Hi Friends … I remarked , I am going to VT ( Victoria Terminus the main part of Mumbai ) today folks and I am planning to go to The Subway . Well , I look for answers , probably an ooh , aah or a Wow … but all I get is a shrug and a… “So” ???. The The Subway yaar .. , he remarks Haven’t you been there … , it was constructed some 5 years Back. I roll my eyes and say .. I am going to EAT in the Subway . His eyes finally brighten …* Ya you get good bhelpuris out there , there are many shops in there now …
Friends , that’s the extent of knowledge one knows about the Subway Joint here in Mumbai. Since the underground passageways are commonly known as Subways , its not all that well known. So finally I get my friend along with me. I enter the Restaurant and I find it resembles a Barista. I see three counters , two reserved for the Non Vegetarians and one for vegans like me. As I make way to the counter , I see my friend is no longer with me. I catch him staring hardly at the Menu displayed. Asking what’s the matter , he replies scratching his almost bald pate … I am confused. Well I join him looking at the Menu. I see Six inches and a foot , well (grinning now ) , I know about six inchers but I think a foot is too long.
There is a plethora of options and I finally decide on the Six incher , remember I said a foot is too long … He asks me sir, what addition you want sir , I see tandoori Paneer somewhere and mutter the magic words and he comes up with a plastic cup with orange coloured stuff and I realize “ THAT’S MY TANDOORI PANEER ”. He takes the Foot long brad , slices into halves and spreads butter on the NOW six incher and asks me “Cheese ? ” also looking at my big frame at the same time . Uhmm well ok , I say and 2 chess slices go in and he keeps adding lettuce leaves , olives and lots of what not and asks me “Mustard Sauce and Mint Sauce ? ”, I nod to both and generous amounts go into the bread.
As he packs it , I say “Can you get it warmed up ”, he gives me that “I’ve seen a Ghost kinda look ” and pops it in the microwave. I ask for a cold coffee and an Iced Tea , and he asks me to go to the non veg counter (???) . I saunter across and the bespectacled kid there tells me to go to the vegan counter. The epitome of patience that I am, I go again go to the vegan counter and make a gentle request with my eyes as big as saucers , a shout and an altercation between the guys behind the counter and he asks “ Big , small or medium” . I say “Medium” all the while thinking the fetish this joint ahs for SIZES !!!.
A bite into the nine month overdue looking six incher and I can vinegar and loads of it. Looks like the olives were cultivated in vinegar. I try to search for that Tandoori paneer taste to find none. My friend is nibbling at his Chicken sub giving me “Where did you get me to eat ? ” kind of looks.
The Name is not very appealing and confusing , the concept of Subways have never been overtly publicized in India and the dull filings make it an awful place to go to.I had read another fellow MSian Madlalya’s review on this and thought probably maddy is growing old and I gotta give it a try. Well Maddy I agree with you wholeheartedly , I prefer Jeera Rice and Dal Makhani anytime.
Ending with my title, there is no Substitute for Subways coz there cant be, I have never visited a more awful Food joint.
Try this at your own risk