadfood as I see it.

I grew up in Lancaster - what the heck is a zep?

My dad spent most of his youth in Norristown Pa and he always called a sub a Zep. Short for zepplin (?sp) ... you know, that big air thingie that shows up at all the televised golf matches !!!

The zep thing came up on another thread a little while ago. Same as a hoagie or sub except the name is highly localized around Norristown, PA. It seems to be a tradition that a zep doesn't have lettuce or pickles on it.

I spent a lot of time growing up eating those delicious drippy "grinders" in Western Massachusetts. Subway is not my favorite. We've got a local chain in Charlottesville called Baggby's that's expensive but good. I miss going to the Bridge Store in Huntington, MA and eating a nice grinder.

CheeseWit, here is another one for your honeymoon trip. Moe's Italians of Portsmouth,NH
The original Moe's is in the middle of Market Sq. in Portsmouth,NH
The concept is simple, fresh bread and lots of Italian cold cuts....and cheap
Successful since 1959 at the original location
http://www.moestogo.com
DaveM

Confession:

Don't tell any of my Philly friends, but believe it or not out here in sub/cheesesteak starved Los Angeles, I've found that a Subway steak and cheese (not a cheesesteak, really) with the pickles, lettuce, tomato, salt, pepper and southwest sauce is pretty good!

Also, out in Oak Park (LA Suburb west of the Valley) there's a place called Sub Contractor which is a small franchise, and their bacon-pastrami sub with provolone is excellent.

Now, do they compare to the White House Subs (and indeed most of the Atlantic City area sub shops of my youth, Sack-o-Subs, Delaware Subs, etc.)? No way. But hey, any port in a storm, right?

I have stopped going to Subway until they get rid of their spokesmoron (the one that is not Jared)

Thanks again, Dave. I'll add this to my growing list of "must try".

quote:

Originally posted by damnh

CheeseWit, here is another one for your honeymoon trip. Moe's Italians of Portsmouth,NH
The original Moe's is in the middle of Market Sq. in Portsmouth,NH
The concept is simple, fresh bread and lots of Italian cold cuts....and cheap
Successful since 1959 at the original location
http://www.moestogo.com
DaveM

Here in the Dayton, Ohio, area a chain called Jersey Mike's (www.jerseymikes.com) has sprung up in a few locations. Ditto for already-mentioned Quizno's. There has been a local chain called Super Subby's (www.subbys.com), but I went there once and thought it was way too greasy. There's also a Columbus-based chain called W. G. Grinders (www.wggrinders.com), but I find the food slightly too salty. Penn Station (www.penn-station.com), based in Cincinnati, is full of grease like Subby's IMHO.

When in the upper Midwest I tend to go to a Wisconsin-based chain called Cousin's Subs. Their website is www.cousinssubs.com if you're interested! (They also have locations in Arizona, Colorado, California, and Texas, having expanded outside of their home turf!) The closest one to Dayton is in Indianapolis.

As for Subway, I have not eaten there since March 1998. I remember going to one sometime before then and getting a pizza sub that was cold.

I just thought I'd mention I have been to McDonald's hundreds of times but have never visited White Castle!

quote:

Originally posted by CheeseWit

Mike, I agree with you. Both of us live in the "Delaware Valley", a place that is hoagie/sub/zep mecca.

quote:

Originally posted by RC51Mike

Personally, I can't get to excited about any national chain sub shop whatsoever when there are so many independent places with some character that do sandwiches so much better. Consistently coast-to-coast insipid food is contrary to the whole concept of roadfood as I see it.

So true. This area compares to none in that category:)

In our area (Altoona/Johnstown, PA) the best subs are at Em's Subs; they also serve a decent gyro.

quote:

Originally posted by scbuzz

My dad spent most of his youth in Norristown Pa and he always called a sub a Zep. Short for zepplin (?sp) ... you know, that big air thingie that shows up at all the televised golf matches !!!

My mom grew up in Norristown, and my dad lived there after gettting out of the army.
I occasionally go there, as it's only about 15 minutes from me.
What areas of norristown was your dad from?

Hey DanaJ, I just saw your question !!

I'm not exactly sure which part of Norristown my father grew up in ... we hardly ever visited the place !! However his mother worked for the Sacred Heart Hospital and they lived somewhere near there !!!

Hi schbuzz! I was born in that very hospital

Heee !! what a small world !! My grandmother was a nurse and I believe she worked in the delivery room !! She might have very well have assisted in your birth !!!!

I work close to Norristown-in Plymouth Meeting and Jane works in the heart of Norristown. There are many sandwich shops in the area that serve zeps, hoagies, grinders, cheesesteaks, burgers, etc. Norristown is on the verge of being reborn through redevelopment. It is being touted as the next great area.

LOL Schbuzz, well was working there in the very early 80s? Too funny nonetheless.

Cheesewit, yeah it is. I don't know how well it's going to turn out though.
They're doing the same thing with Pottstown, which is where I end up spending most of my time anyway.

The Philadelphia Inquirer just did a series of articles on these towns. They noted how Conshohocken turned it around. These old blue-collar towns need to have people move back, open businesses including Ma & Pa restaurants, galleries,and other shops.

Yeah, I saw. We get the Inquirer.
I just don't have too much faith in it. THe thing is, most people are moving far away from these areas. I doubt this will create some surge of population. Maybe, who knows. Would be nice to see these areas cleaned up some, especially by bringing life into the areas etc.

DanaJ, I don't remember the year that my grandmother retired from Sacred Heart (might have been sometime around '80). She worked there for like 40 something years !! Her name was Nellie Byrd Price. She was an RN.


I just have faint memories of Norristown. My father never liked to go back and visit. But I always remember it as a neat little town with the best Zeps I ever had !! I remember going to the Plymouth Mall and seeing the big model of the Mayflower boat on display !!!

Is Lou's on Main Street still open? Zeps, cheesesteaks, decor hasn't changed in about 40 years. Haven't been up in a while. Would stop there when I go up to REI up the road.

Lou's is still there.