Bachelor on the Cheap

By Mike Thayer

Are there that many people out there eating sub sandwiches but not really caring or understanding that they're possibly not eating at the best establishment?  That maybe, just maybe, they're eating only, sadly, at a place they're merely accustomed to, what they've settled to be comfortable with?

It would seem so, otherwise we wouldn't be so inundated with so darn many sub shops around.....  Subway, Jimmy John's, Firehouse Subs, Quizno's, Planet Sub, Schlotzsky's, Jason's Deli, McAlister's Deli and others.....

So in the name of 'Food Science' (cough), I will be undertaking the next Bachelor on the Cheap Challenge:  Who makes the best subs?  I'll be going through the restaurant list, one meal at a time, sampling sub sandwiches from the national chains.....  What?  Eat nothing but sub sandwiches for lunch AND dinner?  Like I said, done in the name of 'food science'......

Here is "The List" of sub shops/deli joints I have and will be trying out during the course of this challenge:

• Subway - Day 1, Lunch
• Jimmy John's - Day 2, Dinner
• Quiznos - Day 3 Dinner
• Planet Sub
• Firehouse Subs - Day 1, Dinner
• Schlotzsky's - Day 2, Lunch
• Jason's Deli - Day 4, Lunch
• McAlister's Deli - Day 3 Lunch
• Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs - Day 4 Dinner

Planet Sub sandwich wrapped in foil, maintaining that toastiness....

Who has the best sub sandwich?  The worst? 

Here it is, the last sub sandwich meal of the challenge, Day 5 lunch.  I ventured to Planet Sub on this trip.  They have a sandwich called, literally, The Planet Sub, which fits right in with what I've tried to order at each restaurant I've visited, an attempt at consistency of ingredients for fair comparison.   It's been impossible to be exact with each sub shop/deli, but it's been ball park.  I digress, back to the sandwich and the sub shop.....  Planet Sub's, The Planet Sub sandwich is described on the menu as:  Premium Roast Beef, Oven Roasted Turkey, Smoked Ham, Bacon, Swiss, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Dijon, Mayonnaise.  I went with wheat bread, my M.O., with no other add-ons.

So how was my Planet Sub, The Planet Sub? 

They make a great sandwich.  The bread was toasted perfectly, the meats delivered on flavor and were portioned nicely, the Swiss cheese was perhaps a better pairing than the provolone I typically prefer and the mustard and mayo dressing was nicely balanced, not too much, not too little.  This was a delicious sandwich with every bite.  About the only knock I have is just a bit too much lettuce.  Don't get me wrong, I love getting a sandwich where I have a tough time getting my big mouth around the whole thing in taking a bite, but in this case, I think it was too much lettuce that put this sandwich it into "Big Bite" status.  Make no mistake though, this sandwich is packed with flavor.

This sandwich was a mouthful...

I've only said, "That's a damn good sandwich," three times during the course of this challenge, and this is one of those times.  Thanks Planet Sub!

I paid $6.44 after tax for that delicious half Planet Sub sandwich, that's Bachelor on the Cheap friendly and The Planet Sub is DEFINITELY a repeat buy.  The service was very friendly, engaging, fast and the restaurant was spotless.  I was in-and-out with my carry-out order in just four minutes.  Planet Sub the restaurant gets 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.

Stay tuned and spend wisely my friends.... 

A bit of lettuce overkill