In Oklahoma City's inner core, you have a variety of corporate sandwich chains to choose from, but only one local spot has had the guts to survive the fast-food climate for more than forty years – Neptune Submarine Sandwiches.
The only remaining location from a once burgeoning chain, this relic from the 1970s is cozily nestled at the intersection of NW 33rd and Classen.
Back in the mid-1990s, I would walk the cold and decaying streets of OKC over to Neptune when cutting class, trying my best to get there before the lobby closed at 3pm – a protective measure they implemented in the 1990s to curtail a spate of armed robberies.
But now I'm older, and OKC is revamped and allegedly safer, so my date and I were able to leisurely stroll into Neptune’s for a late lunch one recent afternoon.
Surrounded by the smell of baked bread and charming wooden decor, we quickly ordered a plethora of sandwiches. As we waited for their preparation, we snacked on a homemade Snickerdoodle. It was pretty good—much better than the Subway franchise across the street!