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TASTE TEAM
Dayton restaurants — Best sub sandwiches in the Dayton area
Bread...good! Meat and cheese...Good! Lettuce, tomato, heck the works...Gooood! Put 'em all together and we're in heaven. Toasted, grilled, melty or cold-cut, the Taste Team loves Submarine Sandwiches!
We set out to determine which of the bevy of sub options is the tastiest, most stacked, most tummy-pleasing of the bunch. But what kind to try? We went with classic Italian. We took 'em to go and then sliced them up to share in a blind tasting. Below are the results from the best (Potbelly Sandwich Works took top prize) to the bad, to the very very ugly.
— Katie Wedell, Staff Writer
Suggest your favorite sub finds below »
Overall taste |
Bread 10 is Yum!, 1 is Yuck! |
Meat 10 is Delish!, 1 is Disgusting! |
Other toppings 10 is Great!, 1 is Gross! |
|
Potbelly Sandwich Works |
Average rating: 8.1 The good: "This is tasty, and I'm not even a fan of Italian subs. Yum!" — Hillary "The perfect combination of meat, pickled cucumber and onion." — Zack |
Average rating: 7.4 The good: "The bread was perfect — not too hard, not too soft." — Carrie |
Average rating: 6.4 The good: "Good choices — ham, salami." — Zack "Great quality, but could have seen more on it." — Mark |
Average rating: 7.5 The good: "Usually I'm not a fan of a lot of vegetables, but these were delicious." — Tony "Crispy and flavorful!" — Hillary |
Milano's |
Average rating: 6.3 The good: "Decent taste with a little kick." — Hillary "I loved the spices." — Mark The bad: "Oniony. Don't kiss anyone after eating it." — Todd "Way too much pepper and onions." — Cameron |
Average rating: 6.6 The good: "The bread was excellent!" — Carrie "Lots of bread, but too salty." — Tony |
Average rating: 6.0 The good: "Decent amount of meat." — Cameron "Quality was excellent." — Zack The bad: "Boring and a little slimy." — Carrie "Tastes like packaged lunch meat." — Gerry |
Average rating: 5.0 The good: "The tomatoes were nice and juicy." — Mark The bad: "The onions were very LOUD." — Carrie "Not enough tomato. And the cheese seemed slimy." — Hillary |
Penn Station |
Average rating: 6.0 (This one was very split — tasters either loved or hated it.) The good: "Mmmm that's good." — Gerry "There should be a statue of this in the center of Sub-town USA." — Todd The bad: "So salty...need water" — Tony "Whoa! Oniony. This kinda sucks." — Hillary |
Average rating: 5.6 The good: "Soft and tasty and toasted." — Todd The bad: "Too big, too doughy, kind of bland." — Carrie "Too much! Am I eating a sub or a dinner roll?" — Zack |
Average rating: 6.8 The good: "Wow, this meat was covered in spices." — Cameron |
Average rating: 4.9 The bad: "What other toppings?" — Zack "Warm mayo...Ew!" — Carrie |
Submarine House | Average rating: 5.4 The good: "I loved this one. Lots of meat and very flavorful, spicy toppings." — Cameron The bad: "Is there cologne on this?" — Gerry "Messy and too spicy." — Mark |
Average rating: 5.1 The good: "Bread tasted fresh and light" — Todd The bad: "I couldn't taste it through all the oils, which made it soggy." — Tony "Too soft for subs, became soggy." — Gerry |
Average rating: 5.8 The bad: "Very very slimy. Like eating a perfume-covered warm slug." — Carrie |
Average rating: 5.0 The good: "The Italian dressing made this sub much better." — Mark The bad: "Too much mayo and oils, which overwhelmed the flavor of the sub." — Tony "It borders on just hot, as opposed to flavorful." — Zack |
Mamma DiSalvo's |
Average rating: 5.0 The good: "Very genuine with a vinegary, Caesar dressing taste." — Mark "Garlic! That could be good or bad if you like it that way." — Gerry |
Average rating: 5.3 The bad: "Too hard, almost stale." — Gerry The good: "Nice and thick, not too soggy." — Zack "Great bread. I love a solid crust!" — Carrie |
Average rating: 5.0 The good: "Ok, but not great." — Tony The bad:"Too spicy." — Carrie |
Average rating: 4.7 The bad: "Could have used more." — Zack "Not a lot, but I liked the addition of spinach." — Tony The good: "The greens are the freshest." — Carrie |
Subway | Average rating: 5.0 The good: "Definitely a fan. It's simple, but really good." — Hillary The bad: "Meh. Underwhelming." — Carrie "How bland. Boring. Snooze-fest. Blah. ZZZ." — Zack |
Average rating: 5.0 The good: "Plain and simple. Soft and tasty." — Cameron "The bread was the only thing going for it." — Mark The bad: "Boring, hard bread." — Todd |
Average rating: 4.9 The bad: "PETA would love the apparent absence of meat from this sub." — Todd "My grandma has more meat than this sub." — Mark |
Average rating: 4.5 The bad: "I couldn't taste anything but banana peppers." — Tony "Needs more spices." — Mark |
Quizno's |
Average rating: 4.9 The good: "The sub is tasty, but has a tinge of sweet." — Cameron The bad: "Too greasy and oddly sweet, but not horrible." — Carrie "Oily, soggy, heavy flavor." — Gerry |
Average rating: 5.5 The good: "Love the sesame seeds." — Hillary "Toasted and good." — Todd |
Average rating: 4.8 The bad: "Too much pepperoni." — Hillary |
Average rating: 4.0 The bad: "Not enough variety and a small amount." — Gerry "The dressing was very odd and ruined the taste for me." — Todd |
Subby's |
Average rating: 3.8 The bad: "Nasty." — Mark "Very chewy, like sub-flavored bubble gum. Terrible after-taste." — Carrie |
Average rating: 3.4 The bad: "Soggy and doughy." — Tony |
Average rating: 4.4 The good: "The meat is actually very tasty, but the mayo ruins it." — Cameron The bad:"The slightest after-taste of cigarette butts." — Todd "Hardly any meat." — Mark |
Average rating: 3.4 The bad: "Too much mayo." — Tony |
Jimmy John's |
Average rating: 2.9 The bad: "What is this? I made a face. Gross." — Zack "The blandest of the bunch." — Todd |
Average rating: 3.8 The bad: "Gets soggy quickly." — Hillary "Nothing to get excited about." — Cameron |
Average rating: 3.3 The bad: "There's meat on this?" — Gerry |
Average rating: 4.0 The bad: "Mediocre." — Gerry |
Meet the Taste Team:
- Gerry, 24
- Carrie, 27
- Todd, 32
- Hillary, 24
- Mark, 23
- Tony, 25
- Zack, 24
- Cameron, 26
Comments
By Stephen
February 5, 2010 6:59 PM | Link to this
Subway gets better scores than subby’s by these clowns? I’d rather get actual meat with too much mayo, than just a piece of bread with lettuce on it!?!??!? And what is with the cigarette butt comparison!?!? These aren’t the kind of comments that come even remotely close to helping anyone decide about going to these places… Retest with some actual foodies, instead of some drunk college kids during a binge…
By JERRY
January 31, 2010 5:42 PM | Link to this
Look, I’ve lived in Dayton my entire life, and Cassano’s has all the best subs!! Pizza Villa (Salem Ave.) comes in #2, forget all the chain resturants, and fake N.Y. PLACES,
These 2 places have the taste of Dayton, and are 2nd to none!!
By Mark
January 31, 2010 1:10 PM | Link to this
It’s hard to put much credence in this list when Charlie’s on Troy Street in Old North Dayton isn’t even included. Easily the best sandwiches and subs I’ve had in Dayton.
By Pippen
January 31, 2010 1:07 PM | Link to this
The best Italian sub (or any sub for that matter) is THE Original Italian at W.g. Grinders at Town & Country. Made fresh then oven baked, the Taste Team needs to get there ASAP!!!
By Doug
January 31, 2010 12:49 PM | Link to this
Jersey Mike’s on Far Hills in Centerville. The buffalo chicken on white is my favorite! Get it with the blue cheese dressing and spicy buffalo sauce. WOW!
By Morta Della
January 31, 2010 6:59 AM | Link to this
There seems to be some confusion about whether you are referring to MaMa DiSalvos or DiSalvo’s Deli - understandably because they are right next to each other. At DiSalvo’s Deli the bread is delivered fresh every day. Only Boars Head meat is used. The dressing is Di’Salvos own and each sub is made to order. Someone must like them because the deli is packed every day at noon.
By Natron
January 28, 2010 1:51 PM | Link to this
It seems to me that the taste team is a little harsh with some comments. There are a lot of people employed by these area sub shops. Comparing the meat on sub to a “perfumed slug” is odd ,and does not help understand what kind of meat or sub was being eaten. I also would love to taste a sub made by one of these idiots from the taste team. I’m sure they could do soo much better.
By Joe
December 1, 2009 11:37 PM | Link to this
There is a Jersey Mike’s in Dayton. It’s right across the street from Dorothy Ln. Market on Far Hills in Centerville. They are the best subs around bar none. They slice the meats for each sub individually right in front of you and their bread is awesome. I’m an east coast native and their’s is the most authentic in the area. You guys have to review them next year!
By Giuseppe
October 1, 2009 3:19 PM | Link to this
‘ey Wasamatterwitchoo…the Submarine House on Brown Street (The Regular) has been the best for more than 30 years, and is still THE BEST!
By nomad
September 26, 2009 5:41 PM | Link to this
Domsitz Deli all the way………
By emmeff
June 12, 2009 3:36 PM | Link to this
Did you have subs from Disalvo’s restaurant or the Deli. Their subs are quite different from one another. And it was a shame to leave out Quig’s on Dorothy lane.
By Hank
May 29, 2009 9:44 AM | Link to this
Mike and Rosy’s deli in springfield hands down
By truth teller
May 26, 2009 11:35 AM | Link to this
Why are you such a lying hater, nyc? Can you spread your hateful lies elsewhere, please, instread of trying to ruin it for us here? You should change your name to Mr. Toilet, because that’s what your lying, hateful opinion is worth. You musy really be from New Jersey. Blind hatred from the Jersey boy. Waah, Jersey, waah.
By Fat Man
May 15, 2009 1:25 PM | Link to this
Italian Oven in Kettering on Wilmington. Tucked away next to King’s Point Pub has some fantastic subs. Oven baked goodness.
By edg
May 15, 2009 1:01 PM | Link to this
I love potbelly but a few times the bread was stale and that made the sub sick. You must have got a fresh day. Penn Station is my fav.
By Aaron the Po-lock
May 15, 2009 12:44 PM | Link to this
Gotta be Penn Station all the way. Ummm Philly Cheese Steak. I only wish they had a meatball sub.
By Kevin
May 15, 2009 12:00 PM | Link to this
Mike and Rosey’s Deli in Springfield had the best subs around. Well worth the drive.
By Sandy
May 14, 2009 2:58 PM | Link to this
Jersey Mikes BAR NONE~it just doesn’t get any better than that. Not sure what happened to the Miamisburg location. To my knowledge, you have to drive to Tri-County now. We need Jersey Mikes in the Dayton area.
By In the Palate of the Beholder
May 14, 2009 1:53 PM | Link to this
Just goes to show how individual tastes can run. I’m from NY, where I grew up appreciating a certain kind of sub sandwich—the closest we have around here to what I like is Mama DiSalvo’s and Jimmy John’s. The crusty bread, thin shaved onions and oregano are signature elements of a great sub. And the worst thing you can do to a sub with cold cuts in it is run it through an oven…Forget Subway/Quizno’s/Subby’s, and try Jersey Mike’s.
By g
May 14, 2009 1:50 PM | Link to this
O i thought itd be hgher on the list
By BOB
May 14, 2009 12:14 PM | Link to this
Quigs in Kettering has a cold tuna with onions, spices, and tomatoes that is the best I’ve ever eaten. Again don’t plan on kissing anyone afterwards! But it is fantastic.
By Dave
May 14, 2009 11:38 AM | Link to this
I think Submarine House and Subby are delicous. This poll has certainly has taught me that Carrie has no idea what a good sub is. She is the exact opposite on every opinion I have. Jimmy Johns is defintely better than Subway. Penn Station takes the cake - by far the best sub around… Try the pizza sub. Unreal!!!
By Tyler
May 14, 2009 11:34 AM | Link to this
Domsitz Deli in Vandalia is unbeatable! The Italian, the Big Al, the Philly Cheesesteak are absolutely great! You will not find larger, better portioned, tastier subs (especially for the price) in the Miami Valley. The sides are delicious, as well, not to mention the pizza.
By marv
May 14, 2009 10:27 AM | Link to this
Hey g, Subway is in the list.
By nyc
May 14, 2009 8:10 AM | Link to this
this is the WRONG city to get anything that taste decent!!!!!
By g
May 14, 2009 3:14 AM | Link to this
wtf? no Subway?
By Teresa
May 13, 2009 6:10 PM | Link to this
Mama Mia’s on Brandt Pike in Huber Heights has an excellent sub especially for the price. My favorite is Turkey but the “Hoagie” is good too. It is a family run buisness by two sisters. Great value and taste.