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!
As I brushed the cinnamon-loaded crumbs from my shirt, our planetary load of food arrived.
My girlfriend had a half-sandwich—the Supreme Sub ($5.25)—and a non-submarine offering, a Super Dog ($4.39) with chili, cheese, and plant of onions.
The sub had Genoa salami, pepperoni, deli ham and Italiano cheese, banana peppers, mayo, shredded cheese, tomatoes, and Neptune’s special dressing, while the Super Dog had a quarter-pound wiener with the assorted dog accouterments.
The hot dog, to be fair, was simply “okay." There wasn't a lot to it, but then again, the name of the place isn't Neptune's Hot Dogs.
The Supreme Sub, on the other hand, was off the chain!
Packed between a very moist submarine roll, the magic of the meats blended perfectly with Neptune’s special dressing, creating a sandwich that boldly went where no other had gone before.
For my choices, I went with two sub-shop classics – the Tuna Salad ($4.50) and the served-hot Meatball ($4.75).
The tuna had a “special mixture” of tuna salad garnished with mayo, lettuce, tomato, and Neptune’s special dressing, while the meatball sub came equipped with a simple blend of marinara sauce and Italian cheese.
The meatball sub was definitely whimsical, with the filled crevices of sauce spilling forth from my mouth into the napkin, ready for more bites. But even that couldn’t be compared to the phenomenal tuna salad – a rich blend of seafish that swept over me like an ocean wave.
As Neptune’s net brought me back to the shore, I quickly remembered why I'd skip class, and risk being robbed, to come here. I simply love their sandwiches. Here’s to the next one and the one after that!
Cómpralo ya!
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