Steveats: Johnny Pastrami (but really, roast beef)

Debuting a new, semi-regular feature! I tryout questionable food items so that you don’t have to in… Steveats. (Note: Title developed in about 10 seconds of brainstorming.)

One fast food item that I think is chronically underrated would be the roast beef sandwich. In Rhode Island, we have a chain called Walt’s, and they provide delicious roast beef on toasted buns, with the same heat-lamp fries that you’d get from Roy Rogers. Even Arby’s, while it’s not a favorite of mine, I still find their sandwiches edible and their deals ($5 for five sandwiches!) delicious.

At the truck stop that houses Sbarro’s and Nathan’s on the border of Rhode Island and Connecticut, there is also some place called Johnny Pastrami’s. I’m guessing this is a chain that is owned by Nathan’s, because they share French fries and some other menu items, but I’d never heard of it before sampling a sandwich on Sunday night.

From the name, I’d guess their specialty is pastrami, but that’s a meat I’ve never cared much for. However, the number two item on the board was roast beef, and I’m always game for that. Even better, they served me a hot, soggy sandwich, which does happen to be my favorite prep when it comes to a roast beef. I want that bun to soak up the juices! Make it an unofficial French dip with au jus.

Oddly, the #3 item on the board was a burger, and someone else ordered one while I was there. They actually got a burger patty out of a cooler and put it on a grill top, which shocked me. Actual cooking at a rest stop?!?! I might have to give that the ole Steveats try next time I’m in the area. For the time being though, I can whole heartedly recommend the Johnny Pastrami roast beef, if you like them soggy roast beef sandwiches. It’s definitely not for you though if you want the conventional sandwich with all the fixings.

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Subway Virgins

Subway is now such a presence in everyday life that it seems silly to me when people are confused at one. There is a very specific order to every order: Bread type, meat, cheese, to toast or not to toast, toppings and dressings.

However, when I’m using my laptop at the store from time to time, I am reminded that for some, this is their first visit. This is especially interesting when the people act as if they have never had a sandwich made for them in their life.

Example: As I sit here typing this, there are four senior citizens ordering sandwiches. At first, I didn’t think anything was going to come of this, as they seemed quite upset that they couldn’t get a seafood salad sandwich at Subway.

Two of the group persevered though, and decided they would get a foot-long ham sandwich and a foot-long roast beef. From there, things got interesting, as each new decision seemed to bewilder them more and more. One complained that there was too much veggies on his sandwich, which for me is the only reason to go to Subway – If you actually want a decent amount of meat on your sandwich, go buy some deli meat from the store.

Before this day, I wouldn’t have thought that a sandwich purchase was a life and death decision, but for some, it clearly holds great significance. A wrong decision is one that will bring forth the Wrath of God (capital letters).

The whole experience reminded me of my days at Dunkin’ Donuts, when the elderly were also a wonderful (read: not at all wonderful) demographic. Some truly were excellent individuals, and they were more likely to ask how my day was going, and actually seem sincere about it.

However, more were just miserable people, or barely functioning. You know, like the lady who just rolled by the drivethru window with her hand out her car window, because she couldn’t operate the car and the window at the same time. The correct coffee was also a life or death decision, and if it was screwed up, it was of course an error on the server, as opposed to the 75-year-old who wants to haggle with you about the times when coffee only cost 50 cents, and about how the servers would sling it at you with a smile while they also white walled your car tires.