Uh-Oh: The “Italian Sub Sandwich” On United Airlines
I could not help but try the “Italian Sub Sandwich” On United Airlines’ “Bistro On Board” menu, but I’ve got to be honest: I wish I had not.
Taste Test: “Italian Sub Sandwich” On United Airlines Bistro On Board Menu
I’m a sucker for the cheesburger on United and the “Beer Burger” (served on a pretzel bun with pale ale white cheddar beer cheese, beef patty, bacon, and a mild cheddar) is a safe and reliable choice on the onboard menu.
But I’ve reviewed the United cheeseburger here, here, here, here, and here…yeah, you get it. I like it. It’s always a good choice.
So I wanted to “live life on the edge” and venture out and order the Italian Sub Sandwich instead. Oh, I knew it would not be authentic, but I noticed it was served with giardiniera and so I thought I’d give it a try. It’s $11 and served on lights of more than 1,100 miles that depart between the hours of 10:00 am and 8:59 pm. For Premier 1K members like me, it’s complimentary (you can choose one free snack or food item and one free alcoholic beverage or illy iced coffee on each flight).
Italian Sub Sandwich
Ciabatta bread with ham, provolone cheese, salami, giardiniera and basil aioli
$11 or 1,300 miles
It was served in a white bag, as always with a mile-long ingredient list. Like the omelet I had a few months back, these ingredients seem like overkill, though I understand that trying to extend the shelf-life a bit of a sandwich and preserve its taste onboard is no easy feat.
My wife looked over as I unwrapped the sandwich and said, “It looks like a heart attack.”
And I guess that was my takeaway…it tasted okay. Not as good as the burger, but passable. The bread got a little slimy and the heating was a bit uneven, but the meat and cheese tasted just fine.
Of course, it looked terrible…but it was served hot and a delicious sandwich need not be a beautiful one.
I still could not get over that heart attack comment…and I think her point was well-taken in that I eat things on airplanes that I just would never eat at home.
While I may eat the burger again onboard (let’s face it, of course, I will), I do not recommend this. The cheeseburger or fruit and cheese platter are better choices.