No 7 Sub
“I knew muchim meant "pickles," but didn't realize it meant spicy pickles, so the little bursts of heat were an unexpected wholly-welcomed kick.”
“The Goodfella is quite possibly the best sandwich I've ever had.”
“The line would stretch out to Strawberry Fields if tourists got a hold of this gem.”
No 7 Sub
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Full disclosure: I'm a NOT a sandwich person. I'm not into meat and bread and everything else that goes on a sandwich or is supposed to. I've never liked cold foods. So even if I do go for a sandwich type thing, it's always cooked and served warm. I think I might be a direct descendant of a cave person, as I've never liked cold foods, unless it's like ice cream or something. Or ice water.
Anyway, back to the No & Sub review. I saw a friend of mine rave about the zucchini parm at this place. She was pregnant at the time, but with or without the wild pickle-and-ice-cream cravings, I thought zucchini parm sounded right up my alley. When I looked at the menu, I was oh – holy wow! BBQ chips w/ breaded zucchini "cutlets" and fontina cheese? SIGN. ME. UP!
So what happens? I am at the Holiday Markets at Columbus Circle in mid-December and want to break for food. I say – hey wait! I think one of those No 7 Subs is right around the way here. It's at the Plaza Food Hall, which is basically like a mall food court, but with higher-end type eateries. But catering to the tourist. So that's a set up right there. Like many NYers, I walk past the Plaza about a gazillion times in my life, but clearly my trailer park self would not be welcome. Anyway, the mall food court is another review. Let's stick to the No 7 Sub.
irony would have it, the zucchini parm was SOLD OUT the day I went. NOOOOOOOOO. And though you can create your own sub, nothing really sounded appealing to me. There's a General Tso's Seitan, which sounds good. But gluten patties on a glutenous roll…sounds like a stomach ache waiting to happen for me. A broccoli sub which is apparently this joint's "bread and butter," no pun intended…and a cold chicken sub which as I referred to earlier is SO not my thing. So I had to setlle for something else. Major bummer.
So fast forward two months later. I finally have an opportunity to go to the No 7 on 29th/Bway…then I see that it's CLOSED. Son of a motherless goat. So off to the Plaza I go. Of course I know there is a slight possibility that they might be sold out…but I go anyway.
Luckily for me, I was able to finally scratch the zucchini parm itch. I have to say on paper, it was clever. I love eggplant parm, so I guess I was expecting like a gooey type of parmesan. I guess the fontina was a good accompaniment, but you could barely taste it. Then the pickled jalapenos…I'm not sure if that was necessary. And the BBQ chips which added a distinct crunch but wasn't overpowering. It was neither here nor there, actually. I could've done w/out the jalapenos and the chips myself. I didn't feel they added much to it. The bread was not too tough, as is with the crunchy baguette types that sandwiches are served on.
So my overall judgment is…I came, I saw, I conquered. I scratched the itch, but honestly for me, I won't be back. Only because I don't like sandwiches, and the zucchini parm had potential, but it just fell slightly short of what I was expecting for all these months. But glad I got to see it for myself.
Not your traditional sub shop, and I'm giving it a 4 for the unique blend of flavors on a perfectly toasted bread.
Hype:
– The BREAD. I can't say enough about a perfectly crispy outside with a soft interior. So far every sandwich I've had here doesn't get soggy as they don't overdress it or the dressings are in between the layers of ingredients.
– The Real American and No. 7 club are their two best sellers. I've had the real american – its good. A bit on the salty side due to the meat, but the flavors of the avocado, turkey, bacon, jalepenos, and smoked french dressing give it a balance of sweet and savory
for the vegetarians or wannabes (like me): these are a must get
– General Tso's setan – definitely a good one. I've had this and it was something where you don't know when you start and finish the sandwich
– If you want sweet – go for the Broccoli classic.The lychee adds a sweetness and pairs interestingly well with the feta, fried shallots, and mayo.
– voodoo chips!
Gripe:
– The no.7 club was a bit on the meatier and saltier side for me. I'll stick with the vegetarian sandwiches for now.
– seriously pricey for a sub, but its a good treat and worth it for that once in a while stop.
Ever heard of bite-size? Apparently not here. My three-star breakdown:
LE CHIFFRE – Frittata, Broccoli, Smoked French Dressing. Flavors were pretty good (and saved the rating), but overall execution was poor. My bread was toasted to a crisp, and I felt like I was eating a crown of broccoli in my sandwich.
This was at 7pm on a Thursday. Maybe they're better during lunch.
The sandwich was okay. It was just convenient and right by Central Park. Service was a little slower than I expected. I created my own sandwich with ham, mayo, lettuce and tomato. I've had better HMLT sandwiches at delis. Really nothing special. Maybe try their special made sandwiches already. Seems like they got a better review for it.
Finding unique food in midtown is pretty difficult which is why I was surprised to find this place. I tried the broccoli sub which was amazing. From the crispy bread to the broccoli which is cut in easy to eat bites, the sandwich was perfect.
Good, but overpriced.
I've only been here once, and on that visit ordered the Real American Hero (turkey, bacon, avocado, pickled jalapeños & smoked french dressing). Definitely a tasty sandwich. The smoked dressing ramped up the flavor while melding well with the other ingredients, and the pickled jalapeños provided a welcome, piquant counterpoint to the other rich / smooth flavors. All served on a just-right roll that was crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside.
Portion size was large enough to be filling for one person, maybe not quite enough to split unless you're a lighter eater, or supplementing it with something else (soup, etc.).
Pricing was a tad high ($14). If you add in anything else (chips / pickles / soup) and a drink, you're looking at $20 for a sandwich-based lunch.
Oh, and if you're never been to the Plaza Food Hall before: there's not much seating, but lotsa lotsa people. You can either go at an off time / hope to get lucky / hover, stare & pounce, or else take it to go and eat it in the park.
I had the Comic Con special "You Fight to Win, Guardian!" with thick cured prosciutto, veggies (I think sprouts and onions?), and pho mayo (not sure what it was but it was good!). Pretty unique sub shop.
Not going to lie – this was a surprisingly stellar broccoli sandwich. I had low expectations, honestly – how much can you fancy up broccoli? But clearly my imagination is far more limited than the purveyors of these sandwiches. The broccoli was gussied up with the lychee muchim, feta, fried shallots, and mayo (I think this sandwich normally comes with ricotta salata, FYI, but yesterday it was feta). I knew muchim meant "pickles," but didn't realize it meant spicy pickles, so the little bursts of heat were an unexpected wholly-welcomed kick.
And the bread… I could write an ode to the bread. It was perfect. Crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside, warm, delicious. People don't pay enough attention to bread… it is so much more than a vehicle. No. 7 Sub understands this.
Altogether, the broccoli sandwich was a lovely combination of interesting, deceptively simple, unanticipated, and delicious, both in texture and flavor. I'm going to need to try the Zucchini Parm next and I'm praying for the Goodfella to return soon.