Firehouse Pepperoni Pizza Meatball Sub

Today, we are reviewing the Firehouse Subs’ Pepperoni Pizza Meatball Sub. Firehouse Subs describes this as a mashup between a pepperoni pizza and a meatball sub. The Pepperoni Pizza Meatball Sub is essentially an extension of Firehouse’s popular Meatball Sub, with a key difference: it is topped with pepperoni and extra cheese, all on a toasted garlic bun. Originally introduced as a limited-time offering in 2021, this sub has made several returns and is now a regular item on the menu.

Founded in 1994 by former firefighters Chris and Robin Sorensen, Firehouse Subs has expanded to over 1,210 restaurants in 46 states. Today, it is a subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International, which also owns the chains Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons.

The Construction

For the most part, the Pepperoni Pizza Meatball Sub was ordered with the standard options. The garlic bread was the one customized item. Firehouse Subs are usually toasted, and in this case, I selected extra toasting. The large (footlong) option was selected, but actually measured out to 11 1/2 inches. At just under 1 1/2 lbs, this was a heavy sandwich.

Meatballs (Pork/Beef) (Default)
Garlic Roll (Extra Toasted)
Melted Provolone(Default)
Marinara Sauce (Default)
Toasted Garlic Roll (Default)
Pepperoni (Default)
Italian Seasonings (Default)
Size: Large
Length: 11 1/2″
Weight: 1.44 lbs
Sandwiches Eaten: 2
Location: Indian Trail, NC
Price: $14.99

The Experience

In the future, our new component breakdown will always include cheese as a condiment. For the Pepperoni Pizza Meatball Sub, the pepperoni, sauce, and Italian seasonings were scored as condiments.

Meatball 4 points
Bread: 2 points
Condiments: 2 points
Intangibles: 2 points

Meatball

The meatball component is the heart of the Pepperoni Pizza Meatball Sub. The meatballs are made from a blend of ground pork and beef, combined with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and Romano cheeses, along with various seasonings and additives. They were flavorful. One aspect I appreciate about a good meatball is having a nice crust on the outside, but unfortunately, these didn’t have that.

Score 2.25 points out of 4.00 points

Bread

The bread for the pepperoni sub is sliced along the top instead of the sides, similar to a New England-style hot dog roll. While I’m not certain if this method increases capacity, it does allow for a more pronounced toasting effect on the sub.

This wasn’t a bad roll. As mentioned, I had gotten extra toasting, and I do think the roll could have been toasted even more. This was still a light and airy roll with a decent crust.

Score 1.00 points out of 2.00 points

Condiments

Overall, the condiments stood out nicely with the pepperoni. Let’s take each of the condiments of the Pepperoni Pizza Meatball Sub one by one:

Marinara Sauce: This had a slight sweetness, similar to a pizza sauce. Overall, this was flavorful.
Provolone Cheese: I would have preferred mozzarella cheese, but the provolone exceeded my expectations. This milder provolone cheese added a nice creaminess when melted.
Pepperoni: This had a nice spice component. I like that these are bigger than standard pepperoni stick slices.
Italian Seasoning: This was the “secret sauce.” It seemed oregano-based, and it was pretty good.

Score: 1.50 points out of 2.00 points

Intangibles

One important aspect I always consider is whether the overall experience surpasses the individual components. With the Pepperoni Pizza Meatball Sub, I can confidently say it does. The condiments play a significant role in enhancing the overall sandwich experience. As mentioned earlier, the Italian seasoning is a crucial ingredient and a substantial reason for its outstanding flavor.

The sandwich had a generous amount of weight to it, and when combined with the light, airy bread, it ended up being somewhat messy. On the positive side, the condiments were well-balanced, creating a nice harmony of flavors. The ingredients all balanced each other nicely.

Score: 1.50 points out of 2.00 points

OVERALL EXPERIENCE

As I mentioned earlier, the overall experience of this cigar goes beyond just individual elements. While I wouldn’t say it tastes precisely like pepperoni pizza—mainly due to the use of Provolone cheese—it’s clear that the combination of pepperoni and Italian seasonings adds a nice touch. This sandwich delivered a good, satisfying meatball sub. Although it’s not perfect, it still hits the mark. Priced at $14.99, it’s a bit on the pricey side, but there’s certainly a decent amount of sandwich to enjoy. Regardless, this is something I would be happy to have again.