by “The Food Guy” – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine
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My next tasting experience takes me to a small strip mall off of 17th street near Hwy 1 in Vero Beach. With sandwich shops being a dime a dozen these days, you really have to do something special to stand out in this crowded space. Owners Josh and Marie Jenkins believe they have what it takes to do so. From huge sandwiches, salads, and wraps custom made to order, they have just about everything to please anyone that steps through their door. Listed as the #12 restaurant in Vero Beach on Trip Advisor, and 77 five star reviews on their Facebook page at the time of this writing, they are definitely doing something right. Let’s jump right in, take a look and see why.
Parking is tight in the strip mall, and this place is always busy for the short 4 hours that they are open each day, so be prepared to fight for a parking spot. Walking in to Dagwood’s you are greeted by a counter with stools and a dining room to the right with low and high top tables. After placing your order at the front counter, you will receive your drink and then are instructed to take any seat and your sandwich will be brought 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. With the extreme heat we have been having this summer, the day I visited their air conditioner froze up and it was a little bit warm inside but it did finally start to cool down towards the end of my visit.
Now on to the food! Let’s jump right in and see what I had to eat!
Dagwood Sandwich – ($6.75 half / $9.75 whole) – This is one impressive sandwich! Served on their house made sub roll, it contains ham, turkey, roast beef, pepperoni, bacon, cheddar, provolone, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, banana peppers, black olives, jalapeno, and topped off with Dagwood’s special spices. Oil and vinegar was served alongside. Trying to fold it up for a bite was a challenge in itself. Once I got a handle on it and took a bite this sandwich had a lot of flavors and textures going on all at the same time. It was tangy, crunchy, and a little bit sweet. This is probably a sandwich that I would not have tried on my own, so I’m glad I got to try it, because it may be my go-to when I return in the near future.
California Club Sandwich – ($6.75 half / $9.75 whole) – This thing is stacked up with a ton of turkey! Served in their house made sub roll, it contains provolone, turkey, bacon, avocado, alfalfa sprouts, mayo, honey mustard, tomatoes, onions, and Dagwood’s special spices. With the creaminess of the mayo and the avocado, it almost tasted like a turkey salad sandwich. The sprouts were fresh as were the rest of the ingredients. This one was also a handful to pick up and take a bite, so make sure you have extra napkins on hand!
Prime Rib Sandwich – ($9.75) – This sandwich is only made on Fridays and sells out very quickly, so if you want to try it, you need to get there early. I met a friend for lunch one day prior to my review around 1:00pm and they were already out of it. It contains thinly sliced prime rib, sautéed peppers and onions, mushrooms, and provolone cheese on toasted white sandwich bread. Au Jus is served alongside. The prime rib is very tender, and I was able to bite through easily. I know why it sells out quickly, because this is one awesome sandwich!
Reuben Sandwich – ($9.75) – I had to unhinge my jaw on this one to take a bite! It’s built like a club sandwich with another layer of rye bread in the middle. It contains Dagwood’s oven roasted corned beef, sauerkraut, thousand island dressing and Swiss cheese served on rye bread. First off, the corned beef is spectacular! The sauerkraut was crunchy, not too zingy. I thought the thousand island dressing needs a little bit more kick to take this over the top, but it was still an excellent sandwich.
Potato Salad – ($1.25) – We received a 4 oz portion of their house made potato salad to try. The potatoes were perfectly cooked, just the right amount of mayo and mustard mixed in. It was very fresh, slightly sweet, and tangy. This is a definite must have with your sandwiches!
In Conclusion:
I’m really impressed with the sandwiches I tasted during my visit, and I look forward to trying a few more. From making their own house cured corned beef, pastrami, smoked beef brisket, and prime rib, along with roasting their own chicken and turkey, they definitely have some strong offerings. If Guy Fieri were to ask my opinion of where he should film an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives in Vero Beach, I would definitely recommend this place!
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.
Atmosphere – 5 Forks
Service – 5 Forks
Food – 5 Forks
Ratings Scale Legend:
1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent
Hours: Monday – Saturday from 11:00am till 3:00pm, closed on Sunday’s
They only serve non-alcoholic beverages at this time, but are working towards including beer and wine, which will allow them to extend their hours and offerings soon!
835 17th St, Vero Beach, FL 32960
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