The Best Sandwich Shop in America?
YouTuber Rob Martinez travelled to Columbus, Ohio to tell the story of what he calls the best sandwich shop in America, Wario’s Beef and Pork. Here’s part of the transcript of owner Stephan Madias talking about the restaurant:
For the longest time, especially the first two years, I was very protective of how the bread was sliced and I would not let anybody cut bread. It’s about the experience. I think about me eating the sandwich. Think about the things that happen when you get a big sandwich. You take that first bite into it. I want you to be able to, like, move this thing around. Take bites from the top, the bottom, the front, the back. And it’s held.
We’re very particular, and it’s part of the reason why we don’t have the bakery cut the bread is cuz we want to sort through our things. Yes, we have volume. Yes, we have speed, but [my employees] all have the integrity that we started when we only sold five sandwiches an hour when the shop first started. That’s part of being committed to the fundamentals and being consistent.
The devil’s in the details, man. You got to take the extra minute to do it. Some people like it. Some people complain about it.
As a fellow sandwich overthinker, I love the ethos and the process. And man, those sandwiches do look amazing — tomato butter, homemade whiz for the cheese steaks, a chicken caesar sandwich, what is not to like?
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"We're not everybody." I love this guy.
Oooh I want this sandwich! I was already planning an Ohio trip bc of that huge grocery store with the butter bar and animatronics. I wonder how far apart this sandwich shop is from Jungle Jim’s?
Kind of far tbh, but might be worth the detour!
The food and production understandably get top billing in a profile like this. They also talk some about leadership and culture, and those are always nebulous enough to curtail describing them well (or measuring them), but they are the critical components to a place like this reaching its potential.
Guys you should all come to Columbus and go to Warios. It’s truly is out of this world. This past Saturday we had the daily special (poutine: braised short rib, slow roast onion, WI cheese curds, handmade seasoned fries, in a special seed roll and with a dipping gravy to die for) and I text half my family about it.
I especially love that they locally source the ingredients (their seed rolls are custom from a local bakery) and they cancel specials when they are short staffed so their folx aren’t overstretched. It’s just a good hang
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