Savoring the Elsie's Sub Shop Experience

By Elaine Van Develde

There's something romantic about the scent of a … sub. Yes, the scent of a sub — an Elsie's Submarines sub.

Romantic? Yes, because if you ask any old-time submarine sandwich foodie from the area, they'll likely tell you that one whiff beyond the hole-in-the-wall Red Bank shop's doors ad the love affair begins.

It started out that way in 1959 and — save for Elsie herself being behind the counter dousing the fresh bread with oil and vinegar and asking "Hot peppers on that?" — not much has changed. And that's a good thing. An Elsie's sub is something people in the area have come to count on.

Starting with the oil, vinegar, oregano and onion-infused aroma you're hit with when what seems to be the original door squeaks open, the Elsie's experience is a simple, yet enduring one. It's nothing fancy. And that's the charm.

The down-home Monmouth Street Jersey sub shop is nothing more than a tiny aisle that leads from the door to a tiny counter with the same plastic hand-lettered sandwich board, hanging slightly lopsided, above it.

There's a rack with chips and fridges with soft drinks, including Elsie's own, and homemade Elsie's pasta and potato salad and coleslaw and a couple of tables.

No need for anything more. And once you pick a sandwich number, it's just a few minutes and a "Hot peppers on that?" later 'til the Elsie's sub experience is in your grasp.

Yes, some of the sandwich choices have changed, but most have stayed the same. A difference: the most popular sub on the menu, the sub maker tells us, is the turkey with cranberry and mayo — number 5. Diehard favorites: the classic Italian sub, a number 15 or 16, with the standard meats like ham, salami, capicola, pepperoni and provolone cheese.

The works on those, of course — a somehow Elsie's-specific oil, vinegar, oregano, onions, lettuce, tomatoes infusion and … hot peppers? Gotta have 'em. It's like a sprinkle of chicken soup for the sub soul when they ask. 

But, here's one of the best features of an Elsie's sub, besides the taste, of course: the plastic baggies that each half is slipped into so as to carefully contain and savor all that tasty mess of oil and vinegar-sopped sandwich. Where else? Nowhere.

Brown bag full of Elsie's in hand, for the love of a lifetime sub experience, all you need is a side of beach, river, road trip and a buddy, if you feel like sharing.

Click here for the full Elsie's menu.