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, Dinner
• McAlister's Deli - Day 3 Lunch
• Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs

Goodcents 12" Sandwich

Who has the best sub sandwich?  The worst? 

I've never eaten at a Goodcents before and hearing good things about it, off to dinner on 'Day 4' I went.  Walking in the joint, it looks like the typical sub shop.  It was moderately busy and a quick look/see around the place all things appeared clean and presentable.  As I approached the counter to order, you can't help but notice, the big slicer machine right there by the person asking what you would like.  Goodcents slices your meat and cheese to order, you HAVE to like that!  Again, never having eaten at a Goodcents before, I ordered the Goodcents Original, described on the menu as:  Freshly sliced ham, bologna, salami and pepperoni.   I went with the 12" sandwich (leftovers), on wheat, dressed with lettuce, tomato, onion, black olive, mustard and mayo.

So how was my Goodcents Original? 

There was both good and bad in the same sandwich.  The bread was under-baked, check out the bread 'bottom', pictured right, it was a bit.....

Under-baked bread, bottom side

on the doughy side.  The meat portion was good, it was even a bit mouthwatering watching the sandwich guy slice up all the meats and cheeses fresh, right there in front of me and layering them out on the bread, one fresh slice at a time.   The lettuce was not the freshest though and the mustard and mayo was applied in sloppy fashion, all to one side of the sandwich.  This must have happened when I was selecting my chips and not looking at the sandwich prep?  How does the one-sided thing happen other than the lack of attention to detail by the sandwich maker?

I paid $12.55 for the 12" sandwich, chips and a drink.  While that is a lot of sandwich ($7.99) in size, that price puts Goodcents at the high end of sub shop pricing.  That's not Bachelor on the Cheap friendly.  Is the sandwich a repeat buy?  No, not what I was given.  I'll chalk up the under-baked bread to be an anomaly, but I'm not so sure how well they monitor the veggie freshness at the location I visited.  And I'll pass on the over-priced drink.  They do bottles rather than fountain drinks, which drives up that overall price.  The service was fast, I was in-and-out with my carry out quickly, but that fast service was without smiles, not friendly.  It was matter-of-fact, all business with the folks behind the counter, as in,

A decent portion of meat, sloppy dressing

nobody enjoying the day, nobody passionate about their job.  Fast is often good, but fast with attention to detail (caring), smiles and some conversation would be even better!  Goodcents gets 2 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.     And the recommendation I got about Goodcents being good.....  Not so much.....