I wasn’t a regular, or even an irregular, at the Chinese Sub Shop — nee the Super Submarine Shop — on Highland. So, I can’t get sentimental about the old place, nor can I offer a substantive argument on either side of the hard or soft bread question.
In any case, when I arrived for lunch at the new location on Summer at exactly 12:04 p.m., it was jumping.
[jump]
This is my view from the very end of the line. Two gentlemen got in the line immediately behind me. One observed that with the Chinese Sub Shop only being open a month, the line might be a positive sign. “It could be,” the other answered. “Or, it could not be.”
This was some rock-solid logic, and so I spent the remainder of the less-than-10-minute wait aggressively eavesdropping. One of the men discussed a disappointing meal he had recently had at one of Memphis’ swankiest restaurants. (For one thing, he felt the hostess’ red shorts were inappropriate.) He told me that his favorite restaurant in Memphis is Chez Philippe, and both men agreed that a restaurant is good if you don’t mind at all paying $180 for dinner, and particularly excellent if you wouldn’t hesitate going back for another $180 dinner.
Using those same parameters, I will say that I would definitely go back to the Chinese Sub Shop. Lunch, for an 8-inch meal with chips and a drink rang in at less than $7.
I got the veggie sub, opting for the soft bread and provolone. It came with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, lots of mayo, and a little mustard. Not fine dining but plenty good for lunch, with enough left over for dinner.
The kitchen and ordering area are at the front west side of this former Captain D’s, with a large seating area with booths along the far wall and tables with generous seating taking up the rest of the space.
