Big Blue Subs — Restaurant in Linden

I was in Linden for a funeral and got to the train station an hour early. I'd never been to Linden, so I walked down to Wood Avenue in search of lunch and happened upon Big Blue Subs. I'm glad I did. The first thing that hit me was how sparkling clean the place was. The second thing was that they had Italian hot dogs, a delicacy unobtainable in Brooklyn and one I hadn't had in over 40 years. For the uninitiated, an Italian hot dog is a deep-fried beef hot dog (two if you're ordering a double as I did) smothered in grilled peppers and onions and topped with 1/2" thick deep-fried potato discs all nestled in a pillowy-soft pizza roll. I ordered a double and was told to take a seat at one of the sparkling clean tables and it would be brought out to me. My first impression was that this is one huge meal. I started in on the potato discs. The were nicely crispy outside and soft and nearly creamy inside. they were, despite being deep-fried, decidedly not greasy. Once I got through them, I started to eat the double dogs smothered in onions and peppers in that soft, fluffy roll. Despite being famished when I walked through the door, I couldn't get more than halfway through my perfect double Italian hot dog before I had to throw in the towel. I've had more than a few Italian hot dogs in my mis-spent youth, and they were usually soggy, greasy, delicious messes. My Big Blue Subs Double Italian Hot Dog was absolute perfection, It was not greasy, it was not soggy and even the potatoes were perfectly fried, but not greasy. If I'm ever back in Linden, I will...

I've been coming to Big Blues for a LOT of years. I had been calling for weeks to get a Italian cheeseburger but it kept saying opening on Wednesday. I finally got an answer placed my to go order. I go in to my surprise it's all new staff. Now I'm praying they don't screw up my food. I get home and the sandwich is on regular sub bread instead of the usual pizza bread. Then I realize the bread is greasy ok fine. I bite into it and end up with a mouth full of grease, mushy potatoes and burger. Everything is flavorless. I'm completely confused yet I take another bite and it's worse than the first. I open the sandwich and grease is abundant. I try to add salt and pepper and some ketchup and everything is mushy. I bite into it again and same results. Onions and peppers are visible yet tasteless. Worst sandwich ever. I call to inform them to try and be productive and not tear them apart. Response I received was yeah we are new staff and old customers expect things to be the same but we don't know unless they tell us. Ok fine no I'm sorry for the messed up sandwich.

So Big Blues I would strongly suggest you train your cooks or rehire your old cooks because if not you will be loosing customers QUICKLY.

What is going on food wise is NOT what we KNOW and LOVE.

PLEASE...

Big blue subs, SUB-par. So mid and HIGHLY unimpressive. $20 for a whole “big blue” sub and MAYBE $5 worth of food. Generic cold cuts, a single slice of cheese on each section, not a few layers like most are used to. The meat was piled in the center of the bread so it looked thick but when spread out, same level of meat as a subway sandwich. So, I ordered two turkey subs, a chicken cutlet, and a big blue, 4 chips, 1 Pepsi. $100. Absolutely not worth more than $50 at best. I asked specifically for one turkey with American cheese and one with Swiss cheese. I got Swiss AND American on both and neither person likes the other type of cheese.

I also asked specifically “for your corned beef, do you make it or is it like a boars head slab?”. The gentleman replied “no, it’s a special corned beef we order and have to cut”. Yeah, they all have to be cut. I get it. It was generic slab corned beef, salty AF and sliced.

So, this place would be just OK if it were half the cost. $100 for some mediocre sandwiches just isn’t it....