Subway vs Chipotle vs Qdoba

[billypilgrim37]

Guys, I'm all torn up. I can't decide between these three wonderful lunch locations today. My 1:00 patient has cancelled so I have time to go down the street to get food. My spouse is okay with any of the 3. I am overweight, vegetarian, and I really like Mexico. Please let me know how you would rank these three establishments. Also, which do one do you think might best prepare me for my psychotherapy patients tomorrow afternoon? Thanks.

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[Chimed]

A not so subtle point...

 

[psychnewbie]

This is a very difficult decision. Perhaps it would help if you posted your past experiences with these establishments.

I think many would agree that Subway's menu offers great weight loss options. And, while you do love Mexico, please consider the potential ill-effects of a bean-based option at Chipotle and Qdoba. Your psychotherapy patients would appreciate you laying off the black beans.

In the end, you really need to examine what you are looking for in a lunch. I wish you the best in your decision-making!

 

[Chimed]

Oh, BTW, I'd go with Chipotle. The management is supportive, they treat their employees very well. You'll have limited options, but what they do, they do very well and they only serve the finest free range meat--that should help you with your therapy tomorrow. And I believe they're very competitive, so your option of attracting someone to go with you for Valentines day is very favorable. Because in the end, doesn't it all come down to getting a good Valentine? 😉

 

[atsai3]

Guys, I'm all torn up. I can't decide between these three wonderful lunch locations today. My 1:00 patient has cancelled so I have time to go down the street to get food. My spouse is okay with any of the 3. I am overweight, vegetarian, and I really like Mexico. Please let me know how you would rank these three establishments. Also, which do one do you think might best prepare me for my psychotherapy patients tomorrow afternoon? Thanks.

How would YOU rank them?

-AT.

 

[st2205]

If you ate meat, I'd go Subway. Footlong on wheat philly cheese steak w/pepperjack cheese, toasted. Lettuce, tomatoe, spinnach, onion, green pepper, banana peppers, jalepenos, and a lot of chipolte sauce.

Chipotle and Qdoba were ok the first 20 times, but they get old. If you like Mexican food I'd look somewhere else, as these do not satisfy criteria. However, it may be easier to find a substantial meal here as a vegetarian rather than lettuce on bread at Subway.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Get off your butt and go for a run.

 

[billypilgrim37]

Get off your butt and go for a run.

Hey, 45 minutes on the elliptical last night while watching episode 4 of Band of Brothers, thank you very much!

I appreciate the insight, friends. There's an Einstein's bagels across the street on the way to the afternoon clinic, so it may be that an egg and cheese bagel is the right fit for me.

 

[Still Kickin]

America's Top 10 Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants:

http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20411588_1,00.html

Chipotle made the list. (So did Einstein's. and McDonald's - ?!?!!)

 

[Daedra22]

This is pretty much the only thing I'm qualified to have an opinion on as a first year med student. From a financial perspective, I'm going to have to go with subway. $5 footlong = 2 meals.

 

[Cinnameg]

Subway is the best known nationwide with good name-recognition. However, Chipotle and Qdoba have perhaps a little more prestige and it might impress your patients more to know you ate at one of these two.

 

[pingouin]

Do any of them have free guacamole? Because that'd be a deal-clincher for me.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Do any of them have free guacamole? Because that'd be a deal-clincher for me.

Be careful about basing your decision on this. When I interviewed they said there was free guacamole, but by the time I was an intern, the hospital banned the drug reps who brought it and we've had to mash our own avocados ever since!

 

[nitemagi]

But what I really want is something that's filling, tastes great, is zero calories, and is super cheap.

 

[whopper]

Chipotle.....

Their food is better than the other places. If the office is paying for it, get the expensive large bottle of ice tea or gourmet soda.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I have so-so credit, will I have a hard time ordering my food? I have heard that it is harder to get the best burritos offered, but I just want to make sure I get some Mexican food because I don't really like burger places and I don't have good enough credit for one of those boutique places.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

I have so-so credit, will I have a hard time ordering my food? I have heard that it is harder to get the best burritos offered, but I just want to make sure I get some Mexican food because I don't really like burger places and I don't have good enough credit for one of those boutique places.

Ultimately, if you just want to eat something wrapped in a tortilla you could do just fine at your local Taco Bell. There's no need to put in the effort on a trendy designer burrito. Your future patients won't care about the name on the bag in the wastebasket.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

I know I am only a pre-med but I am non-traditional so I do have some experience with these establishments (actually think this experience helped me get accepted to med school). If you are one of those vegetarians that eats chicken I would say Qdoba, with their "take 2" menu you can essentially get 4 chicken tacos for less than the price of three at normal price. If strictly vegetarian though I would have to say Chipotle.

Of course I'm only a premed so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

 

[pingouin]

Ultimately, if you just want to eat something wrapped in a tortilla you could do just fine at your local Taco Bell. There's no need to put in the effort on a trendy designer burrito. Your future patients won't care about the name on the bag in the wastebasket.

But when I say I'm going to Chipotle or Qdoba, people want to go with me, be around me. I don't get that response when I run up to Subway.

 

[Doc Samson]

You have to take into account the quality of the other people that you'll be spending lunch with. Your co-diners will contribute a lot to your experience. From this perspective, I'd say that Chipotle has the most to offer.

 

[digitlnoize]

There are some excellent "alternative" restaurants you should consider. For example, I went with DQ and haven't looked back. You could also consider some of the great Carribean options, if you eat fish.

If you're sticking with sandwich places, then Quiznos or Jason's Deli FTW.

My best advice is to go with the cheapest place in your state. But also consider things like parking, traffic, how long you'll have to wait in line, and whether the place has plenty of attractive single people. Also, does it serve alcohol? I know Chipotle does...

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

There are some excellent "alternative" restaurants you should consider. For example, I went with DQ and haven't looked back. You could also consider some of the great Carribean options, if you eat fish.

If you're sticking with sandwich places, then Quiznos or Jason's Deli FTW.

My best advice is to go with the cheapest place in your state. But also consider things like parking, traffic, how long you'll have to wait in line, and whether the place has plenty of attractive single people. Also, does it serve alcohol? I know Chipotle does...

Hooters is probably better for that, but even the worst Hooters are hard to get into. I have heard that if you are good enough to get into Hooters, you can go pretty much wherever you want, as they only accept people with big numbers and top reviews. It is very much a "lifestyle" choice.

 

[loveoforganic]

Chipotle serves alcohol, and thus comes across to me as one of the more "community-oriented feel good" dining establishments.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Chipotle serves alcohol, and thus comes across to me as one of the more "community-oriented feel good" dining establishments.

They need to soften up the decor a bit before they deserve that label. All that sheet metal and hard chairs....

(BTW, billyp--I'm holding this thread responsible for the 2 lb burrito I ended up eating for lunch today! Went and cancelled out my first outdoor run of the year...)

 

[Daedra22]

Chipotle serves alcohol, and thus comes across to me as one of the more "community-oriented feel good" dining establishments.

I think it's important to remember that people who go to chipotle have a much harder time finding dessert, while subway has cookies right in the store. You can't beat those post-lunch options.

 

[pingouin]

I think it's important to remember that people who go to chipotle have a much harder time finding dessert, while subway has cookies right in the store. You can't beat those post-lunch options.

Disagree. I live in a college town (no Qdoba here 🙁 ) and we have 2 Chipotles. One is next door to Baskin Robbins, and the other is less than a block from Coldstone Creamery. Those Subway cookies don't even hold a candle to the amenities Chipotle has to offer.

 

[surftheiop]

You have to take into account the quality of the other people that you'll be spending lunch with. Your co-diners will contribute a lot to your experience. From this perspective, I'd say that Chipotle has the most to offer.

 

[MossPoh]

Our Chipotle is next door to one of those new hip frozen yogurt joints which is right next to Jersey Mike's subs and then behind all of that is a Ruby Tuesday, Starbucks, Whataburger, and "Hip Hop Fish and Chicken" with a pizza place on the other side. It is the ultimate in fulfilling all your needs at once.

 

[Cinnameg]

Our Chipotle is next door to one of those new hip frozen yogurt joints which is right next to Jersey Mike's subs and then behind all of that is a Ruby Tuesday, Starbucks, Whataburger, and "Hip Hop Fish and Chicken" with a pizza place on the other side. It is the ultimate in fulfilling all your needs at once.

I think you're weighing location too heavily in your decision; remember that the restaurant you are actually going to is where your nutrition is going to come from, and where your social group is going to be.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

I think you're weighing location too heavily in your decision; remember that the restaurant you are actually going to is where your nutrition is going to come from, and where your social group is going to be.

Not necessarily--I went to Jimmy John's for lunch, but we had to rotate through Starbucks for our coffee requirements. One of my lunching friends ultimately ended up marrying the barista there, so it can be good to have access to varied options near your preferred lunch spot.

 

[Suedehead]

I remember Subway's whole add campaign about how Jared lost all that weight, etc, etc. so judgmental/conservative. It was almost religious. I'd NEVER go to place that tried to push those values on me.

😛