Wario’s Beef and Pork was created by Chef Stephan Madias, who wanted to bring a chef-driven sandwich shop to Columbus.  He wanted customers to feel like family and to serve them quality food that is responsibly sourced and made from scratch.  Their signature semolina roll is baked and delivered to the shop daily from Matija Breads and he makes, cures and smokes the other ingredients in-house.  They opened in late fall of 2020 as a little sandwich window that quickly became a new city food spot.  Named for a character in Nintendo’s Mario Brothers video game series, they are open Wed. through Sun. and have a few tables inside and a large patio outside.  A really friendly spot, we immediately struck up a conversation with one of their regulars and their counter person was also friendly and helpful.  The sandwiches are huge and excellent.  I would eat there often if I lived nearby.

Set-Up

Food

The Steak – Wario’s Way was made with 8oz. shaved ribeye, grilled onions, house whiz, provolone and white American cheese on a semolina-seeded roll.   Normally The Steak is just with one cheese, whiz, but on Wed. it is the same price as the “Wario’s Way” and the counter person highly recommended that.  The beef was tender and flavorful and it was filled with cheese.  Interestingly it didn’t feel out of balance, it was just good.  The bread and the meat were wonderful and when mixed with the onions and cheese, even better.  I was sorry not to eat more but dinner was on the horizon.

The Roasted Pork contained rosemary/fennel cured and roasted shoulder, broccoli rabe and picante provolone on a semolina-seeded roll served with pork jus.  Again, on the same excellent roll the sandwich was packed with tasty pork.  The greens weren’t bitter enough to add the contrast I wanted but the jus was just what it needed to meld it together.  There was definitely less cheese on this one but the overall flavor was just as good.