First I would like to provide a little overview of Subway. Subway has over 30,000 restaurant franchises in over 90 countries. The SUBWAY® chain consistently ranks at the top of Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 rankings. Besides being number one for the Submarine Sandwich Category, the SUBWAY® chain has received the distinction as being the number one Franchise Opportunity for 15 of the past 21 years! In Philadelphia, Subway has a strong presence as well. Here are the following Subway addresses in Philly for your convenience:
1827 JFK Blvd
Sterling House
Philadelphia PA 19103
215-246-00551701
Benjamin Franklin Pky
Philadelphia PA 19103-1208
215-568-7676
2201 Walnut St
Philadelphia PA 19103
215-567-76501238
Franklin Mills Circle
Franklin Mills Mall Food Court
Philadelphia PA 19154-3141
215-281-3242
1109 Walnut St
Philadelphia PA 19107
215-829-1262
2385 Cheltenham Ave#132
Philadelphia PA 19150
215-887-6997
2951 Market St
Suite 201
Philadelphia PA 19104
215-222-5833
1001 Market St
Gallery II Mall
Philadelphia PA 19107
215-733-9722
3400 Aramingo Ave
Imperial Plz
Philadelphia PA 19134
215-423-0885
9979 Bustleton Ave
Shoppes at Red Lion
Philadelphia PA 19115
215-969-3155
Concorse Train Location
Two Penn Center Plaza
Philadelphia PA 19102
215-569-4466
106 South 16th St
Philadelphia PA 19102
215-561-14811
1000 Roosevelt Blvd
Space 155
Philadelphia PA 19116
215-676-7274
7339 Frankford Ave
Philadelphia PA 19136
215-333-4740
2329 Cottman Ave
Roosevelt Mall NE
Philadelphia PA 19149
215-543-9411
4500 City Ave Ste 220
City Centre Shp Ctr
Philadelphia PA 19131
215-878-2005
5610 Lancaster Ave #300A
Overbrook Plz Shopping Center
Philadelphia PA 19131
215-452-5772
551 Franklin Mills Circle
Philadelphia PA 19154
215-281-3243
6125 Ridge Ave
Philadelphia PA 19128
215-482-3515
1625 Chestnut St
Shops at Liberty Place
Philadelphia PA 19103
215-561-2320
2936 Island Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19153
215-365-5880
9475 E Roosevelt Blvd #3Subway
Philadelphia PA 19114
215-676-7821
501 S Broad St
Philadelphia PA 19147
215-545-6824
714 Market St
Philadelphia PA 19106
215-733-03211
511 Cecil B Moore Ave
Philadelphia PA 19121
215-769-7827
3228 N Broad St
Philadelphia PA 19140
215-221-5850
6200 Frankford Ave
Philadelphia PA 19135
215-288-4477
#1 Franklin Mills Blvd
Philadelphia PA 19154
215-281-1225
9745 Roosevelt Blvd A
Philadelphia PA 19114
215-677-5780
4600 E Roosevelt Blvd
Bldg G
Philadelphia PA 19120
215-288-3813
45 Snyder Ave
Philadelphia PA 19148
215-336-7777
545 N.Broad St.
Philadelphia PA 19123
215-733-9000
200 Oregon Ave
Philadelphia PA 19147
215-468-4068
910 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia PA 19107
215-923-5600
2217 S Broad Street
Philadelphia PA 19145
215-271-8589
801 Arch St
Philadelphia PA 19107
215-923-5700
1100 South St
Unit 1
Philadelphia PA 19107
267-519-8023
8944 Frankford Ave
Philadelphia PA 19136
Oxford Avenue & Levick Street
Philadelphia PA 19111
203 North 34th Street
Philadelphia PA 19104
484-410-9842
3800 Locust Walk
1920 Commons Food Court
Philadelphia PA 19104
215-898-5265
1000 Easton Rd Suite 200
Wyncote PA 19095
2376 Street Rd
Bensalem PA 19020
215-604-0113
1500 Garrett Rd
Barclay Sq Shp Ctr
Upper Darby PA 19082
484-461-9771
700 N Rt 73
Palmyra NJ 08065
856-786-2345
My review today is about the Subway in South Philadelphia located at 45 Snyder Avenue (this is right across the street from the famous John’s Roast Pork). There are very interesting observations that I made from eating at Subway. First, I ordered a foot long Philly cheese steak for $8. This is the same price as Gino’s and Pat’s Steaks, the most popular cheese steak places in the world. Was it worth it? Absolutely not!
Subway gives you a variety of breads to choose from but I choose the Italian roll. This roll is a semi soft roll but does not come close to the texture appropriate for Philly cheese steaks that are found at many of the local South Philly bakeries here. Why doesn’t Subway make an exception and outsource the rolls in South Philly. Their sandwich would be so much better and this would help the local community. This is one big mistake for Subway (the inevitable part of being in a giant franchise).
The steak was semi chopped. But the amount of steak that was put in the sandwich was minimal compared to the local competition. Also, the steak was not freshly cooked on a grill as the locals do. Instead it was precooked and then microwaved (I am sure my readers are familiar with Subway but just as a refresher).
The onions…well…there weren’t any. What? NO onions! No onions on my Subway Philly cheese steak. You can ask for them from the condiment section but they wouldn’t be fried or come close to an original South Philly cheese steak onions.
My biggest problem was the cheese. I asked for American cheese and I received one small slice on top of each half loaf section. This equated to hardly any cheese at all and considering that it was microwaved, the end result was tasteless.
I did eat one half of my Philly cheese steak with the special Chipotle sauce that they have. It did spice the sandwich up a little but not much. You can also ask them to add hot or sweet peppers with your sandwich for a little more flavor (you should as you will need it).
By writing this review, I am not knocking Subway. I actually like the place when I travel. However, in Philadelphia, Subway is up against some very fierce local competition and this review stands to show that to compete in this market even a giant name like Subway needs to demonstrate culinary skills. Their name can only get so far in this market. Subway has a great name, is very clean, and offers consistent products. This normally works well especially when you are selling Philly cheese steaks in places like Small Town, Utah (Imaginary name for illustration purposes) to people who never ate a real Philly cheese steak, hoagie, roast beef, pizza, or any of the million other great foods offered here. Of course they will think the sandwich is great because they have nothing to compare it too. But you can’t fool true Philadelphians, especially South Philadelphians who smell cheese steaks every time they leave their house.
Again, I like Subway as a whole but I think that their Philly cheese steak is no match for real Philly cheese steaks. Also, I specifically choose the Subway in South Philly as it is headquarters for the real cheese steak. If a South Philly subway Philly cheese steak is no competition to the locals then I am only left to assume that this sandwich has the same problems nationwide. And the price…absurd. They should make this a $5 foot long like the rest of their sandwiches and then maybe I will change my review. If the locals are charging between $5.50 and $7 for a sandwich how could Subway possible charge $8 for a sandwich half the width in this kind of recession? Come on… this is Philadelphia, Subway. Get with the program! Philadelphians are tough, smart cookies. The Philadelphia Phillies just won the National League Championship 2 years in a row…Does Subway think that Philadelphians aren’t smart enough to distinguish between a real Philly cheese steak?
Subway Philly cheese steaks…what do you think about them?
I know this is a little harsh but how can I take a food review seriously from someone who says he likes Subway?
ReplyDeleteMicrowaved cardboard bread and lowest common denominator meats served by people who should be bagging groceries?
I'd rather eat Dinty Moore Beef stew cold from the can. At least the preservatives have some flavor
that's stupid.
DeleteJust for the record, the last Subway I went to put double the cheese their standard fare would offer - or about triple your description. The suggested variety was Pepper Jack, which is respectable.
ReplyDeleteThe dear lady offered onions and green peppers immediately, to be toasted (not microwaved) with the sandwich.
I don't understand how you got inferior materials that close to Philadelphia, but like most franchises, there are always minor variations (my least favorite is when barbecue sauce is missing from the condiments).