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Review: Jersey Mike's

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
51,719
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Toronto
They've just very recently opened their first 2 Canadian locations and plan to open 200.

The York Mills and Leslie location opened yesterday and I went today. It was really busy, packed with mainly high school kids just getting out of class. But they had at least 15 people working behind the counter so things moved well as they employed an almost assembly line technique. Mostly young people but there were 3 senior US trained men directing things. At least one was American who took the order and cut the meats.

I've been to the Jersey Mike's in Myrtle Beach that I initially discovered over 20 years ago and have visited at least a dozen times, so I was interested in a comparison. I've found many times that an American version is usually superior to a Canadian version of restaurant chains. Case in point: American Blizzards from Dairy Queen are vastly superior to ours. they add waaay more of the flavourings.

On to the sub itself. The options they offer are not always the same as the ones in the US. My go to sub from Myrtle did not exist today. They cut their own meat fresh and bake their own bread. The bread is outstanding. Excellent crust that is firm and chewy but not crumbly or too doughy. Almost like a fresh Italian bun. The length is equal to the American version although the girth may be ever so slightly less. They put a substantial amount of meat on and will load up the toppings as much as you want. It was a messy orgy of a sub that I couldn't finish and the bread held up to the drippings of sub sauce, vinegar and mayo I went through about 6-7 napkins and they gave me fresh wrapping paper to wrap up my take home portion. And the staff were all super friendly, upbeat and helpful.

The one thing I wonder is what will they be like once the initial hype dies down as happened with places like Krispy Kreme and Chic-fil-A.

Ratings:

Looks-8
Personality---oops. I got confused.

I'd give them a solid 8.5/10.

My go to sub is the original Belly Buster on Yonge St. North. I've recently also been to Lambo's and Grandma Loves Me. Jersey Mike's holds their own with the others. The bread makes a difference.
 
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xmontrealer

Well-known member
May 23, 2005
10,097
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They've just very recently opened their first 2 Canadian locations and plan to open 200.

The York Mills and Leslie location opened yesterday and I went today. It was really busy, packed with mainly high school kids just getting out of class. But they had at least 15 people working behind the counter so things moved well as they employed an almost assembly line technique. Mostly young people but there were 3 senior US trained men directing things. At least one was American who took the order and cut the meats.

I've been to the Jersey Mike's in Myrtle Beach that I initially discovered over 20 years ago and have visited at least a dozen times, so I was interested in a comparison. I've found many times that an American version is usually superior to a Canadian version of restaurant chains. Case in point: American Blizzards from Dairy Queen are vastly superior to ours. they add waaay more of the flavourings.

On to the sub itself. The options they offer are not always the same as the ones in the US. My go to sub from Myrtle did not exist today. They cut their own meat fresh and bake their own bread. The bread is outstanding. Excellent crust that is firm and chewy but not crumbly or too doughy. Almost like a fresh Italian bun. The length is equal to the American version although the girth may be ever so slightly less. They put a substantial amount of meat on and will load up the toppings as much as you want. It was a messy orgy of a sub that I couldn't finish and the bread held up to the drippings of sub sauce, vinegar and mayo I went through about 6-7 napkins and they gave me fresh wrapping paper to wrap up my take home portion. And the staff were all super friendly, upbeat and helpful.

The one thing I wonder is what will they be like once the initial hype dies down as happened with places like Krispy Kreme and Chic-fil-A.

Ratings:

Looks-8
Personality---oops. I got confused.

I'd give them a solid 8.5/10.

My go to sub is the original Belly Buster on Yonge St. North. I've recently also been to Lambo's and Grandma Loves Me. Jersey Mike's holds their own with the others. The bread makes a difference.
How do they compare to Firehouse Subs? My fave, but my only comparison is Subway...
 

OpXXX

New member
Nov 21, 2023
16
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Midtown
How do they compare to Firehouse Subs? My fave, but my only comparison is Subway...

Used to go JM and Firehouse frequently when living in Houston. JM had a larger selection of hot and cold subs and it seemed that FH had more hot subs. My preference in the Houston heat was cold subs from JM. Keep in mind Firehouse was sold and bought by a multi- national almost 2 years ago IIRC, expect changes to be made. RBI, same outfit that owns Burger King and Tim Horton’s bought FH.
 
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shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
51,719
10,122
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Toronto
How do they compare to Firehouse Subs? My fave, but my only comparison is Subway...
Yes, I forgot to mention that JM's also has a number of hot subs. Several kinds of cheesesteaks and others as well. I didn't take a close look at the hot ones as I wanted a classic cold.
 
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wiskey bravo

Active member
Jul 14, 2017
147
160
43
JM is in Kitchener and London. It's been in London Ontario for a long time actually. They are expanding. They will do well. Both locations are busy. If Subway is still in business JM will always be in business too. JM sandwich's are hard to compete with since they are somewhat in a league of their own. Their cold sandwiches beat all competitors in this space. I think firehouse make the best hot sandwich.
 

Ahri

Your Asian Escape
Apr 21, 2021
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Haven’t tried it yet but this post makes me want too lol. I love firehouse subs hard to believe they can beat it :LOL:
 
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Mr Deeds

Muff Diver Extraordinaire
Mar 10, 2013
6,331
3,502
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Here
I know I'm going to here about this but I still like Mr Sub. They upped their game when Subway hit the market years ago and to me still best value in the sub market. I've been to FH several times and find them to be way over priced
 

tml

Well-known member
Aug 10, 2011
5,373
3,111
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I know I'm going to here about this but I still like Mr Sub. They upped their game when Subway hit the market years ago and to me still best value in the sub market. I've been to FH several times and find them to be way over priced
I was afraid to post my preference for Mr. Sub because I thought I'd be ridiculed(and probably still will be). But, since you had the guts to make your post I will support it. Still, I'd like to try Jersey Mike's just for curiosity sake.
 

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
51,719
10,122
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Toronto
I know I'm going to here about this but I still like Mr Sub. They upped their game when Subway hit the market years ago and to me still best value in the sub market. I've been to FH several times and find them to be way over priced
I was talking about Mr. Sub with one of the senior guys. He tried telling me how they started but my recollection was quite different. When I was a kid, we'd rent a cottage at Crystal Beach on Lake Erie. It was half Toronto families and half Buffalo families.

We'd go into Buffalo a couple of times a summer. The really hot spot for subs (which, as far as I knew, was a very new concept) was a place called Mike's. Evidently a couple of guys from Toronto just totally copied Mike's concept, brought it to Toronto and created Mr. Sub.
 

ptp

Well-known member
Oct 31, 2010
464
562
93
Wife ordered 2 subs the other day thru uber eats .

They sent 1 with no drinks .

She called and they refunded her and then an hour later they sent 3 more subs/cookies and drinks at no charge .
 

tombrady12

Well-known member
Feb 21, 2017
947
733
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I thought that the cheesesteak sub at JM was disappointing. I've had it in the US and it's much better. I've been there at least 6 times since they opened in Markham and they have never got my order right (wrong type of bread, forgot the bacon, no extra relish on the side...).
 

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
51,719
10,122
113
Toronto
I thought that the cheesesteak sub at JM was disappointing. I've had it in the US and it's much better. I've been there at least 6 times since they opened in Markham and they have never got my order right (wrong type of bread, forgot the bacon, no extra relish on the side...).
Whenever I order a sub anywhere, I watch them while they make it.
 

wiskey bravo

Active member
Jul 14, 2017
147
160
43
I thought that the cheesesteak sub at JM was disappointing. I've had it in the US and it's much better. I've been there at least 6 times since they opened in Markham and they have never got my order right (wrong type of bread, forgot the bacon, no extra relish on the side...).
I totally agree. The cheesesteak is weak. Still to cold Subs from JM.
 
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