5/5 Alex T. 6 months ago on Google
Vinnie's
Italian
Beef
&
Gyros
(Oct.
5,
2023
~3
p.m.)
Vinnie’s
store
is
roughly
10
years
old.
It
is
still
a
work-in-progress,
but
I
can
imagine
the
spectacular
results
down
the
road
when
the
innovations
finally
take
hold.
In
my
discussion
with
Vinnie
while
dining,
I
found
out
that
he
quit
his
corporate
job
after
much
frustration
at
work,
and
decided
to
start
a
food
business
instead.
His
store
is
a
few
blocks
from
his
residence,
and
in
an
environment
he
is
thoroughly
familiar
with.
The
reason
why
he
started
an
Italian
Beef
business
in
a
state
that
is
not
known
for
it
was
because
he
went
to
Chicago
for
a
sports
event
(Bears!)
once
and
ate
this
sandwich
there.
He
was
very
impressed.
Wanting
to
be
something
different,
he
decided
that
he
wanted
to
start
the
business
with
something
different.
To
be
more
different
from
others,
he
does
not
offer
regular
french
fries
for
example,
but
something
called
Vinnies
fries.
According
to
the
man,
the
potatoes
are
first
baked,
then
fried,
…..,
with
a
hearty
dose
of
parmesan
cheese
sprinkled
on
the
dish
(Get
the
whole
story
from
him,
it
is
very
entertaining
and
I
cannot
do
justice
to
the
story
here!)
In
the
end,
the
food
offerings
are
very
unique,
and
deserve
notice
both
for
the
innovation
and
the
taste.
The
foods
I
have
tasted
I
guess
can
be
called
established
experimental,
but
they
were
definitely
very
good.
The
store
is
nestled
in
a
suburban
environment,
and
is
a
converted
old
school
hairdressing
place.
The
front
nook
area
next
to
the
window
is
where
the
hairdryers
used
to
be
located.
At
my
arrival,
after
getting
lost
along
the
way
while
walking
(wrong
turn),
there
was
only
a
customer
waiting
for
her
take-out.
The
environment
is
very
casual
with
70s-80s
rock
music
blasting
out
of
the
sound
system.
I
settled
down
and
ordered
the
combo
of
Italian
beef
and
sausage.
Saw
the
Vinnie’s
fries
on
the
menu
board,
and
ordered
that
to
add
another
texture
alternative.The
meal
arrived
shortly,
and
it
was
a
huge
sandwich.
Vinnie
uses
his
own
blend
of
Giardenera
as
one
of
the
toppings.
Being
accustomed
to
the
traditional
Italian
beef/sausage
sandwiches,
it
was
not
the
usual
fare
I
was
used
to
from
Chicago.
While
the
combo
sandwich
was
good.
It
was
very
different.
Overall,
I
found
the
beef
less
tender
than
the
norm,
and
the
sausage
lacked
flavor.
The
green
pepper
slices
in
there
needed
to
be
more
tender
(My
preference).
I
feel
strongly
that
the
meats
(both
beef
and
sausage)
need
more
salt
during
the
preparation.
The
ingredient
that
intrigued
me
most
was
the
house
Giardinera.
It
tends
toward
the
sweeter
side,
and
adds
a
refreshing
crunch
and
freshness
(The
norm
is
pickled
and
tasted
so.)
to
the
sandwich.
Overall,
the
sandwich
was
good,
but
it
is
not
quite
there
yet.
The
Vinnie
fries,
however,
are
most
unique,
and
must
be
ordered
when
you
are
there.
There
is
so
much
character
to
that
side
that
I
have
not
found
in
any
other
place
to
date.
Overall,
the
combo
with
the
Vinnie’s
fries
rate
a
solid
4.5/5
stars.
Wanted
to
get
something
for
dinner,
and
perhaps
another
meal
later.
Given
Gyros
is
in
the
name
of
the
place,
the
obvious
choice
is
that,
and
the
2nd
item
was
the
Thursday
special
-
Chicken
Philly.
The
Gyros
sandwich
was
very
good
the
same
evening
I
ate
it.
The
Chicken
Philly,
however,
is
excellent.
That
sandwich
I
ate
3
days
later,
after
being
in
and
out
of
the
refrigerator
several
times
and
after
a
long
plane
ride
from
St
Louis
to
Charlotte,
and
to
Seattle.
The
basic
ingredients
of
philly
remain
similar
to
the
rest,
but
I
find
that
the
ingredients
were
chopped
pretty
fine.
In
truth,
I
really
cannot
tell
since
the
sandwich
was
covered
with
loads
of
cheese.
After
heating
that
3
day
old
sandwich
in
the
air
fryer
oven
at
low
temps
extendedly,
the
sandwich
tasted
EXCELLENT.
The
bread
somehow
still
tasted
fresh,
and
was
even
crispy
after
being
in
the
air
fryer.
The
sandwich
apparently
had
a
sauce
drenched
over
the
chicken
that
made
the
sandwich
outstanding.
Just
for
this
sandwich
alone,
I
would
have
rated
Vinnie’s
5
out
of
5
stars.
Visit
Vinnie's,
you
will
not
regret
that
decision
.
Happy
Eating
!!!