Wawa is now selling its seasonal Thanksgiving-inspired hoagie, the “Gobbler.” The idea for the sandwich is definitely creative, but its presentation, texture, and taste are questionable.
I am a fan of Wawa’s freshly made food. I have had their avocado toast, chicken quesadillas, and cheese-filled pretzels, so I felt excited to try their seasonal “Gobbler” hoagie. Topped with turkey, stuffing, brown gravy, and cranberry sauce, I looked forward to “gobbling” it down, but unfortunately, it wasn’t something I enjoyed.
Presentation
The sub looked presentable on the outside, and the amount of turkey on the inside looked promising; however, the brown gravy made the stuffing turn dark brown and looked unappetizing. The turkey was glossy and pretty, but it reminded me of Chinese restaurant chicken due to how shiny it looked. Trying to eat the sandwich was a chaotic mess. Turkey kept falling off, so I had to resort to eating it with a fork and plate. The presentation could have been better, but it wasn’t a deal breaker.
Texture
The most unpleasant part of eating the sandwich was the texture of the bread. Some parts were soggy, while other parts were firm; this made the taste inconsistent. Moreover, the stuffing had soaked up some of the gravy which made the stuffing feel like mashed potatoes. Despite the inconsistency of the bread and the weird mouthfeel of the stuffing, there were redeeming qualities regarding the texture of the turkey and gravy. The turkey was tender and easy to chew, and it broke apart in my mouth nicely. The gravy was smooth and still warm which made me feel cozy. Overall, the texture of the soggy bread and the stuffing was probably the worst part of eating the “Gobbler,” but the rest of the texture was fine.
Taste
The actual taste of the “Gobbler” was confusing. The toppings didn’t blend together, and it instead tasted like the flavors were competing against each other. Despite a lot of turkey being present, I couldn’t taste the individual flavors of the turkey unless I ate a piece of turkey separately. The turkey had its own seasoning that had a kick to it, but it’s a shame that it couldn’t shine through with the rest of the toppings. The gravy spoke gently, not trying to grab my attention. But it kept reminding me that it was here too, and occasionally having a guest appearance with the stuffing. There was nothing really notable about the taste of the stuffing, but I wish that it was spread more evenly throughout the hoagie. The loudest and most outspoken taste was the cranberry sauce. It was spread on as a condiment like the brown gravy, yet it did not appear with every bite. When the cranberry sauce appeared, its sweetness clashed with the monotone flavors. It also felt like it didn’t belong on the “Gobbler.” Nevertheless, the cranberry sauce tasted good. It’s just that the “Gobbler” would have been stronger without it.
Overall, Wawa’s “Gobbler” sandwich is serviceable, but it is not the best lunch or dinner option Wawa has to offer. Unfortunately, the flavor profile is sloppy, the texture is difficult to get over, and there is nothing impressive about the presentation other than the amount of meat. This is, without a doubt, the most disappointing hoagie you can purchase at Wawa in my opinion.
