The Staggering Ox

This place was great. The Broken Heart was my favorite sandwich… unfortunately this location has closed! :[

When I entered the Staggering Ox I had a high expectation because many of my friends always raved on how wonderful it was. Well first off the cashier was extremely rude; she seemed irritated. I stated that it was my first time in and she wasn’t helpful one bit. She kept on talking to a guy in the kitchen completely ignoring me. When I received my sandwich, I thought the overall appearance of it was rather interesting and I was excited to try it. To me it was a little bland and the bread seemed as if it was a little crunchy and not fresh. My experience didn’t make a good first impression. Maybe they were just having an off day.

Yeah! My first review! I thought long and hard about my favorite restaurant or rather my favorite restaurant food and one thing came to mind… the Maui Wowie from staggering ox. I dream about this sandwich, ham, pineapple, lettuce, tomato, feta and a mixture of ranch and Italian dressing. Now I think I’m a fairly creative home chef, but I never would’ve thought to put those items together. The result is amazing.
The food is definitely five star but you lose a star for your location and hours-​not open on Sunday??? Boo
Seriously if you are looking for a delicious sandwich with fresh ingredients on unique bread-​staggering ox is the place. Try it and you’ll be hooked.

I visited this eating establishment on a recommendation from a friend and loved it. I ordered the Broken Heart, sans the sprouts. It was really good! I ordered it with the Creamy Basil sauce. A lot of people at my table ordered the Camel Spit as their sauce, and while it was okay, the Creamy Basil was very good and fit my sammy much better.
I like the unique sandwich style and the fact that its pretty much mess free, since the bottom is closed. No juice dripping on your hands.
My kids are picky and will not eat the good stuff, so we ordered them the pb & j on the guts, and that worked out great.
Decently priced.
My husband adds he thought it was awesome.

Yeah I screwed up and ordered a warm sandwich. No one warned me. The menu really should come with a disclaimer. Warm sandwich = wimpy/​small sandwich. My sandwich tasted good but still I was disappointed. I didn’t have a tower like the rest of my party. Will have to come back here and do it right next time. Creamy basil sauce seriously kicked ass.

First off, I agree with Babydeero, it is perfect college food to nosh on, and they would make a huge profit if they opened one up in the GU area.
My favorite «sandwich» is the Beastie. It is loaded with roast beef that tastes like home made roast beef, cheddar, sprouts, onion, mushrooms and horseradish, I forgo the horseradish though, since I’m not a fan of it. I normally just get the normal standby on a sandwich, mayo. But, there is something good to be said about their creamy basil sauce, it’s tasty and mildly creamy goodness goes with any sandwich you order.
Last time I went there, they had 5 mins. to closing, and they made me my sandwich anyways, even though it was obvious they were getting ready to close. They weren’t rude about me running in at the last minute to order something right before closing. I have always had excellent customer service there and they always get my order right. I have taken a few friends here, and they are hooked! What’s not to like about *real* roast beef (not the processed stuff) and home made bread? And they give you a over abundance of meat and toppings in your sandwich too, not just a few thin slices of meat.
Definitely a must if you’re in the Valley and were thinking about going to Subway!

Being originally from Montana, where the Ox was born, I was ecstatic that they decided to open one here in Spokane a few years back. Growing up, like most people I always ordered the same thing (the Nuke, on French, with Ranch… if you haven’t been there before, you have no idea what I am talking about… it’s okay, you will get it once you get there). It seems that once you find a sandwich you LOVE there, you tend to stick with it.
My palate has matured a bit now so I go for the Broken Heart add turkey on Dill or Wheat with the Creamy Basil sauce… YUM-​O! Originally designed to be a vegetarian sand… you get the perfect mix of sprouts, sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, cream cheese, black olives, provolone cheese, and lettuce. It is A-​MAZING!
I would recommend this place to anyone. I preferred their first location to the current one as they had a drive-​thru, but I will go wherever they want me to. I LOVE Staggering Ox!
They should open on in the GU area… they would make a killing!!!

My family and I recently ate here and they all liked the food. The sandwiches are very unique and had a good flavor. If I had a complaint it would be that they were out of a lot of ingredients when we went to order our food. We got there 40 minutes before they closed and they were out of all beef and most of their breads.

I’ve been a fan of the Staggering Ox since 1988 in Helena. I had several friends that worked there and I cannot fault the food. The service in the Spokane Valley location however rivals some of my least favorite places. I have never had a good service experience here. At my last visit, the chili was served cold and chili staples (crackers, cheddar cheese, onions) were never offered, nor did they show up on the tray. When we requested that the chili be reheated, it never reappeared at the table. When I requested a refund, the counter help showed genuine surprise and then informed me that they could not refund my money. The best they could do is send me on my way with the chili in a to go container.
One change that happened a few years ago is that the Ox no longer puts the sauce in the clubfoot. I prefer this method and requested my sauce be in my sandwich, not on the side. The counter help acknowledged my request and the sauce still showed up in a cup.
I really hate to say this, but the consistently poor service and crappy attitudes of those that work at this location will not bring me back, no matter how much I crave my Three Mile Island. I’ll just wait for a trip back to Helena.
One last thing, skip the bathroom. No changing tables for parents (in neither the men’s nor the women’s) and the men’s at least had not visibly been cleaned in some time.

I’ve only ordered two sandwiches (repeatedly, of course) out of their many options and is it a cowinky-​dink that, I think, they’re the coolest-​named out of all too?
Yo Momma Osama and Slam the Damn Taliban, both made with gyro meat because I do not like deli meat. I would love it if they added chicken but I’ll stick with the beef/​lamb until then.
My favorite sauces are Camel Spit and Creamy Basil. The sauces probably compliment any sandwich on the menu! I haven’t tried any others but why would I want to?
Service is friendly and helpful, sandwiches are plentiful and it’s a ‘local’ business with their only other locations in Montana. I dig it.

For some reason my friends in the Valley always kept this place hidden from me until AFTER I moved away from Spokane. Those bastards!
Lets cut out the bs: The Stag Ox is going to be one of the best sandwiches you’ll ever have… and after you go you WILL be bringing friends back to get another taste. Loaded with great veggies and meats in delicious home baked bread you really can’t go wrong.
The only advice I have to newbies: As tempting as they are… don’t go for the hot sandwich on your first couple of trips. Enjoy the cold sandwiches that are sure to be in the «can» style bread. The sandwiches that come in the standard style aren’t nearly as enjoyable or filling.

This is one of two amazing sandwich places in Spokane. These guys recently moved to a much bigger, nicer building. I try to go here whenever I’m back in Spokane from college. It’s amazing. Seriously though. Amazing.
AND! They have a punch card. Buy a few sandwiches, get one free. Not much in this world is better than a free Ox sandwich.

Being a regular at the original Ox in Helena, it’s nice to have a piece of home so close to my new residence. The basic menu is well represented and the classic Club Foot sandwich, the hallmark of the Ox. They make the sandwiches in the manner intended and gives a high-​five to my taste buds every time.
The only thing in my book that keeps this place from receiving the fifth star is the selection isn’t as vast as the flagship Ox. Picky I know, but there is something to be said about some of the creations that are made, but not represented here.
All in all, great taste of home!

Like everyone else said this is an awesome place to get a fantastic sandwhich. Clean, friendly, delicious, and most importantly unique. I tried uploading a photo of the the magazine page out of the Maxim’s September issue in 2004 (which i still have yes lol) showing «The Nuke» as their number 2 choice in the country for best sandwhichs, it came out a little fuzzy though =(

Let me preface this review with one by Maxim: the Staggering Ox’s «The Nuke» sandwich rated #2 in Maxim’s top 10 sandwiches in the nation in September of 2004. So what makes this a sandwich unlike any other you have tasted? Its construction is totally unique.
Here’s the deal: they make their delicious bread in the shape of a cylinder, remove the inside, and stuff the hollow pipe full of whatever wonderful ingredients you happen to order. Then you dip the thing in the sauce that you order.
A friend of mine used to work there, so i know that the place is sanitary, customers are valued, and the management is kind.
Between the homemade bread, wonderful sauces (get the Creamy Basil) and ingredients so numerous that the thing looks like it’s gonna burst, these sandwiches rock.
If you eat Subway in Spokane, you have failed.

This place gets five stars for ingenuity. To give them anything less would be a criminal act. «What’s so different about this sandwich place?», you ask.
The sandwich bread is made in a metal can. The result is a tubular hunk of bread in several varieties (white, sourdough, wheat, etc.). Then, they scoop out the majority of the bread and leave the outside shell. The sandwich’s meat and veggies go into that shell.
It’s a bizarre and unique twist on the boring subway sandwich. More importantly, it tastes very good (except for their all-​cheese sandwich, which is disgusting).
The next time you’re in Spokane, stop and get one. You won’t regret it.
Minus one star for being just as expensive as most sandwich places, the main reason I don’t go to them more often. Expert ripoff artists, those sandwich makers are.
Picture of said sandwich:

OMFG, this place has the best French Onion Soup I have ever tasted. FOS is one of my favs so I get it every where it is offered. This place really stands out from all the other sandwich places b/​c they serve you a sandwich upright in a hollowed out peice of bread. You really should check out the website to know what i’m talking about. I would def. suggest this place to anyone who likes sandwiches and would demand you go here if you are a lover of French Onion Soup.

I agree with my comrade below… I was not a French Onion supporter until I tried the best french onion soup in the world; (YES, In the Whole Wide World). I absolutely love this place! The owner is the sweetest little lady I have met and the service is always wonderful. You must try this place out. The sandwiches are to die for. ;)