***UPDATE with review***. First Portillo's in Iowa....

[Run&Blade]

Did Mr. Portillo bang your wife or something?

It just isn’t that great.

I was expecting some kind of meat Nirvana with seasoning that would make you blow your wad.

It tasted like regular crock pot roast beef. Same stuff I snitched from the crock pot as a kid an hour or two before supper.

It would be great to get a behind the scenes tour. Some 17? Year old kid dumping chuck roasts into an industrial slow cooker with s cup of salt. Tour over.

 

[iahawks10]

Nashville just got a Gino’s East. Suck it, Iowans!

We have our very own Jeno’s in Davenport. I bet your Gino’s don’t even have a sand volleyball court or had anyone stabbed in the last year. F’in amateurs.

 

[Madman_1]

We have our very own Jeno’s in Davenport. I bet your Gino’s don’t even have a sand volleyball court or had anyone stabbed in the last year. F’in amateurs.

I drive by that place fairly often, and never see more than 2 cars in front of it.

 

[QChawks]

I drive by that place fairly often, and never see more than 2 cars in front of it.

Same

There is no way they selling enough alcohol to keep the lights on.

Must be a front for drugs

 

[QChawks]

bump

 

[torbee]

Went to Portillo’s tonight on a whim.

I was going to make a new thread since this is a HUGE status symbol for me, but whatever.

First thing to say- VERY impressed with the drive thru procedure considering how busy it is (no parking spots, about 15 cars in drive thru when I got there after 7. But they have a very efficient system of taking orders and letting you pay while in line. Took maybe 8 minutes to order and get food and the place was swamped.

I decided on a very basic order, just to get a feel. Got an Italian Beef, small crinkle fries and a small strawberry shake.

I have to say, I am with @Run&Blade on the Italian beef. Extremely underwhelming. Not much seasoning, bread was a little soggy. Not a bad sandwich, but quite mediocre.

Crinkle fries were fine. Nothing special. Nice and hot, crisp and with just enough salt. I’d say slightly above average for fast food fries.

The star of the show was the strawberry shake. It tasted like an old fashioned lunch counter shake and actually had a ton of real strawberries in it. Perfectly blended, very creamy and delicious. Best fast food shake I’ve had (note, I’ve yet to try a Shake Shack).

Next time, I will definitely get a hot dog or burger. The Italian beef isn’t even in the same realm as the ones you can get at Frank’s in Silvis. Hell, I don’t think it’s better than Pepperjax, for that matter.

I will definitely try it again, but I have to say the hype outperformed reality on this one. Still more excited about 5 Guys opening here.

 

[jasonrann]

Went to Portillo’s tonight on a whim.

I was going to make a new thread since this is a HUGE status symbol for me, but whatever.

First thing to say- VERY impressed with the drive thru procedure considering how busy it is (no parking spots, about 15 cars in drive thru when I got there after 7. But they have a very efficient system of taking orders and letting you pay while in line. Took maybe 8 minutes to order and get food and the place was swamped.

I decided on a very basic order, just to get a feel. Got an Italian Beef, small crinkle fries and a small strawberry shake.

I have to say, I am with @Run&Blade on the Italian beef. Extremely underwhelming. Not much seasoning, bread was a little soggy. Not a bad sandwich, but quite mediocre.

Crinkle fries were fine. Nothing special. Nice and hot, crisp and with just enough salt. I’d say slightly above average for fast food fries.

The star of the show was the strawberry shake. It tasted like an old fashioned lunch counter shake and actually had a ton of real strawberries in it. Perfectly blended, very creamy and delicious. Best fast food shake I’ve had (note, I’ve yet to try a Shake Shack).

Next time, I will definitely get a hot dog or burger. The Italian beef isn’t even in the same realm as the ones you can get at Frank’s in Silvis. Hell, I don’t think it’s better than Pepperjax, for that matter.

I will definitely try it again, but I have to say the hype outperformed reality on this one. Still more excited about 5 Guys opening here.

Drive thru was your first mistake.

If you don't think it is better than Pepperjax, they don't have their shit together yet.

 

[srams21]

Drive thru was your first mistake.

If you don't think it is better than Pepperjax, they don't have their shit together yet.

It could also be due to how busy they are on top of being new.

That is why I would recommend giving it a second try in a month or two.

 

[95Hawk]

Went to Portillo’s tonight on a whim.

I was going to make a new thread since this is a HUGE status symbol for me, but whatever.

First thing to say- VERY impressed with the drive thru procedure considering how busy it is (no parking spots, about 15 cars in drive thru when I got there after 7. But they have a very efficient system of taking orders and letting you pay while in line. Took maybe 8 minutes to order and get food and the place was swamped.

I decided on a very basic order, just to get a feel. Got an Italian Beef, small crinkle fries and a small strawberry shake.

I have to say, I am with @Run&Blade on the Italian beef. Extremely underwhelming. Not much seasoning, bread was a little soggy. Not a bad sandwich, but quite mediocre.

Crinkle fries were fine. Nothing special. Nice and hot, crisp and with just enough salt. I’d say slightly above average for fast food fries.

The star of the show was the strawberry shake. It tasted like an old fashioned lunch counter shake and actually had a ton of real strawberries in it. Perfectly blended, very creamy and delicious. Best fast food shake I’ve had (note, I’ve yet to try a Shake Shack).

Next time, I will definitely get a hot dog or burger. The Italian beef isn’t even in the same realm as the ones you can get at Frank’s in Silvis. Hell, I don’t think it’s better than Pepperjax, for that matter.

I will definitely try it again, but I have to say the hype outperformed reality on this one. Still more excited about 5 Guys opening here.

Any peppers on the beef? I always go for the giardiniera on a beef. Definitely enhances the sandwich.

 

[torbee]

It could also be due to how busy they are on top of being new.

That is why I would recommend giving it a second try in a month or two.

Definitely going to.
But regarding the Italian beef, I can’t understand why it wouldn’t be seasoned enough because they are new. Wouldn’t all locations have the same recipe and ingredients?

 

[torbee]

Any peppers on the beef? I always go for the giardiniera on a beef. Definitely enhances the sandwich.

That was my second mistake - no giardenara. I was a little miffed afterward that the kid taking orders didn’t ASK if I wanted any toppings on the sandwich. Had I known the options, definitely would have got some.

 

[jasonrann]

Definitely going to.
But regarding the Italian beef, I can’t understand why it wouldn’t be seasoned enough because they are new. Wouldn’t all locations have the same recipe and ingredients?

I have worked in a restaurant and when you get busy, it is easy to cut corners to speed things up. The giardiniera is a great enhancer, plus I dip my sandwich in the gravy with every bite. I also season the beef with salt and pepper.

 

[QChawks]

Pepperjax is awful, Cappriotti’s steak sandies are so much better.

I thought the beer was pretty good, but then again I ate in house so the bread wasn’t soggy at all.

I agree about their shakes though, damn fine.

 

[3boysmom]

Pepperjax is awesome but not Italian Beef. You people are nuts. I'm guessing the seasoning issue has something to do with how busy they are. Not properly marinating or cooking as long as it should. I do generally get the Chicago Dog because I love them. And the chocolate cake shake. I see they have those at DQ now but I just know it wouldn't be the same.