to plan your catering
Jersey Mike’s Subs has grown into one of the largest US sub-shop systems on a simple promise: bake the sub rolls in-store every day, slice the meats and cheeses to order on each sandwich, and finish every sub Mike’s Way with a signature olive oil and red wine vinegar blend. That positioning carries over to the catering menu unchanged. Even on a 50-sub catering order, every sub is built individually, not assembled off a cold-cut line. Jersey Mike’s catering covers Subs by the Box (the shared format), per-person Box Lunches, dessert and cookie platters, the Sub in a Tub format for low-carb eaters, and Gluten-Free Roll options at participating locations, with mini, regular, and giant sub sizes available depending on the format.
Founded in 1956 in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, the original shop became Mike’s Subs and then Jersey Mike’s after Peter Cancro (then 17) bought it in 1975 with a loan co-signed by his high-school football coach. The slicing-to-order practice and the Mike’s Way recipe date to those early years. The chain runs an annual Day of Giving every March that donates 100 percent of one day’s sales to a list of local charities.
Origin Story
Jersey Mike’s began in 1956 as Mike’s Subs, a small shop in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, and one of the first places in the country to sell the submarine sandwich. In 1975, a 17-year-old named Peter Cancro bought the shop with help from his football coach, who was also a banker. By 1987, Peter had started franchising and renamed the business Jersey Mike’s Subs to reflect its New Jersey origins.
Two details from the early years still shape the catering experience: slicing meats and cheeses to order for each sub rather than pre-slicing in bulk, and “Mike’s Way,” a standardized set of condiments (onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and a signature olive oil, red wine vinegar, and spice blend) that keeps large orders consistent from the first sub to the fiftieth.
What Makes Jersey Mike’s a Good Fit for Office Catering
Three things set Jersey Mike’s apart for an office order. Slicing to order means no sub arrives with meat that’s been sitting out. Sub rolls are baked in-store, which matters more on a tray of twenty than on a single sandwich. And “Mike’s Way” keeps flavor consistent across recurring orders. That matters when you’re coordinating weekly office meals and can’t afford vendor drift.
Bread that was baked at 6 a.m. and sliced at noon eats noticeably differently from a roll that arrived par-baked and reheated. On a 50-sub catering order, the difference shows up. The numbered menu compounds the effect: every wrapper has the sub number stamped on it, which removes the “which one is the veggie” hunt that turns a 20-person sandwich order into a logistics moment.
The chain also runs an annual Day of Giving every March that donates 100 percent of one day’s sales to a list of local charities, which fits offices that want a values component in their meal program.
Menu Highlights
- Classic Cold Subs. Freshly sliced meats and cheeses prepared “Mike’s Way.” Italian-style options lean on salami, ham, and provolone; American-style pairs turkey or roast beef with American cheese.
- Hot Subs. Grilled subs including cheesesteak preparations and hot chicken options, a warm alternative when the office wants something heartier than cold cuts.
- Individually Boxed Lunches. Each box includes a sub, chips, and a cookie. Ideal for sales kickoffs, training sessions, and any event where attendees need to grab and go.
- Sub Trays and Boxes. Full-size subs cut into individually wrapped pieces for sharing. Designed for team meetings where variety matters and one order feeds many.
- Sub in a Tub. A low-carb bowl format. Sub toppings served over greens instead of bread. Useful when attendees ask for gluten-free, keto-friendly, or lighter options.
- Sides and Desserts. Assorted chips, freshly baked cookies, and brownies round out the order.
Sub Sizes Available
Jersey Mike’s runs three core sub sizes, each available across the cold and hot menus. Catering formats use specific sizes by default but most can be customized.
| Size | Approximate Length | Catering Default |
|---|---|---|
| Mini | About five inches | Mini Box Lunches |
| Regular | About seven inches | Regular Box Lunches |
| Giant | About fourteen inches | Subs by the Box (cut and wrapped into portions) |
| Wrap | Tortilla wrap with sub contents inside | Substitute on Box Lunches where the roll isn’t the right fit |
Numbered Subs Available for Catering
Jersey Mike’s menu is numbered, which simplifies a 75-sub catering order. The full numbered list runs into the dozens, but a handful of subs do most of the office work. The shortlist below pulls the most-ordered cold subs, hot subs, and the plant-based option, in numerical order.
Cold Subs (Sliced to Order)
| Number | Sub | Build |
|---|---|---|
| #2 | Jersey Shore’s Favorite | Provolone, ham, and cappacuolo, sliced to order |
| #3 | Ham and Provolone | Classic ham-and-cheese on fresh-baked bread |
| #5 | Super Sub | Provolone, ham, and prosciuttino sliced to order, Mike’s Way |
| #6 | Roast Beef and Provolone | Top-round roast beef sliced to order with provolone |
| #7 | Turkey and Provolone | Oven-roasted turkey breast sliced to order with provolone |
| #8 | Club Sub | Turkey, applewood-smoked bacon, mayo |
| #9 | Club Supreme | Roast beef, turkey, provolone, applewood-smoked bacon, mayo |
| #12 | Cancro Special | Provolone, prosciuttino, and cappacuolo (named after founder Peter Cancro) |
| #13 | The Original Italian | Provolone, ham, prosciuttino, cappacuolo, salami, and pepperoni (the signature) |
| #14 | The Veggie | Provolone and Swiss with lettuce, tomato, onion, and Mike’s Way finish (vegetarian) |
Hot Subs (Grilled to Order)
| Number | Sub | Build |
|---|---|---|
| #17 | Mike’s Famous Philly | Thinly sliced steak, grilled onions, peppers, white American cheese |
| #26 | Bacon Ranch Chicken Cheese Steak | Grilled chicken, bacon, ranch, white American cheese |
| #42 | Chipotle Chicken Cheese Steak | Grilled chicken, chipotle mayo, lettuce, tomato, white American cheese |
| #43 | Chipotle Cheese Steak | Steak, chipotle mayo, lettuce, tomato, white American cheese |
| #55 | Big Kahuna Chicken Cheese Steak | Grilled chicken, mushrooms, onions, peppers, jalapenos, extra cheese |
| #56 | Big Kahuna Cheese Steak | Steak, mushrooms, onions, peppers, jalapenos, extra white American cheese |
| Meatball | Meatball and Cheese | House meatballs in marinara with melted provolone |
What makes the numbered system work at catering scale: when the office orders 75 subs across four varieties, every wrapper has the sub number stamped on it. That removes the “which one is the veggie” hunt that turns a 20-person sub order into a logistics moment. Distributed teams that drop a Box Lunch off at each person’s desk can rely on the number on the box rather than rewriting names by hand.
Mike’s Way: What It Is and How to Use It at Scale
Mike’s Way is the signature Jersey Mike’s finish. It applies to any sub (hot or cold) at no extra cost and consists of: onions, lettuce, tomatoes, the Jersey Mike’s olive oil and red wine vinegar blend, plus oregano and the house spices.
For catering, Mike’s Way is the standardization mechanism. Without it, a 50-sub order can drift on flavor depending on which staffer assembles which sub. With it, every sub gets the same finish in roughly the same proportion, which keeps the spread tasting consistent box to box. The oil and vinegar in particular keep the bread from drying out on the drive from the store to the office.
| Catering Use Case | Mike’s Way Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Subs by the Box (shared spread) | Order Mike’s Way on most subs; the spread tastes more cohesive when the finish is consistent |
| Box Lunches (per-person) | Order Mike’s Way for known eaters; request oil and vinegar packets on the side for clients or attendees with strong preferences |
| Long delivery (over 45 minutes) | Ask for “Mike’s Way on the side” so the bread doesn’t soak through; attendees apply at the office |
| Mixed-dietary table (vegan, low-FODMAP) | Hold the onions on flagged subs and put oil and vinegar on the side; the rest of the Mike’s Way finish is plant-based |
| Hot subs (Philly, Big Kahuna) | Mike’s Way is optional on hot subs; many catering orders skip it on the cheesesteaks to keep the bread from going soggy |
A note on the bread: Jersey Mike’s bakes the sub rolls in-store every day from dough delivered fresh. That’s the second moat at catering scale. Bread baked at 6 a.m. and sliced at noon eats noticeably differently from a roll that arrived par-baked and reheated, and on a 50-sub order the difference shows up.
Sides, Desserts, Drinks & Add-Ons
| Add-On | Format | Best With |
|---|---|---|
| Cookie Tray | Tray of about a dozen fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies | Subs by the Box, afternoon meetings |
| Brownie Platter | Tray of brownies cut into portions | All-day events, training sessions, dessert spread |
| Lay’s Chip Bags | Individual bags, Classic plus other varieties | Subs by the Box (loose), Box Lunches (included) |
| Bottled Water | Per bottle | Any order, hybrid drop-offs |
| 20-oz Pepsi Products | Per bottle (Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist, lemonade) | Box Lunches, single-serve preference |
| Mike’s Way On The Side | Oil, vinegar, oregano, and spices on the side instead of pre-applied | Long delivery routes, client-facing events where attendees finish their own subs |
| Extra Provolone or Meat | Per-sub upgrade | Executive boxes, hungrier teams |
Tip: the cookies are a low-cost, high-impact add-on. Office events that include a Cookie Tray alongside Subs by the Box tend to read as “someone planned this” rather than “someone ordered chain sandwiches.”
Who It’s Ideal For
Jersey Mike’s catering is a good fit when:
- You want a sub that doesn’t taste like a chain, even at catering scale
- The team has eaten Subway too many times and wants a real Italian-style sub spread
- You need individually packed Box Lunches for hybrid or distributed teams
- The event is a casual all-hands, training session, or working lunch where hearty portions matter
- Your office wants the numbered-sub system so a 75-person order is logistically clean
- Your company values an annual giving component and the Day of Giving fits your program
- You want fresh-baked bread and sliced-to-order meats, period
Consider a different option when:
- You’re hosting clients, investors, or executives and need a polished, plated experience
- The event calls for hot entrees beyond cold cuts and grilled cheesesteaks
- You’re running a recurring weekly meal program and want menu variety across the week
- The delivery is a long drive and the cheesesteaks will cool by arrival
- Your team has strict allergen-restricted eaters who can’t risk shared-prep cross-contact
- You need catering with onsite staff, setup, and active cleanup
- Budget is the single biggest constraint and a lower-tier sub chain will do
How to Order Jersey Mike’s Catering
Jersey Mike’s catering runs through a dedicated catering portal, separate from the standard online ordering flow. The sequence:
- Go to the Jersey Mike’s catering portal. The catering link is in the main navigation on jerseymikes.com, or you can open the Jersey Mike’s app and switch to the catering tab. The catering flow uses a different cart and lead-time logic than standard sub ordering.
- Enter your delivery address or pickup ZIP. The portal checks which catering-enabled Jersey Mike’s locations serve your area. Not every location offers every format, so the menu adjusts based on the location it routes you to.
- Pick your date and time window. Standard lead time is at least 24 hours. Earlier slots may be available for smaller orders, and the portal will show the earliest available delivery window for your address.
- Build your order. Choose between Subs by the Box (pick up to four sub varieties per box), Box Lunches (pick mini or regular tier, then choose subs by number), Sub in a Tub Boxes, dessert trays, and beverages.
- Apply Mike’s Way. For each sub or box, choose Mike’s Way (the default for most catering), Mike’s Way on the side, or specific topping customizations.
- Add logistics notes. For delivery orders, add building access notes, floor or suite number, and a contact phone number. The driver typically delivers to lobby or front desk; setup is not included.
- Check out. Most locations accept credit cards through the portal. Some Jersey Mike’s franchisees support corporate invoicing for recurring orders, particularly for repeat customers; ask the location directly.
What’s included: Jersey Mike’s catering orders typically come with napkins, plates, and condiment packets where applicable. Subs by the Box arrive pre-sliced and individually wrapped with sub numbers on the wrappers. Box Lunches arrive packed and labeled. Setup is not included; the driver drops the order at the front desk and leaves.
For a streamlined experience across many caterers, order through Zerocater. Jersey Mike’s on Zerocater shows the catering menu alongside hundreds of other vetted caterers in one place, which is useful when you’re comparing formats, rotating vendors week to week, or consolidating an ongoing meal program onto one invoice.
Delivery, Pickup & Lead Times
| Detail | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Delivery Fee | Modest fee, scaled by distance and order size; varies by location and franchise |
| Pickup | Free; available at any catering-enabled Jersey Mike’s |
| Lead Time | 24 hours standard; 2–3 days recommended for events of fifty or more |
| Same-Day Orders | Often available for smaller jobs when capacity allows, especially if you call before late morning |
| Delivery Hours | Varies by location; typically mid-morning through early evening |
| Serving Supplies | Napkins, plates, condiment packets; oil and vinegar packets on request |
| Setup | Not included; drop-off to lobby or front desk, attendees self-serve |
| Heat Retention | Hot subs (Philly, Big Kahuna) hold for a short delivery; for longer routes, request the hot subs at the end of the order so they arrive freshest |
| Order Format on Arrival | Subs by the Box: branded box with wrapped portions, sub numbers visible. Box Lunches: branded boxes labeled by sub variety |
Note on franchise variability: Jersey Mike’s is a franchise system. Delivery radius, exact fee structure, the availability of half boxes and Gluten-Free Rolls, and the cookie-vs-brownie default can differ between two locations across the same city. For recurring orders, identify a catering-enabled location near your office that you’ve had a clean experience with and stick with that store.
Pros and Cons of Jersey Mike’s Catering
What Works Well
- Sliced to order on every sub, even at catering scale. Most national sub chains pre-slice meats and cheeses in bulk and assemble off a cold-cut line. Jersey Mike’s slices each meat and cheese on the slicer for each sub, even on a 50-sub catering order. The texture and freshness difference shows up when the box gets to the office.
- Fresh-baked bread in store every day. The sub rolls are baked in the back of the house, not par-baked and reheated. That changes how the bread eats two hours after the order leaves the store.
- The numbered menu standardizes a large order. When the office orders 75 subs across four varieties, every wrapper has the sub number on it. That removes the “which is the veggie” hunt at the table.
- Mike’s Way is a flavor-consistency mechanism. The signature finish (oil, vinegar, oregano, spices) keeps a 50-sub order from drifting flavor box to box, which is hard to control at any chain that doesn’t have a standardized finish.
- Strong Box Lunch format. The per-person boxes are labeled, sealed, and packed clean. For hybrid teams or training rooms where attendees grab and go, this is one of the cleanest formats in the chain category.
- Italian-style cold subs. The #13 Original Italian, #2 Jersey Shore’s Favorite, and #12 Cancro Special are step-up Italian-style sandwiches that most other national chains can’t match.
- Charitable angle. The annual Day of Giving in March donates 100 percent of one day’s sales to local charities, which is a values component most national chains don’t have.
- Gluten-Free Roll, Sub in a Tub, and Veggie cover dietary outliers. Three real options rather than vague “we can hold the bread” promises.
What Falls Short
- Higher per-person price than Subway. Jersey Mike’s sits at the premium end of the national sandwich-chain tier. For strictly cost-driven orders, it’s not the cheapest option.
- Cheesesteaks don’t travel as well as cold subs. The Philly and Big Kahuna are excellent in-store. After 30 minutes in a delivery bag they cool and the bread softens. For long delivery routes, lean on cold subs and reserve hot subs for short drives.
- No onsite staff or setup. Catering is drop-and-go. For client-facing events or executive lunches, you arrange your own setup, refresh, and cleanup.
- Cross-contact allergen risk on shared assembly. Subs are built on shared prep surfaces. For strict allergen-restricted eaters, order individually packed Box Lunches and confirm prep practices with the specific location.
- Gluten-Free Roll availability is not universal. Some franchisees stock it, others do not. Confirm before planning around it for celiac attendees.
- Recurring-order fatigue. Jersey Mike’s is broader and higher-quality than most chain sub options, but it’s still a sub chain. Offices that order it weekly tend to plateau within a month or two and start asking for variety across the meal program.
- Quality varies by franchise. Two Jersey Mike’s locations in the same metro can deliver materially different experiences. Slicer technique, bread freshness, and order accuracy depend on the operator.
- Premium Italian build means heavy salt and cured meats. The #13 Original Italian, #5 Super Sub, and #12 Cancro Special are not light. For health-forward office programs, lean on #7 Turkey & Provolone, #14 The Veggie, or the Sub in a Tub format.
Jersey Mike’s vs. Other Sandwich Chains
Sandwich catering has more contenders every year. Here’s how Jersey Mike’s stacks up against the three most-compared national alternatives for office orders.
| Feature | Jersey Mike’s | Subway | Firehouse Subs | Jimmy John’s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price Tier | Premium | Low | Moderate | Low to moderate |
| Bread Quality | Fresh-baked daily in store | Par-baked, reheated | Par-baked, reheated | Fresh-baked daily in store |
| Meat Prep | Sliced to order on every sub | Pre-sliced in bulk | Pre-sliced; steam-cooked | Hand-sliced in store |
| Italian-Style Subs | Signature strength (Original Italian, Cancro Special) | Available, not signature | Available (Italian hot sub) | Italian Night Club, Pepe |
| Hot Subs at Scale | Grilled cheesesteaks, hot chicken | Limited (meatball, chicken) | Yes (steamed signature) | Cold-first menu |
| Box Lunch Program | Mini and regular tiers, GF and Sub in a Tub options | Yes (Fresh Fit) | Multi-tier (Rookie, Lieutenant) | Yes |
| Shared Format | Subs by the Box (numbered, wrapped) | Giant Subs and platters | Standard and Deluxe Sub Platters | Box of Sandwiches |
| Lead Time | 24 hours standard; same-day workable | 24 hours standard | 24 hours standard | Fast turn available |
| Charitable Component | Day of Giving (annual, 100% of one day’s sales) | No major program | Public Safety Foundation | No major program |
Subway is the budget choice. Lower per-person price, the highest US location density of any catering chain, and a cleaner fit for offices that order subs weekly. Read our full Subway catering guide for a side-by-side comparison.
Firehouse Subs is the hot-sub specialist. Steam-cooked meats and cheeses on the sub give a hot, melted character that no other major chain matches, particularly on short delivery routes. Read our Firehouse Subs catering guide for the format breakdown.
Jimmy John’s is built for speed and giant cold subs. Fewer formats, tighter menu, but very fast turnarounds when sandwiches need to land same-day.
Jersey Mike’s and Zerocater
Jersey Mike’s is part of Zerocater’s network of hundreds of vetted catering partners. Zerocater pairs teams with the right caterer for each event, handles delivery logistics, and provides ongoing support. Mix Jersey Mike’s with complementary caterers for variety across the week.
Offices rotate sub catering with Italian, Mediterranean, and BBQ menus to keep lineups fresh. Browse the Italian catering directory for nearby partners that pair naturally with Jersey Mike’s Italian-style subs and match it on fresh-baked bread and sliced-to-order meats. For help choosing between a sub spread and a hot buffet, the boxed lunch vs. buffet guide covers when each format works best.
Planning an event and not sure which menu fits? CaterAi builds custom menus based on your headcount, budget, dietary needs, and date. Chat with CaterAi to adjust items, add onsite staff or decor, and check out in minutes. For recurring meal programs, our corporate catering solution handles vendor rotation and delivery without requiring you to re-order each week.
Comparing brand options? Read our deep dives on Subway catering, Firehouse Subs catering, McAlister’s Deli catering, Panera catering, and Chipotle catering. For the boxed-lunch cluster, see boxed lunches for hybrid & distributed teams, allergy-safe individually packaged boxed lunches, catering for mixed dietary needs, and ordering catering as an office manager.
For city-specific caterer recommendations, browse the best corporate event catering in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Dallas, and Denver. For office cost planning by metro, see our LA cost guide, Chicago cost guide, NYC cost guide, and SF cost guide.
Menus, pricing, and availability vary by location and change over time. For the current Jersey Mike’s catering menu and a live quote in your area, check Jersey Mike’s on Zerocater.
Plan Your Office Catering with CaterAi
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Jersey Mike’s catering priced?
Jersey Mike’s catering is priced by format. Subs by the Box (the flagship shared format) is priced per box and feeds about a dozen people, with four sub varieties cut into wrapped portions. Box Lunches are priced per person, with a mini-sub tier and a regular-sub tier; each box includes chips and a cookie. Gluten-Free Roll boxes are priced slightly higher than the standard tier. Cookie trays, brownie platters, and bottled drinks are priced per item. Pricing varies by location, so check the catering portal for your nearest Jersey Mike’s for a live quote.
What is the minimum order for Jersey Mike’s catering?
Most Jersey Mike’s locations set a modest minimum for catering, typically around one Subs by the Box or a small Box Lunch set. Delivery orders may have a higher floor than pickup, and a small delivery fee applies. Specific thresholds vary by franchise, so confirm with the location nearest your office before planning a small-headcount order.
How far in advance should I order Jersey Mike’s catering?
Plan on at least 24 hours of notice for catering, though many locations can fulfill smaller same-day orders if you call before late morning. For all-hands events of fifty or more, order two to three days ahead so the location can stock the right volume of meats, cheeses, and fresh-baked rolls. The catering portal shows the earliest available delivery slot for your address.
What does “Mike’s Way” actually include?
Mike’s Way is the signature Jersey Mike’s finish: onions, lettuce, tomatoes, the Jersey Mike’s olive oil and red wine vinegar blend, plus oregano and the house spices. It’s free, available on any sub (hot or cold), and is the reason a 50-sub catering order tastes consistent box to box rather than drifting by which staffer assembled which sub. For Box Lunches with mixed dietary preferences, you can request the oil and vinegar packets on the side so each person finishes their own sub.
Can Jersey Mike’s accommodate gluten-free, vegetarian, or allergen-restricted orders?
Jersey Mike’s offers a Gluten-Free Roll at participating locations, a vegetarian sub (The Veggie, #14) built on provolone and Swiss with the full Mike’s Way treatment, and the Sub in a Tub format, which serves any sub’s contents over greens with no bread. Cross-contact with wheat is a practical concern on shared assembly surfaces, so for celiac eaters order individually packed Box Lunches rather than a shared Subs by the Box, flag the Gluten-Free Roll explicitly in the order notes, and confirm prep practices with the specific location before ordering. Our broader guide to catering for mixed dietary needs walks through how to plan around allergens at scale.
How does Jersey Mike’s catering compare to Subway, Firehouse Subs, or Jimmy John’s?
Jersey Mike’s sits at the premium end of the national sandwich-chain tier, above Subway and Jimmy John’s and roughly even with Firehouse Subs. The two differentiators that show up at catering scale are fresh-baked rolls in store every day and slicing meats and cheeses to order on each sub, even on a 50-sub catering order. Subway wins on lower price and location density, Firehouse Subs wins on hot steam-cooked subs, Jimmy John’s wins on speed and bigger giant-size subs. Jersey Mike’s wins when the office wants something that reads as a real Italian-style sub-shop rather than a chain.
What makes Jersey Mike’s a good fit for office catering?
Jersey Mike’s is a strong choice when the team wants a sub that doesn’t taste like a chain. Sub rolls baked in-store and meats and cheeses sliced to order keep flavor and texture consistent across a large catering tray. The Mike’s Way finish standardizes seasoning across the whole order, so a 75-person sub spread doesn’t end up half-bland. Individually wrapped portions in Subs by the Box and per-person Box Lunches both work for hybrid teams. Jersey Mike’s runs an annual Day of Giving in March that donates 100 percent of sales to local charities, which fits offices that look for a values component in their meal program.
Does every Jersey Mike’s offer catering, and which formats are available?
Catering is available at most Jersey Mike’s locations across the US, but the exact format mix (Subs by the Box, Box Lunches, half-box options, dessert trays, Gluten-Free Roll boxes) varies by franchise. The Subs by the Box and Box Lunch formats are the most universally available. The Sub in a Tub format and the Gluten-Free Roll are available at participating locations but not every store. Use the catering portal on jerseymikes.com or the Jersey Mike’s app to confirm format availability with the location nearest your office.
