by “The Food Guy” – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine and Vero Beach Foodie
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My next tasting experience takes me back to one of my all-time favorite sandwich shops in Vero, Dagwood’s Deli & Sub Shop! A lot of people often wonder where a food critic likes to spend their money and go back to after the reviews are over. Dagwood’s is one of those places for me. Why is that? I strongly believe in supporting small business over the corporate guys. They are working hard to give you the absolute best quality and experience possible because their livelihood depends on it. I know where my money is going and what it’s helping do. Not only is it keeping the money right here in Vero, but I also know it’s keeping a roof over their heads and putting shoes on their kid’s feet. Small businesses like this are run by people just like you and me, and it’s good to see them succeed at something they love to do.
Parking can be tight in the strip mall and this place is always busy over the short 4 hours that they are open. Plan to come early or be prepared to fight for a parking spot, but trust me, it’s worth it. Since my last visit, they recently started staying open till 10:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, so parking does get a little easier later in the day since the other businesses in the strip mall are closed. As you walk into Dagwood’s, you are greeted by a counter with stools and a dining room to the right with low and high-top tables. One new thing you will notice is a wonderful selection of local beers that they offer on tap. After placing your order at the front counter, you will receive your drink and then instructed to take any seat and your sandwich will be delivered to your table. The atmosphere is nice, with ochre-colored walls and black accents. Decorations are bold and add a unique vibe to the place. They have also added a large chalkboard menu on the left wall you can browse while waiting your turn to place your order.
Now on to the food! Let’s jump right in and see what I had to eat!
New York Club – ($6.75 half / $9.99 whole) – New York deli is one of my all-time favorites so I was looking forward to trying their version of it. A combination of Dagwood’s own house-made pastrami and corned beef is layered with swiss cheese, sauerkraut, spicy mustard, and is served on rye bread. Can’t make the trip to NY for some of the best delis in the world, stop by Dagwood’s right here in Vero and I’m sure you will fall in love all over again.
Open Face Chicken Club – ($6.75 half / $9.99 whole) – Who knew you could have it made open faced? This sandwich is made with oven roasted chicken breast, bacon, provolone cheese, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and Dagwood spices.
The Okeechobee – ($9.99) – As one of Dagwood’s newest creations, I could not wait to try this one! Roast beef, bacon, cheddar, lettuce & tomato is piled high on white bread and dressed with mayonnaise and bang sauce. This thing was a monster! I felt as if I had to unhinge my jaw to take a bite. Everything worked very well together and you get a little heat on the backend from the bang sauce.
Vero Beach Classic – ($9.99) – This is also a new sandwich that is not on the menu yet, and I think my new favorite! Chicken, roast beef, swiss cheese, bacon, avocado, peppercorn, parmesan, lettuce & tomato, Dagwood spices, piled high on garlic toast.
BBQ Sub – ($6.75) – Man, doesn’t that look good? It’s made simply with pulled chicken, BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, on a sub bun. While it may sound simple, everything just works and it’s quite tasty.
In Conclusion:
Dagwood’s continues to impress me with their offerings. From their house-made meats, beyond fresh ingredients, these are some of the best sandwiches you will find in Vero, period. Now open till 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday nights, your weekend dinner options just got easier. Josh and Marie are also some of the nicest, most hardworking folks you will ever meet in the food industry. Their drive and passion for what they do shows and you can taste it in the sandwiches they make.
NOTE: My comments about each sandwich were kept at a minimum for this review because there are only so many ways you can describe a sandwich and how it tastes, or how fresh the ingredients are, so I figured I would summarize my experience in the “In Conclusion” part of this tasting experience article. I also think the pictures speak for themselves!
Vero Beach Foodie is stepping out of our comfort zone and trying something new! Check out our very first Mukbang video of Dagwood’s review and let us know what you think!
Have you tried Dagwood’s? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.
Dagwood’s Website | Dagwood’s Menu | Facebook Page | Chow Cab
Address: 835 17th St, Vero Beach, FL 32960
Hours: Open Monday – Thursday, 11:00am till 3:00pm, Open Friday – Saturday, 11:00am till 10:00pm, Closed on Sundays
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