Some sub shops trade on slick branding. The Whole Darn Thing trades on a counter, a dry-erase order pad, and several decades of regulars who already know their number by heart. Tucked at 899 Market Street in Meadville, Pennsylvania, this family-owned, counter-serve sandwich shop has built a loyal Crawford County following on a deceptively simple promise: a long roster of hot and cold subs, fresh-sliced meats, and prices that still feel like a throwback. With a Google rating hovering around 4.6 stars across 700-plus reviews, it is one of the most beloved sandwich stops in the region, and the kind of place where “the whole darn thing” is both the name and a fair description of how full you will leave.
This guide walks through the menu as we found it across the shop’s listings and ordering platforms. Independent sub shops adjust their boards often, so treat the figures here as a recent snapshot rather than a contract, and call ahead for catering, seasonal soups, or anything you want to be sure of.
Menu Overview
The Whole Darn Thing is, at heart, a sub specialist. The menu reads like a numbered greatest-hits list of cold and hot subs, with the famous “build it yourself” twist: you fill out a paper or dry-erase order form, hand it across the counter, and watch your sandwich come together. Beyond the core sub lineup, the shop branches into gyros, steak subs, combo specials with chips and a drink, catering trays for a crowd, and a rotating weekday soup schedule that kicks in during the colder months. Portions and pricing are built around two ideas Meadville locals repeat often: lots of options, and genuinely friendly prices.
- Cold subs: the deep bench, from chopped ham and cheese to Italian-style stacks.
- Hot subs: meatball, sausage, hot combos, gyros, and steak subs.
- Specialty clubs: named builds like Jack’s Club, the Rodeo Club, and the Reuben.
- Combo specials: a half (or smaller) sub paired with chips and a drink.
- Catering and trays: full-size subs and meat-and-cheese trays for groups.
- Seasonal soups: a different soup each weekday, typically from October onward.
Menu Categories & Highlights
Cold Subs
This is the heart of the operation, and the variety is the draw. Classics include the Chopped Ham and Cheese, Chopped Ham, Salami and Cheese, and Boiled Ham, Salami and Cheese, alongside a Pepperoni and Cheese and a straightforward Cheese Sub for the vegetarians at the table. Heartier stacks step up the meat count: the Super Sub, the Italian Super Sub, Turkey, Ham and Cheese, and Roast Beef, Turkey, Pepperoni and Cheese. There are also deli-counter staples like Tuna and Cheese, Chicken Salad, Corned Beef and Swiss, and a Seafood Sub.
Hot Subs
The hot side leans into comfort. The Hot Meatball Sub is the one reviewers single out most, praised for tender meatballs and a generous sauce-to-bread ratio. It is joined by the Hot Sausage Sub and a Hot Combo that folds meatball, sausage, and cheese into one sandwich. Steak Subs and Gyros round out the warm offerings.
Specialty Clubs & Named Builds
Several subs carry their own personalities. Jack’s Club layers bacon, turkey, baked ham, and cheese; the Rodeo Club Sub goes roast beef, cheddar, and bacon; the Blaze combines baked ham, roast beef, and cheese; and the Perkey Turkey pairs turkey with hot pepper cheese and pepperoni. There is a proper Reuben, too, with corned beef, Swiss, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island, plus a Turkey Club and a Pizza Sub for the kids (and the kids at heart).
Combos, Catering & Soups
Combo specials pair a smaller sub with chips and a drink for a quick lunch. For groups, the catering menu offers full-length subs and meat-and-cheese trays. From roughly October onward, the shop runs a weekday soup rotation, with options like broccoli and cheese, mushroom and wild rice, chicken pot pie, Wisconsin cheese and cauliflower, and chicken noodle.
Featured / Signature Dishes
- The Italian (Italian Super Sub): the shop’s defining order and a frequent “best value” pick among regulars, packed with cured meats and cheese.
- Hot Meatball Sub: the most consistently praised hot sandwich, noted for tender meatballs and balanced sauce.
- Jack’s Club: a fan-favorite stack of bacon, turkey, baked ham, and cheese.
- Reuben: a classic done right with corned beef, Swiss, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island.
- Gyros: a popular departure from the sub lineup for anyone wanting something a little different.
Prices (note: prices may change)
The Whole Darn Thing is known locally for being easy on the wallet, with most subs starting in the low-to-mid single digits and scaling up by size. The figures below reflect recent listings and starting (“from”) prices; menus and prices change over time, so confirm current pricing in store or by phone.
| Item | Approx. price (from) |
|---|---|
| Cheese Sub | $3.15+ |
| Chopped Ham and Cheese | $3.43+ |
| Pepperoni and Cheese | $3.43+ |
| Hot Meatball Sub | $3.72+ |
| Hot Combo (Meatball, Sausage, Cheese) | $3.72+ |
| Capicola, Salami and Cheese | $3.80+ |
| Super Sub | $3.95+ |
| Italian Super Sub | $3.95+ |
| Reuben | $3.95+ |
| Roast Beef and Cheese Sub | $3.95+ |
| Steak Subs | $4.19+ |
| Rodeo Club Sub | $4.50+ |
| Gyros | $5.56 |
| Combo Specials (sub, chips, drink) | $3.75+ |
| Seasonal Soups (per cup) | $1.75+ |
| Meat & Cheese Tray (four meats, two cheeses) | $35.00+ |
Catering subs are listed separately at full-tray pricing, generally in the $11 to $15+ range per sub depending on the build. Because this is an independent shop, prices and exact size options can vary; the starting prices above are a guide, not a guarantee.
Restaurant Information (location, hours, contact)
- Address: 899 Market St, Meadville, PA 16335
- Phone: (814) 724-5016 (a secondary number, (814) 337-8850, also appears on some listings; call to confirm)
- Style: family-owned, counter-serve sub shop with takeout; online ordering available via Clover
Hours (confirm before visiting):
- Monday: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday – Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Hours can shift around holidays and seasons, and reviewers have occasionally noted that phones get busy in the evening rush, so it is worth calling ahead for large or catering orders.
Popular Customer Favorites
Across reviews and local word of mouth, a few orders come up again and again. The Italian-style subs are the signature, prized for the value and the generous pile of cured meats and cheese. The Hot Meatball Sub is the comfort-food favorite, with regulars praising both the meatballs and the sauce. Beyond specific sandwiches, customers consistently highlight three things: the sheer number of options on the board, the speed and friendliness of the counter service, and the satisfying, fill-you-up portions that gave the shop its name. The interactive order form, where you mark your build and watch it assembled, is part of the charm that keeps locals coming back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Whole Darn Thing located?
The shop is at 899 Market St, Meadville, PA 16335, serving the greater Meadville and Crawford County area as a counter-serve, family-owned sub shop with takeout and online ordering.
What is The Whole Darn Thing known for?
It is best known for its long list of hot and cold subs, fresh-sliced meats, and friendly prices, with the Italian-style subs and the Hot Meatball Sub among the most popular orders. The hands-on order form, where you mark your own sandwich build, is a signature part of the experience.
Does The Whole Darn Thing offer catering?
Yes. The menu includes catering subs sold at full-tray pricing and meat-and-cheese trays for groups. For large orders, it is best to call ahead, since the shop is independently run and the kitchen gets busy during peak hours.
Are prices and menu items accurate?
The items and prices here reflect recent listings and starting prices, but independent shops update their boards regularly. Menus and prices may change over time, so confirm current details in store or by phone before ordering.
What are the hours?
Recent listings show Monday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours can vary around holidays, so call (814) 724-5016 to confirm.
Hungry for more? Browse more menus, dig into our food guides, or explore the full Restaurant Menus collection.
Last updated: June 2026.
