I wasn't impressed really - and I wasn't really looking for all that much actually. Was in the area to go to Homegoods and every time I stop into that shopping center, I see Yellow Submarine staring me in the face. That day, I had a hankerin' for a cheesesteak so in I went.
This place is in a decent location in this shopping center - right near Homegoods, Dollar Tree, Ulta and Duck Donuts. Next door to an OBX souvenir and shirt shop that gets a ton of foot traffic. So - it's in good company.
You can't see inside thru the storefront glass so you just have to walk in. As you step inside, it's really weirdly laid out. It looks like due to covid perhaps (?) they blocked off the front half of the shop and put up a huge colorful Lego-block looking partition that you have to walk through to get to the seating area. The whole front half of the store has the ordering counter, a t-shirt "shop", the fountain drink station and some bench seating to wait for your order. Just a little bit strangely laid out.
Everyone orders at the counter no matter if you're eating there or taking it to go. I saw a few people come in to pick up their online or phone-in orders. The place wasn't empty (which is always a good sign imo) and while I was there waiting for my order, people came in fairly regularly (this was around 1PM on a weekday). The line never ever got really long though.
The interesting thing I noticed was it seemed like none of the customers were "regulars." Everyone who came in seemed to be a new customer - didn't know what to order, or how to order or where the menu was, or what was on the menu. That struck me as somewhat odd. No one came in and knew the drill or came up to the ordering counter and spit out their order without having to look at a menu.
Point being: how many repeat customers ("regulars") does this place get I wondered. None that I saw that day. I have a theory as to why not though lol...read on.
I ordered a 6" chicken cheesesteak - they have 2 sizes - 6 and 12 inch.
I REALLY wanted fries with my sub. But a side of fries was like $7!!! tf?!!! WAY OVERPRICED. I get it - it's big enough to share I overheard the owner say. But how about if you just want your own order and/or you don't have anyone to share with? The fries cost almost as much as the sub itself. Skipped the fries. #tearshed
I REALLY wanted an icy cold fountain drink to go with the meal until I found out a fountain drink (1 size) is $2.99! I ask again: tf?! Guys, your killin me here. Skipped the drink.
I was hungry and really wanted to eat it there but without the fries and a drink to accompany the sub, I decided to order to go and head home.
The small sub itself cost me $11. But had I ordered the fries and drink we'd be talking $21+ - JUST FOR A MEAL FOR MYSELF. Unacceptable for a quick lunch bite.
Behind me in line was a sweet grandma and her 10 yo-ish granddaughter (first time customers as well). They ordered a couple personal sized pizzas and drinks and I think that was it - I heard the server ring up their order - $30+! Then another lady came in, looked at the menu and asked if there was any lunch specials. The lady (who I believe was the shop owner) goes "all we have today is a small pizza, 2 toppings and a drink for $7.99." Better deal for sure but I guess you only get that if you know about it or if you ask - ?? Nowhere was there a sign indicating this lunch special. Nowhere on the menu was the special printed. So how would you know about it if you didn't ask? Or if the order-taker didn't tell you?
On a positive note, my order came out relatively fast. I took it home and unwrapped it. It was....decent. Not bad. Not raves. Decent. Had a decent amount of meat. The sub roll was toasted which was a nice touch. A bit on the salty side but I mean - it's beach fare, whatdya expect amiright?
IIIIIIIIII was "salty" though because there I sat at the house with my sub wishing I had fries to go with it. I mean, if I was going to be bad and wolf down a greasy, cheesy, gooey, dripping-down-your-elbows, so-bad-for-you sub, I wanted to just pile on with the fries and soda. Sigh.
So - would I come back? Short answer-No. If the sub was to-die-for good, then possibly - but only if I was in the area, at mealtime and if I was in the mood for something so bad for me lol. PRICES WERE HIGH FOR WHAT YOU GET. Check out the menu pics. I WAS TURNED OFF (and frankly insulted) at the prices for the fries, fountain drinks (which they make a KILLLLLLLLLLLLING off of.....so why gouge your customers?), and no combo meal pricing.
To me, that just shows you don't care about customer loyalty or repeat business. You wanna get what you can right when the customer walks in the door.. And if you want to gouge new customers to make a quick buck, you run the risk of "one and done," like me,
So....I'll continue my search for that perfect OBX sub-fries-soda combo and will keep writing about what I find. read more