Mr Submarine

This is the text of the message I sent via the corporate website:
«I have been a regular patron of the sub shop on West Fullerton in Chicago. I previously had an unpleasant experience in regard to the meat being used for the sandwiches (specifically corn beef). At that time, I was served a sandwich that contained cold cuts that were a minimum of 1 to 2 days old. I only discovered this when I tasted the sandwich and almost threw up. I examined the meat and easily determined, based on its appearance and smell, that the cold cuts were quite old (I have 30+ years eating corn beef, cold or hot, in a restaurant, or at home). The meat was on the verge of being spoiled. Please refer to my Unilocal review for more details. Regardless, the last time I patronized this shop, I insisted that the proprietor show me the corn beef up close before I let him make the sandwich. This was a month or two ago. Tonight (06÷16÷15), I bought a corn beef sandwich and, again, gagged when I tasted it. The meat was OLD! I would assume that your franchise owners have to adhere to certain food safety standards. If not, I would contemplate never purchasing another item from any of your shops and consider filing a formal complaint with the proper regulatory agency in my area. Please correct this situation to avoid more serious future complications for the franchisee in question. Thank you for you prompt attention to this matter and I await your response.»
I believe no elaboration or clarification is necessary.

There’s a reason blue collared folks see this chain as one of their go-to’s: Because it’s good, and it’s not expensive. Follow the guys with the hard hats, tool belts, company t-​shirts and dirt under their fingernails. They know where to go for lunch.
I honestly don’t get the hate. Then again, my family has been here before Capone, and I have the Dennis Farina accent to back it up (so people say), and this is THE sub chain I grew up with back when this neighborhood was a shit hole. I think Mr. Submarine should change their slogan:
It is what it is, and what it is, is good.
Subway is beyond boring to me; every sandwich tastes the same. I actually dislike toasted bread (I was born with a very sensitive palate and gums), so I only order the meatball at Potbelly with extra red sauce. (Shaddap! Even my husband teases me about it.) Quizno’s? How about No way am I paying that for a friggin sammich.
And Mr. Submarine? Good, dense, chewy Italian bread (Gonnella orTurano, depending on location), I like the creamy cheese slices they use, and I like the sauce they put on the subs. I even like how they fine shred the lettuce and onions, and they put the right amount of sauce and mustard on it.
Now the meat? It’s probably Arby grade if that, but they give you a lot, and none of the other chairs even feature corned beef. Again, it is what it is, especially given the price. I can also get sides here like I’d find at a hot dog joint (including hot dogs), and they serve RC pop brands instead of Coke or Pepsi — old school.
And yes, the customer service is what it is, too. Order your food, sit your ass down and wait a couple minutes. You’re not a special snowflake at a place like this. ;)

This was my first visit to a Mr Submarine and, well, it was hit and miss. The guys working were surly and borderline rude. It was obvious I was interrupting their day by having the audacity to come in and want to eat.
I missed the bit at the top of the menu that stated what came on the sandwiches. So when I asked what was on the roast beef, he gestured towards the menu and said «just like that says.» He then got a bit gruff and told me anyway.
I ordered my roast beef plain. This seemed to be something he couldn’t fathom as he then asked, one by one, each it the items it generally comes with.
Apparently they both felt like I was just trying to be difficult when he asked if I wanted that hot or cold and I said hot (it was listed under the hot sandwiches after all). The guy taking the order turned to the other one and said «AND he wants it hot.»
I’ll definitely eat at Mr Sub again, but NEVER at this location.

It’s cheap… Not great but not bad for the price… The guys cooking the food were pretty dirty, I think they wear the same shirt to work every day & may never wash them.

I had the gyro sub it wasn’t that tasty at all the meat didn’t taste like real gyro meat at all. all they put on it was tomatoes and gyro sauce. You don’t get fries with it and it its over priced I rather go to subway if I had to go to a sub place. don’t go here plus I have a horrible after taste in my mouth

Don’t get the gyro (as it is not an actual gyro, but a sandwich, on a sesame seed bun).
Also ordered the shrimp and fries combo, they give you a generous portion. Don’t forget to get a cup of the cheese sauce to dip your fries in!
This place is a decent to go for a quick meal, but it’s nothing special. It closes kind of early, which is why I normally go to the taco and burrito house across the street.

I don’t know why people come here expecting gourmet sandwiches and modern décor. It’s a dirty sammich joint that serves all your fry and dirty sammich needs. I guess that’s what happens when Susie South Dakota transplants herself in «the big» city and expects life to be like a movie… The food is good, fast, and cheap, what more can you ask for? Is it healthy? No. Is the décor straight out if a West Elm catalog? No. Will you be utterly satisfied with the food on your belly? Yes. If you want the previous two criteria, go pay $ 15 a pop at Jerry’s or Grahmwich, and leave the places like this for the locals.

I like the sandwiches here. I like the bread. The prices. They are fast. This is not some kind of Gourmet –Euro taste experience. Its just Good. Given the choice between Subway and Mr Submarine, I go to Mr Submarine.

your typical Mr. Submarine… was craving a turkey sub… MMmmm…went back and had a pizza puff meal… cheap…
Nice staff… cheap prices… good food!

All this exercise gets me hungry and sometimes plays games with my head. I tried Mr. Submarine because I’ve never had it and the hunger pangs hit hard after running 10 miles. I wasn’t impressed with the sandwich especially when I asked for it hot and it was thrown in the microwave for 20 seconds. Sadly enough I was still hungry after eating the ham/​turkey combo. Like the 2 star rating says…“Meh. I’ve experienced better.”

Why can’t somebody open a sub place that makes real subs the fattening kind, a place where you can walk in order your sub, have it made in a snap so you can be on your way. Oh wait some body did it’s called Mr. Submarine and they also have Onion Rings-​French Fries everything that you would want in a great American Fast Food Restaurant.
If you love your subs with weird ingredients (some of the stuff SUBWAY puts on there sandwiches is sacrilegious ! ! ! !) go to SUBWAY– If you wanna deal with the hassle of having to tell the employee every ingredient that you want or don’t want on your «SUB» which is very tedious, go to SUBWAY (I once stood behind this lady that wanted her mustard put on diagonally).
If you want a sub made the right way go to MR. SUBMARINE. I read a lot of the negative reviews and it looks to me like a lot of these reviewers are food snobs or have been fooled into thinking that SUBWAY (healthy sandwiches, give me a break) makes the real deal.

Look — if you want the highest quality sub sandwich offered, then don’t expect to get 2 subs for $ 4.
For what they offer, Mr. Sub is a gem. I love their food and their service is fine. I don’t want to break the bank getting us subs for dinner. After all, they’re just sandwiches, so why spend $ 15+ for Subway? This is my favorite bargain sub available. If you think its garbage, then you should go somewhere else and shell out more cash. I think its delicious.
Delivery would be awesome.

Look peeps, it’s not the Four Seasons but for what it is – it’s delicious!
I stumbled in here with a terrible hunger monster growling in my belly. I was immediately drawn to the veggie sub with cheese and no mayo! Served on tasty fresh Italian bread, it did the trick! Simple sandwich with fresh ingredients for about $ 4. I mean, this is a no-​brainer.
My other half got the roast beef sub and he was singing its praises! Apparently the meat was fresh and tasty and hot and just was his belly monster ordered too.
With a side of extra tasty, crispy fries and soda, we had dinner on the cheap for about $ 12. This is no frills but its definitely yummy and filling!

Probably the worst food I have ever eaten. I think they may have dipped the sub in a bowl of oil before handing it over. Even the Coke tasted really strange. If you want sanitary food, don’t eat here.

There’s a promotion for 2 subs for I think $ 5.99
TWO SUBS.
Ok, the meat is comparable to that Buddig brand that sells in the 1 oz packages at your mega-​mart. However, they put a ton of buddig on the subs. Consuming 2 lbs of this meat per sub has not shown any adverse side effects on me. Though I don’t envy my eventual spawn. Sucker.
FYI: If you were to ever drive by Mr. Sub, you would think it was a vacant building full of lowlifes. And you’d be wrong. It isn’t vacant.
They have a solid chicken breast sub. I mean, the chicken breast is literally solid. It may have one time been liquified chicken by-​product. But let’s not dwell on the past.
Anyway, I gave this place 4 stars for being the best worst sub joint ever.
FYI 2: it’s actually tons better than f’ing Quizno’s. *blegh*

Listen, you need to realize that Unilocal skews towards ‘princessy’, ‘precious’ or it’s ‘novelty for it’s own sake’, and Mr Sub is about as far from either of these three heavily contrived personas as you can get. It’s a fine, fine sub, especially the corned beef, using crusty Gonella’s Italian rolls. If you don’t like hard bread, go somewhere else.

Grade Z meat that wouldn’t be fit for prisoners, vegetables that are close to rotten and stale bread that is impossible to chew combine to give you a Mr. Submarine sandwich.
That said, don’t bother coming here. You can walk a block east and go to Subway, a block south and go to Potbelly or Jimmy John’s, or two blocks west and go to Uncle Sammy’s. The walk is worth it.

This place made me violently ill. I am pretty sure the corned beef had turned before they served it to me. But what may have really got me was the probably floor swipe they did with the bun or the rancid condiments they used. The world may never know!!!

I stopped here yesterday while walking through Lincoln Park and enjoying the weather. I had always wanted to eat here and as I am preparing to move from our fair city I thought I would finally try it. I don’t know what other Mr. Submarines are like, but this one satisfied me pretty darned well!
I love the old school look of this place and that is what drew me in initially. I ordered the traditional Mr. Sub since this was my first experience and was informed that for $ 1.20 more I could have 2 sandwiches (total of $ 4.45) and I couldn’t resist. So, I waited in a booth for my sandwiches and within 5 minutes I was introduced to a delicious traditional submarine. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Also I couldn’t wait to get to my other one that I saved for dinner and it turned out to be just as delicious after a few hours of marinating in its oily juices.
I may have lucked out to have such a pleasant experience, but I sure am glad I did!

It was the late evening of 12÷31÷01. I had just moved in to my first Chicago apartment. My father, stepmonster, and I went in search of food. Late evening on New Year’s Eve there weren’t a lot of options. Somehow, we ended up here.
Later that night, I was violently ill. So violently ill that just the mere mention of this place or a glimpse of the sign still makes my stomach turn and my brain goes into a panic to suppress the dry heaves, nearly 7 years later. That’s some powerful stuff.