Jersey Mike’s Subs — Restaurant in North Haven

As someone with celiac disease who has to travel for work, I go to Jersey Mike's a whole lot because it is pretty much the only fast food I can safely eat.

The North Haven location is very close to home so I was excited to finally try it. I would love to have something fast I can pick up when I am home.

I visited on Sunday, January 19th around 2:15PM and it was the only horrible Jersey Mike's experience I have ever had.

I would not recommend this location in general but would especially not recommend this location if you have celiac disease or an allergy.

In the few minutes I was in the store, I went from nervous to excited to horrified and disappointed. I spent something like $23-26 on a sandwich that I ultimately decided I couldn't safely eat, some chips, and a drink. What a waste! Here is what happened:

Normally when at Jersey Mike's if you tell them you need a gluten free sandwich, they ask if it is for an allergy, and if it is, they immediately wipe everything down, wash hands, change gloves, and initiate an allergy protocol inclusive of reserving a knife for the sandwich.

For this reason, I always make sure to go at a time when they aren't busy and make sure there is no one coming in line right after me. I have worked in food service and understand the demands.

On this occassion when I told them I needed a gluten free sandwich (I ordered a veggie), they did not ask about allergies, and I had to add I needed an allergy protocol. I was alarmed to see that while the person making my sandwich did eventually change gloves, nothing got wiped down.

At this point I was very nervous, but then I saw that he went to a separate cheese slicer at a separate station. And then I noticed there were veggies at that station. I felt relieved, thinking he would make my sandwich at a separate counter. I actually got excited when I saw that.

One of the very real risks at Jersey Mike's for people with celiac or a wheat allergy is that people making the sandwiches have to use veggies from bins that they have also used while making regular sandwiches. There is a possibility of cross-contamination.

If this location had a separate station for gluten free preparation, I would actually be able to eat without that concern. I was impressed! In my mind I was like "I'll eat here multiple times a week of that's the case!"

But this excitement was short-lived. After slicing my cheese, the maker of my sandwich brought it over to the usual counter that had not been wiped down. I half thought he was coming over just so he could hear me. So when he asked what veggies I wanted, I told him without too much hesitation.

Jersey Mike's employees will almost always pull veggies for gluten free sandwiches from the back and bottom of the bin to minimize the chance of gluten contamination. This employee, however, not only dragged my sandwich along the unwiped counter but grabbed all veggies from the top front of the bins.

It has been too long now for me to remember all the details, but in these minutes I do recall noting a number of misteps in terms of allergy protocol.

Still debating in my head if I felt I could eat the sandwich and risk losing bowel control for the next week, I asked if there were packets of mayo available, since having surely-contaminated mayo spread on my bread with a contaminated knife would definitely be too great a risk. Most Jersey Mike's locations have packets of mayo, but the ones that don't have a squeeze bottle they can use to fill a little container.

Not this Jersey Mike's! Showing no awareness of allergy protocols, the employees (plural because the store was empty and the one who had been on a cell phone had come off) offered to smear mayo on my by-then already wrapped sandwich. I told them that is a cross-contamination risk and asked again if they had packets. "No, we don't have those" I was told with no real concern.

I left and sat in my car and realized the expensive sandwich I just bought could not be eaten. Two stars for the food because the food would have fit the bill if I could...

First time at this location I really enjoyed it. I had it delivered, no issues. Second time I also had it delivered, sandwich had so much oil and vinegar it was like the sandwich was dumped in water. 3rd time, I accidentally put "pick up" instead of delivery, called as soon as put order through. The kid I talked to told me to "cancel it on my end", explained to him there was no way to do that. He got someone to help me. Took longer than necessary, but again my fault, they're busy. A few days later I see I was credited the amount of the order, but not the $5.00 for delivery. Thought maybe it would show up after in account, never did. Thought about calling and complaining, but knew it would be an ordeal to speak with someone who would know how to handle it. Today I put in an order to pick up. Order was supposed to be ready at 5:32, I went in, and not ready. Another gentleman was also waiting for pick up. They were busy, so it was understandable at first. I'm standing there waiting and there must have been 5 employees standing around looking completely clueless, and one woman who was basically trying to do everything for everyone. I didn't get her name, but she was working hard and kept her cool while everyone else looked lost as orders piled up. No apology for the wait from the kid who finally gave it to me at 5:51. I ordered 2 subs, both were soggy, and one wasn't even a full size regular size. Very disappointing. I guess I'll be going back to the Milford location where I never...

I love Jersey Mike's, I really do. I was so excited when I heard one was coming to North Haven. Unfortunately, and I'm not sure what is wrong, this particular franchise just can't get things straight. The first time I went in, there were about five people in line ahead of me, and it took 30 minutes to order, and another 20 to get my food. The second time, same thing. The third time, I left before I got to order, took too long. The fourth and fifth time, I saw the line and just never entered. Tonight, after a three month break, I decided to give it another shot. There were only two people in line, so I figured I'd go for it. It only took 10 minutes to place my order. But then, the lady working the cashier got a call from a customer saying their order was wrong, pulled the order-taker off line, and spent ten minutes with him trying to figure out what went wrong. So no more orders being taken, and noone to run the cashier. By the time they decided to refund the guy over the phone, the line was long again. I finally got my food, about 30 minutes after arriving. Since we were going to eat in the restaurant, I went to the cashier to ask for a ketchup packet, and was told they don't carry ketchup, management decision???? I really hope this place turns around and figures it out, because the food is great and I would be a frequent customer. But for now, it is regrettably the worst-run fast food place I have...