Review: Arby's - Loaded Italian Sub

Arby's Loaded Italian sub comes “loaded” with ham,  pepperoni, salami, banana peppers, red onion, tomato, and lettuce topped with Swiss cheese, a red wine vinaigrette, and garlic aioli, all on a toasted Italian roll.

I got one for $4.99.

Arby's latest (and possibly greatest) slogan is “We Have the Meats” so let’s start there. The ham, salami, and pepperoni all provided their unique flavors to the heart of the sandwich. There wasn't an overwhelming amount of meat like the name might imply, but I was full when it was over.

The red wine vinaigrette and garlic aioli were a great combination. The aioli was creamy and herby, while the vinaigrette added a bit of sweetness and tang to every bite. The other standout on the Loaded Italian were the banana peppers. They were sparse, but thick, and packed a light, sour bite. Their contributions to overall texture and flavor of the sandwich were crucial.

I was a little perplexed as to why Arby’s chose Swiss cheese for this sandwich instead of provolone, but it didn’t feel out of place. It melted in with the lettuce and other produce and really just served to keep them together at the bottom. Speaking of produce, it was a major non-factor on my Loaded Italian. I had to check to make sure onions were actually on the sandwich. They were, but I just couldn’t taste them. The tomato provided a light flavor, but was also mostly lost under the flavor of the condiments and stronger ingredients.

The Italian roll was soft and chewy. I was glad to see it hold up well, even with the vinaigrette on it. It was definitely warm when I got it but it had no crispiness to it, so I’m not sure if I could say it was quite “toasted.”

Overall, I enjoyed Arby's Loaded Italian sub. It hits the most important marks for making a good Italian sandwich. I would have liked some stronger produce, specifically onions, but that could have just been a case of my store not using the freshest ingredients.

By Darius.

Nutritional Info - Arby's Loaded Italian sub
Calories - 630 (from Fat - 320)
Fat - 36g (Saturated Fat - 12g)
Sodium - 2470mg
Carbs - 27g (Sugars - 5g)
Protein - 31g