Matthew Odam recently wrote about Italian beef sandos (link below)
Tuccis is great, just tried wrigleyville and it was meh. Too salty IMO and too bready. The hot peps actually had a nice kick tho which I like (and I like spicy food)
What do y’all think about the other reccos (Bella Donna and Wise Guys)? Any others that should be noted?
Is Wise Guys worth the trip (about an hour round trip for me).
[https://www.statesman.com/story/entertainment/dining/2023/06/22/the-bear-fx-hulu-italian-beef-near-me-austin-tx-sandwiches-restaurants-where-to-find/70344161007/](https://www.statesman.com/story/entertainment/dining/2023/06/22/the-bear-fx-hulu-italian-beef-near-me-austin-tx-sandwiches-restaurants-where-to-find/70344161007/)
by 4dgt90
14 Comments
I like Wiseguys but I kind of feel like you probably won’t like it if you didn’t like Wrigleyville.
I tried Haymaker the other day and it was alright, but burnt right at the end : (. I’m obsessed with this show so I want to find the best one too!
I’m order Portillo’s once or twice a year.
Wise guys is the only place in the Austin area that truly nails an Italian beef.
Belladonna calling their sandwich an Italian beef is a joke. Seriously, its an insult to all beefs.
I would give Wise Guys a shot if you’re up that way. Worked with some friends from Chicago and they said it was the closest thing to what they’re used to.
Easy Tiger used to have a great one but that was at their E 6th location and I’m not sure if they offer it anywhere else. It was damn good.
Wrigleyville ain’t too bad imo
Wiseguys is legit. I get it big (extra meat) with sweet & hot peppers, and au jus on the side.
Rosati’s if you’re hell and gone north ever.
Wise Guys: I’m happy it’s there, as it’s better than nothing, but it’s just not quite there. I’d say it moderately scratches the itch, but they have some room for improvement. Back home, I’m not sure this place would survive.
Wrigleyville: Haven’t really been inspired to try it based out how bready it looks. Nonetheless, I’ll go there eventually, if anything to try their dogs out because they looked decent.
Bella Donna: Haven’t tried it, and I’m not entirely sure I will. I don’t need someone’s cool Austin twist on something that’s already refined and perfect. For all I know, it may be delicious. However, I can tell you just by looking at it that it’s not going to have the same texture or flavor of what an Italian beef is.
Tucci’s: Haven’t tried it for the same reasons as stated above for Bella Donna. I love hot peppers on a beef, but hot peppers are hot giardiniera, and not anything else. I don’t me wrong, I love banana peppers, but not on a beef. Their sandwiches in general look pretty dope and are highly reviewed, so I’ve been meaning to make a visit there. I’ll probably add their beef to my order just to try it, but I’m not sure I’d ever go there just for their beef.
**Something no one has somehow mentioned yet**
Rosati’s: For those not familiar, Rosati’s is a small chain back home (calling it a chain feels like a disservice). You order Rosati’s when you want to feed a bunch of people in a short amount of time and not break the bank. They’re several tiers above Pizza Hut/Domino’s/Papa John’s/Little Ceasar’s. I’d call them more like the baseline for what good Chicago thin crust is all about. They have deep dish too, though it’s not the first place back home someone would order deep dish from. Anywho… they also offer beefs— sweet, hot, dipped, cheese— however you’d like it. Now back home, a beef from Rosati’s isn’t anything special, but around here where the competition is really only Wise Guys, it’s absolutely solid. They’re truly the choice of getting the real deal. Worth the drive (a bit deep into Cedar Park, maybe 5-10 minutes away west from 183). WARNING: Once you have their beef, it’s going to install a true baseline for what a beef is and it’s going to taint your view of places like Bella Donna and Tucci’s. Like I said, back home they’re average. But in contrast to things around here, they’re legendary.
I’ll reply to my own comment in a little bit when I have some more time to review and discuss two other viable beef options: Portillo’s Home Kit and a rather low effort DIY
I love Wiseguys. I get the extra peppers and get it wet, it’s the shit. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Just had Portillo’s in Dallas last night, and I’m already thinking about how I want to get a couple of Wise Guys Mafia Monday specials now.
From Chicago: Wise Guys is the best but it won’t impress you. Nothing here holds a candle to anything in Illinois unfortunately.
Side note. When did every sandwich start being called a sando? Seems like a marketing gimmick to upcharge.