Can you handle a 12" one? (Subway)

Member Name: cswann

Product:	Subway
Date:	17/01/04 (251 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Made to order, Made fresh

Disadvantages: Not the cheapest lunch available on the highstreet

The subway chain is a franchised operation, basically a sandwich shop. Although the address of their headquarters for the UK and Ireland is an Irish one, don?t let that fool you. As you might expect, subway began in the United States. In Connecticut, in fact ? Pete?s Super Submarines began there, way back in 1965, the name got changed to Subway, and there you go?

It?s a huge operation now, with over 15,000 franchised outlets across the world, and the are springing up all over in the UK now.
In my own area, there are about 4 in central Manchester, and they?ve reached towns like Wigan, Oldham and Bolton, too.

For more information on where the stores are, visit the website, at www.subway.co.uk

*** What?s it all about? ***
The basic idea with Subway, is this:
1. you ask for a submarine bread roll ? there?s a bewildering (for me, anyway) choice of bread. The flavours are: honey oat, parmesan oregano, Italian, Hearty Italian, Italian Herb and Cheese, Wheat. And then there?s the choice between a 6? or a 12? sub.
2. Choose from an even wider range of toppings.
3. Decide what basic sandwich you want. Things like: Tuna; Seafood and Crab; Steak & Cheese; Meatball; Feta Cheese; Pizza; BBQ Rib; Egg Mayo; Chicken Teriyaki. As you might have guessed some of these sandwiches are cold; some of them are hot.
4. Choose from whatever sauces you fancy
5. Ask for extra cheese, extra meat, or bacon, if that?s what you want.

The essence here is made-to-order, and fancy rather than plain. There?s not much play made on the menu of anything like a dull old cheese and tomato sandwich, here ? though if that?s what you?re after, you could certainly get it at Subway.
There?s a kind of production-line feel to the serving end of things ? your sub roll gets push along towards the salads, and on to someone else in charge of sauces, until you reach the till.
Unlike some fast food joints, you can see everything that?s going to en
d up in your sandwich, it?s all highly visible, and it?s easy to point to various ingredients you may want adding or excluding. And it all looks very fresh.

*** What does it cost? ***
Most 6? sandwiches are around the £2.50 mark. But you can get the Veggie Delite for £1.69, and the chicken pizziola will set you back £2.99.
Any of the sandwiches can be upgraded to a 12? sub for a set charge of £1.70 extra.
There?s a breakfast sub (contains bacon, egg, sausage, cheese and tomato) available for £2.79 available until 11.00 a.m. The price includes a coffee or an orange juice as well.
Kids? meals are available, with a deli-style sandwich, cookie, drink and toy ? for £2.49.
Salads, from £1.99, are also available

*** Get intimate with a 12 inch sub ***
The 12? is, as you can imagine, a pretty huge sandwich, probably too much for most modest or normal appetites, but actually not a bad idea if you fancy sharing with someone you know well. A kind of intimate get together over a 12 incher, if you like.

*** The lighter option ***
For those of us watching our weight, there are seven of the 6? sandwiches which contain less than 6 grams of fat.
I guess that means just about all the rest of their menu has over 6 grams of fat, then? Hmmm. Oh well, here are the good ones:
Veggie Delite (2.7 g.) 215 calories
Turkey (4.7g) 273 calories
Turkey and Ham (5 g) 283 calories
Roast Beef (4.7g) 285 calories
Subway Club (5.2g) 292 calories ? this is
Ham (4.7g) 275 calories
Chicken (5.2g) 328 calories
This is all helpfully itemised on their napkins, so the calorie-obsessed can always check out how they are doing as they eat away.

They do office catering, with free delivery, subject to a minimum order of food for 6 people.

*** My verdict ***
I have enjoyed all the food I have bought from subway, and I love the idea of it.
It?s very flexible, very fresh, and the range of fillings
is very good. OK, there?s no avocado and prawn, or hummus, or many exotic flavours in general, but the possibilities are just about endless due to the choices you can make.
It?s not the cheapest ever, but it?s definitely a big step up from those pre-packaged sandwiches in the plastic triangles.

Lots more information at:
www.subway.co.uk

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