Top fast food chain report: Jersey Mike’s ranks first
After 11 years in business, Chick-fil-A is no longer the top-rated quick-service restaurant, according to the U.S. Customer Satisfaction Index.
A Grubhub customer in New Jersey is suing the food delivery service after finding dentures inside a Jersey Mike’s sandwich.
Fernando Rodriguez, who filed the civil suit May 28 in Middlesex County, accuses Grubhub and Jersey Mike’s of negligence after receiving the delivery order in question on April 27, 2025. Rodriguez’s orders were prepared, packaged, sealed and/or secured by Jersey Mike’s and assigned to Grubhub drivers, according to the complaint obtained by USA TODAY.
When they arrived at Rodriguez’s residence in Bayville, about an hour from Trenton, “the food appeared to be wrapped and sealed with Scotch tape,” the complaint states. However, when he opened the food and ate it, he discovered that his dentures were “embedded inside the sandwich.”
“Due to the presence of dentures in the food, the food became contaminated, unsafe, contaminated, and unfit for human consumption,” the lawsuit states, adding that Rodriguez allegedly experienced “extreme shock, disgust, emotional distress, nausea, loss of appetite, and physical disgust” as a result of the incident.
In a statement emailed to USA TODAY on June 26, Grubhub said, “We are troubled by this report because it does not reflect the high standards of service that our customers expect. We can confirm that the individual is no longer under contract to provide services to Grubhub.”
USA TODAY reached out to Jersey Mike’s on Friday but did not immediately receive a response.
How did dentures end up in Rodriguez’s sandwich?
Rodriguez believes the Grubhub employees who delivered the Jersey Mike’s orders “opened, tampered with, handled, transported, and otherwise interfered with the packaging and contents of the food products in an unsafe and unsanitary manner during the delivery process,” according to the complaint.
The complaint says the driver “inadvertently caused her dentures to become embedded in Rodriguez’s sandwich.”
“A reasonable food delivery driver would recognize that opening sealed food packages or handling food in an unsanitary manner creates a foreseeable risk of contamination and harms consumers,” the lawsuit states.
The complaint further alleges that Grubhub does not properly screen, supervise, train, or monitor delivery drivers. As for Jersey Mike’s, the complaint alleges that the chain should have protected its sandwiches in a sanitary and tamper-proof manner.
Mr. Rodriguez and his attorney are requesting a jury trial.
Jersey Mike’s dethrones Chick-fil-A as top fast food chain
Rodriguez’s lawsuit was filed weeks before Jersey Mike’s stripped Chick-fil-A of its top-rated quick-service restaurant ranking, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). ACSI rates restaurants based on thousands of customer surveys that reflect recent experience at major chains.
It ended Chick-fil-A’s 11-year run at the top. 16,464 respondents kicked the popular chicken chain out of the popular spot in favor of sandwich shop Jersey Mike’s. Freshness, food variety, and value were highly praised.
With an ACSI score of 84 out of 100, Jersey Mike’s added 238 net new stores in 2025 and achieved sales of $4.2 billion, beating Chick-fil-A by one point.
“The U.S. restaurant industry faced challenges in 2025 as gross sales struggled to keep up with inflation,” said the report, released June 16. “In a market defined by trade-offs, customers care more about consistency, reliability, and perceived value than just price. Brands that deliver a consistently enjoyable experience are emerging.”
Contributor: Mary Walrath-Holdridge/USA TODAY
