Firehouse Subs Salem Road — Restaurant in Rochester

UPDATE: I would think twice before ordering from this Firehouse sub shop, unless you want to risk getting an expensive sandwich without any ingredients on it (see accompanying pic). Especially if you are considering using a delivery service to have your meal delivered, unless you're prepared for a possible unfavorable surprise upon it's delivery. I was recently informed by Google that over 30,000 people have viewed the photo of the ingredientless Hook and Ladder sandwich I received from Firehouse Subs. Apparently, either Firehouse Subs folks aren't one of those 30,000+ people or Firehouse Subs is ignoring the abhorrent service provided by one of their sandwich shops, as I haven't heard a thing from them after they responded to my initial post (below) and declared things should be made right for me by them. Either scenario is quite disturbing. Will continue to keep potential Firehouse Subs customers posted on the ethical ineptness of this company.

Initial review: Terrible! We spent ~$80.00 on our Firehouse order last week for 4 sandwiches--including 2 large Hook and Ladders--and 2 cups of soup. Upon delivery, one of the Hook and Ladders was literally just the bread!!! Zero ingredients! It was supposed to be a Hook and Ladder and it literally was just the bread! See accompanying photo! When I called the store to inform them, the employee simply said that some people just order bread!!! Really??? Some people specifically order a Hook and Ladder for $16.00 and just ask for the bread?!? I doubt it. Don't you think an employee would have called to verify the customer didn't want any ingredients on the their $16.00 sandwich they specifically ordered as a Hook n Ladder?? What kind of world do we live in these days?!?!? At least they...

Here's the thing...

The sandwiches themselves? Awesome. However...it seems every place now is asking for tips. It's not that I have an issue giving tips...it's the way in which the tips are asked for, and that's in addition to them FIRST asking if you'd like to round up your total to donate to first responders. Totally fine with rounding up for that. Happy to support them!

But when you use the drive thru at this place, they basically force your hand and guilt trip you into giving a tip. My most recent drive thru visit went like this: after saying yes to rounding up for first responders, the employee at the window then said, "Now it's going to ask you if you want to leave a tip on this machine, but I cannot pass it through the window & hand it to you."

I actually know this is false, because a different employee on my previous visits has literally handed me the machine through the window and told me I need to select if I want to leave a tip on it, and that she cannot do it for me.

In the most recent example, telling someone you cannot hand them the machine is:

A) lying B) an awkward & rather forced way to guilt trip someone into leaving you a tip, because they know people are less likely to say "no" than if they were to just select "no tip" on the machine.

Again, I'm all for tipping. I was a server for 8 years in my 20s. Economic times are tough right now, so I don't mind leaving tips. But you really shouldn't flat out lie to people or guilt trip them into leaving you one, which is what employees at this place will sometimes do.

Please consider your approach when it comes to tipping. You really should allow people to select on the machine how much of a tip, if any, they...

Love Firehouse Subs! I get the Hook and Ladder. On this visit, 2 people in my group got the Smokehouse Beef and Cheddar Brisket, which they loved. One person just gets a ham and cheese, which they enjoy.

I think the quality of the meat is great. I like that they are hot subs, although I believe you can get them cold if you like. The toppings are fresh.

I like that it comes with a pickle on the side. If you aren't a pickle lover, you might want to say no pickle, as the juice can get into your sandwich which I am told by non pickle lovers in my family is not a good thing. If they had one in my town, I would probably go there way too much.

I love that you have large choice of sides, including a side salad and soups. I love the salad, as it has more than just tomato on it. I do remove that pepperoncini, because I am not a fan. One of our party gets the Chicken and Dumpling soup, which they love. I also tried the cookie this time, which wasn't bad, but the brownie is amazing!

The only thing I don't like is the Coke Freestyle machine they have for fountain beverages. I feel like your beverage doesn't taste right because of all the drinks that flow through the same nozzle, but they do have bottled beverages available.

This is way better than Subway, so if you like Subway, go here instead. If they had one in my town, I would probably go here...