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The Claims: The Angus Three Cheese & Bacon sandwich contains USDA Choice Black Angus beef, slow-roasted with a rub of garlic and onions, sliced fresh in the store, and piled onto an Italian roll. The roast beef is draped with slices of Swiss cheese, and topped with shredded cheddar, a Parmesan peppercorn ranch sauce, and thick-cut, pepper-spiced bacon. (660 calories sans condiments)
The Price: $4.99.
The Verdict: Grade B. I should preface this review with the caveat that I didn't sample this new sandwich at an Arby's restaurant (they are sparse in New York City), but at New York's Institute of Culinary Education. Even though they had no involvement with the creation of Arby's new menu offerings, the acclaimed cooking school served as the venue for a PR event Arby's put on for food journalists to promote their four new Angus beef items. The Angus Three Cheese & Bacon sandwich headlined the event, since it's currently the only Angus beef sandwich available to the public.
Arby's is no stranger to roast beef sandwiches, so rather than introduce something completely new, they've decided to improve upon something they're already known for. Their new Angus roast beef sandwich is an upgrade from their usual signature fare -- although not a replacement, since the classic roast beef sandwich is still on the menu -- and it is in fact a solid sandwich. The beef is sliced and piled into a decent portion that delivers a good texture per bite, without being too sloppy. (It's definitely a step above their non-Angus beef, which is sometimes so soft that it feels squishy.) The three cheeses are a nice complement, however all three varieties here are creamy and salty, and meld into one single "cheese" flavor; you don't really taste characteristics of the individual cheeses. The bacon is decent; chewy with a slight crispness that goes well with the soft Italian roll.
What's missing from Arby's inaugural foray into Angus beef sandwiches is a contrasting flavor or texture to offset the sandwich's dominant saltiness. This could have been done by simply adding lettuce, tomato, and/or pickle, but for now, the best we can do is add a hint of tanginess via Horsey Sauce or Arby's Sauce -- but at least that's an option. I hope this sandwich becomes successful enough to green-light the three other Angus items in Arby's pipeline, all of which address this sandwich's lack of a contrasting element: the Ultimate Angus Wrap, a lighter tasting wrap with the Angus beef served cold; the Ultimate Angus Classic Deli Sub, a vinegary hoagie, with the beef also served cold; and the Ultimate Angus Gravy Dipper, an interpretation of a French Dip sandwich.
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3-01-2011 @1:30PM Daemon said... I tried this sandwich today. It was like biting into a salt lick. It did not merit a second bite.
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3-01-2011 @6:04PM Beachbum said... I tried this yesterday and was extremely disappointed. Way too SALTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Arby's ya got to make some changes here. It did not pass the test. Throw some tomatoes & lettuce & pickles on it if you are not going to change it.
3-01-2011 @2:24PM kevin said... Your luckey if you can bite through the the salt lick it pulled out my dents. and salt salt salt . Yuc
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3-01-2011 @6:07PM GG said... Don't quit those spelling lessons just yet!
3-01-2011 @2:24PM lawman said... I had arby's ONCE, it was terrible, my dog didn't want to eat it either. Only other food he ever turned down was White Castle burgers.
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3-01-2011 @2:27PM bugaloosnana said... I guess the obvious question is, why bother to make the mea,t leaner angus beef, if you're going to slop high fat cheeses on it? I mean, what's the point?
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3-01-2011 @2:34PM Brian said... Love IT Love IT LOve it
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3-01-2011 @2:37PM maryellen said... Well after those comments I 'll just save the 4.99 and pour some salt into my mouth and get the same result!
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3-11-2011 @10:07AM Me-Average Consumer said... Maybe some day fast food chains will realize how much business would grow if they took their traditional offerings and modified them for low-sodium-consuming patrons.
I can't stand the taste with so much sodium, add to that the obvious health problems from too much salt.
Time to get on the bandwagon...Yum Foods, McD's, etc.
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3-01-2011 @2:41PM Hans said... I completely agree w/ all of the above. I never understood why Arbey's are so intent on salt. It's almost impossible to eat. I will never again try Arby's
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3-01-2011 @3:02PM JoJo said... I used to enjoy the french dip sandwich. Then they got rid of it. Then they brought it back with this nasty thicker crap to dip the sandwich in...they CALLED it au jus, but it wasn't. Now they have the dip sandwich with cheese....nastier. I haven't been back since they changed the au jus. It's too bad Arby's had to screw around with the only other sandwich choice that didn't have tons of cheese poured over it.
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3-01-2011 @3:13PM PSILOVEU said... I would just to be able to eat at Arby's (or Wendy's) and not get food poisoning!
How about they start with training staff to make fresh food that won't make customers sick!
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3-01-2011 @3:43PM Matt said... The writer of this article wants to add pickles to counter saltiness? Really?
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3-01-2011 @3:21PM Frank said... With the problems salt causes, I don't see why food suppliers prepare foods with salt to start with. Let the consumer add their own. I have never had an Arby's sliced roast beef sandwich, it has always been shaved, really no need for teeth .. lol
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3-01-2011 @3:33PM dk said... It is called a preservative.
3-01-2011 @3:28PM Kevin said... They should call it the "triple by-pass sandwich"
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3-01-2011 @4:45PM udontknowme said... Did somebody say "Arby's"?
Excuse me, while I puke.
Crappiest food on the planet.
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3-01-2011 @3:40PM Joseph Scott said... I eat at the Arby's down the street probably once every couple of weeks. Very, very good food, though maybe a little expensive. LOVE the potato bites and the jalapeno poppers; the mozzarella sticks are ok, if a little bland. But the best thing they've got on the menu are the toasted subs. My favorite is the classic Italian. Man, I could eat one of those every day! I don't usually get the roast beef sandwiches since there's not much to them and the flavor doesn't really stand out, but I'll sure try this. I haven't encountered a salt problem at my Arby's. Can't wait to go back.
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3-01-2011 @4:33PM Sandee said... BRING ON THE GRAVY DIPPER!!!
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3-01-2011 @4:17PM English said...
I ate this sandwich a week ago. I don't like the sauce, and as said earlier, the cheeses can't be differentiated, they have melted into each other for just one indistinguishable cheese flavor. If I ever order it again, I will ask for no sauce.
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