Subway

I worked at 14^th and K when this Subway opened, and back then it was clean, fast, and friendly. Yesterday, years later, I stopped in for breakfast, and I was appalled. This place was so dirty I literally stuck to the floor and had to peel my feet up with every step. We left. How sad.

I like to go subway in every city that I visit, and I like the sandwiches. This particular store was like others but they didn’t have the bread I used to order. Also, most surprisingly, they wanted to charge me for the bag! and it was only 5 cents!!! not to mention that I tipped a dollar. this was the craziest thing in my experiences with subway and all the other places I had visited. It wasn’t a happy experience…

I have to admit that I didn’t expect a to have good experiences when I walked in the first time, given the layout. The service counter area is narrow, even by Subway standards. Somehow the staff here manages to keep things moving quickly and efficiently, maybe it’s because folks in DC know how to queue up and stay single file to allow «two-​way» traffic in a narrow space, though more likely it’s the efficiency of the staff getting orders taken and processed quickly. I’m in here at least once a week, when working downtown, and am glad I finally went in. They do a great job.

Another Subway nearby my work where the staff is extremely friendly. I now go to this one instead of the old one, mostly because there are NEVER any lines. The lines at the other one sometimes snake out the door. I guess there is not much around here and people don’t notice the Subway or would prefer to go to Five Guys instead. Whatever the case, I benefit, as I can get in and out of there within 5 minutes with my turkey/​bacon/​cheese sub. Yum!

I eat here more than is healthy for any human. I’m no Jared, whatever he is, nor a demigod endorser like Michael Phelps or Apolo Ohno, but my digestive system does process more Subway product than your average TurboChef instant sandwich-​toaster.
Subway food should be rated on a binary scale: it either is or is not fresh. This is one that is. The cleanliness here is top notch, and the fact that their restrooms remain as clean as they do despite allowing occasional homeless people into them bespeaks a dedication to hygiene as much as to the community.
On service this location is above average: some employees recognize me as a regular, and they all seem genuinely interested in keeping my business. They’ve got the issues of a medium turnover rate (a new, untrained server joins the group every couple months), language barriers (you will get asked the same question multiple times, no matter how simply and clearly you state it), and a general need to run efficiently without closing in the middle of the day (they’ve tried to sweep under my feet as I’m eating multiple times).
If you like Subway and are considering adding one of the few downtown locations to your lunch rotation, make it this one. Your worst experience won’t be worth complaining about. If you’re a visitor to the District, what the hell are you doing in a national chain? Get thee to Café Philips, a block down 14^th.

Subway has been doing this $ 5 promo for quite a while so the price isn’t anything new so at least a reliable somewhat reasonable cost for a filling lunch or dinner. I’m not a really big fan of sandwiches (unless it’s a bahn mi) but this is just right down the street from my bldg, and $ can stretch here cause I can eat half and save the other for dinner or next day’s lunch. I usually go after the lunch rush so I can pretty much order right away, and the sandwich is constructed fairly quickly so I’m in and out in a matter of minutes. Bread and ingredients seem pretty fresh. I was pleasantly surprised to see spinach leaves which I usually get in addition to the shredded lettuce. I wish they had fat free dressing but they only offer a low cal honey mustard.