Viola’s Submarine House

Holy shit batman steak and cheese with mushrooms and bannana peppers to die for soft bread! Was scared at first alittle dive but clean an delicious!

We eat the at least twice a month. The food is always good. Steak and Coppola is one of the best I’m my opinion. Don’t expect a luxury dining room but expect a good sub

I honestly cannot tell you how disappointed I am. My family back in the 90’s would rave up and down about Violas they never switched and we stayed true to them. Well we haven’t had Violas in awhile so hey there the place to go… My steak and cheese sub was just off the point where they ought to been, I cannot place my finger on what was diffrent but I know it wasn’t up to par on how it should have been. So I was thinking maybe it’s just me gave my fiancé a bite and he concludes my theory that it was not up to par. So he tried his sub and looked at me and said they had to have changed owners cause this is not Viola Subs at all. I am going to try them again next week so I will update you, if they are not up to what they used to be well Wegmans Subs are next in line for us to order from.

I love there subs since I was a kid. I just wish they would do better at consistently changing their gloves while handling money & then with the same gloves making food. Not cool. Oh yes & they close a little to early 5pm is way to early maybe 7 or 8 would be a great time to close. But besides that great place to eat at.

Full disclosure: I am a Vi’s or die girl. Violas’s opened in the mid 1960s, first at this location, then a year later across the street from the former LaSalle High School. For twenty years straight i ate here at least twice a week. The restaurant is named in honor of the family matriach, Grandma (Nonna) Viola. This is a closely-​knit family run restaurant. it’s fun to see the next generation starting to work answering phones, sweeping up, ringing up orders.
Reading other’s reviews, I read some unkind references to the «mean, grumpy old lady who waited on us». Miss Carmella, behind the counter since Day 1, recently retired due to health issues. One of the kindest and most gracious ladies I have ever met.
The décor: Divey. Tables are probably sticky. bathrooms are better at a state rest stop. Floor is no doubt dirty. That’s not why we come to Vi’s.
That would be very The food. Steak & cheese. Double steak and cheese. Double steak and double cheese, also called a double double.
I’ve only ever eaten half of a double-​double. Eventually, I’ll work my way up to it. I’ll try again next week. Vi’s or die.

I’ll give it 3 stars I guess. If you have ever been in Niagara Falls for more than a day you’ve heard someone say something about Viola’s. It’s usually a long the lines of «You have to try them, they have the best steak and cheese in town!» I wonder if these people get out much? While this place does offer an okay steak and cheese, it is not even close to being the «best.» They’re small little so called «subs» with very little meat and cheese, one of the places that tries to sell a sandwiches size with the use of veggies. Also for the price it’s definitely not worth it, not even a little. I’m giving 3 stars because they’re a Niagara Falls go to and if you catch the staff on a good day they’ll carry a decent conversation with you. Other than that this place will offer you an overpriced light snack and most definitely is not a must try while in Niagara Falls!

For a place that claims to have the best cheese steak in the land, and has reviews with such claims, the cheese steaks are pretty pathetic.
Unless you get «Double Meat» for double the cost, your sandwhich will NOT fill you up. The way they wrap the sandwhich in plastic super tight makes the bread soggy and unpleasant.
I suppose i could say the quality of meat was good, that’s the ONLY positive.
Prices are not great. Sandwhich is mediocre. and the People that work there are very rude and unpleasant.
I am not impressed with viola’s

Best subs in town been eating here since I was a kid when I ask people who has the best sub’s in town everyone says violas!!!

If everyone here was Swiss and had a sore throat, it would be called Ricola’s Submarine House. If everyone here was from the Cajun Capital of Louisiana, it would be called Nola’s Submarine House. And if the employeeshere smelled bad, it would be called B.O.la’s Submarine House. Actually, working over that grill, they probably do. So… hmm.
What to get: Steak And Cheese sandwich with everything.
I’m more of a violin guy, traditionally. That all changed the day I walked into this place, and from now on, there is only one stringed instrument for me, and it’s not a harmonica. Well it wouldn’t be anyway. But you know what I mean. Speaking of which, did you hear that Bill Clinton stopped playing the Sax and decided to play the Harmonica? Hmm.
I wasn’t sure if the hype would be well-​founded or misplaced, well I had that little quandary answered in the most emphatic way as soon as I took a heavenly bite of this, one of the juiciest and most delicious sandwiches I have ever eaten, anywhere. In fact it’s probably better than ANY cheesesteak in Philly. Note I did not say better than any sandwich in Philly (hi John’s! hi Tommy DiNic’s! hi Old Nick’s!), but better than the cheesesteaks there, I would say yes.
Let’s start with the negatives.
(1) The employees certainly have bad attitudes. Typical NYC attitudes almost. Or Philly even.
(2) The place is pretty dirty.
(3) It closes early, like 5pm each day, but then there is one open much later out on Military, which I haven’t tried yet.
(4) I can’t think of a #4, sorry.
(5) Same for #5.
Now on to the positives.
(1) The Steak and cheese sandwich is one of the best sandwiches I have ever had.
(2) The Steak and cheese sandwich is one of the best sandwiches I have ever had.
(3) The Steak and cheese sandwich is one of the best sandwiches I have ever had.
(4) The Steak and cheese sandwich is one of the best sandwiches I have ever had.
(5) The Steak and cheese sandwich is one of the best sandwiches I have ever had.
Also, I love how juicy and delicious it is, and the salad that is on there just makes it wetter and more lovable. You can get double meat and cheese if you want, or you can get peppers and onions and such added to it, which I might do next time. But yeah. This is a real gem. It’s better than pretty much any sub in Buffalo, and is right up there with the best sandwiches in WNY. If you can get past the attitudes, you may well orgasm from this food.
You may also not, because it’s all a matter of taste, and it is wet, greasy and the service is appalling by some standards and like I said, the place is dirty. Not the most appealing neighborhood for some, either, but I love it. Round the back of Pine. Not far from Godfather’s. Where Julio lives. Me and Julio down by Viola’s.
Plus PW has reviewed it. Anywhere that PW has reviewed, you have to try it. It’s an unwritten Unilocal rule.
I was going to make a VERY bad taste joke that was a play on the name of this place but I don’t want to be more obscene than I already am so message me privately if you want to hear it.
Oh, I forgot to mention, expect a wait time, expect gruff service, expect a dirty place, don’t use your phone when ordering or talking to the guy, and if you like this place, you owe me a 5-​to-​7-​minute cuddling session.
Well worth a trip to the Falls for. Along with the Pizza at Pizza Oven… and at Hacienda too if you wanna sit down, as well as their salad… and the Salad and Beans & Greens Soup at Michael’s… and more… this is one of the very best places in the Falls, and one of the very best sandwiches in WNY, or anywhere.
I cannot give it any higher praise than to say if it were in Philly… it would still be one of my faves in that town.
I met a friend here, bizarrely. She is a self-​described pile of mulch in a vat of mayonnaise on top of a mountain of cool whip, that is how vanilla she is. I thought she was being a bit harsh.
And remember if they sold old phonographs it would be Victrola’s Submarine House. And if this place was actually a chop shop for stolen cars it would be Vin-number’s Submarine House. And if it were a pill shop for horny old men, it would be Viagra’s Submarine House.
And after all, it is in Viagra Falls. So it would make sense. But as I said before, I only ever go up here because my friend Alice lives here. So now I have 2 reasons to go up here. To eat this sandwich… and to Cialis.

Stumbled in here because we were hungry for lunch before visiting Niagara Falls. Awesome steak, and sausage sandwiches, loved the spices they put on these sandwiches. We took it to go, perfect for a small picnic at the park. Watch for the drippings from the sandwiches. I will definitely come back to this shop!

Since I was in the neighborhood I had to stop by for one of the best steak and cheese subs that there is. Viola’s has two locations with the other being on Military Road, this is the original and just my old memories of this place brings me back even though the other location is much closer to my house. You can bet that I will be returning for another sub.

What a disappointment. I came in to Viola’s with a group of 6 hungry people, apparently 15 minutes before closing (we had had no idea). Walking in I wasn’t expecting a 5-​star dining experience but I was expecting more than we got.
From the moment we arrived, the angry women at the counter (Viola perhaps?) bitched and moaned about our presence. We all had a few chuckles and I chalked it up to being part of the place’s «charm» as one of my dining companions compared the experience to «the soup Nazi … No sub for you!»
Right after we arrived and ordered, about 6 more folks did too. One person in my group got her sub, one was told it would be 15-​minutes (he ordered the sausage which had to be cooked from frozen), and two of us ordered steak and cheese. Turns out, nearly everyone that came after our group also ordered steak and cheese. My friend and I waited patiently at the counter (being borderline abused by this woman) while the people behind us all got their subs. The grill was then bare and the cook left the area, everyone else was eating, and my friend and I still stood there. Our friend that was served first was nearly finished her sub and I said, «ya know what, since you haven’t started my sub yet just cancel the order «. Seriously, I’m not paying someone to treat me like shit.
Why two stars? One for my experience and the other because according to my companions, the subs were all okay … except for the sausage sub which was apparently orgasmic. My friend was so impressed by his sub that I figured I’d throw in the extra star.
Being that the shop is a little neighborhood establishment, I would like to go back and try again under the assumption that the angry lady was just having a bad day. But let me warn you this, Viola’s, should you be just as rude the next time I will provide «No more business for you!».

Hands down the BEST Steak and Cheese Subs… EVER. I have been eating at Violas regularly since I was a little kid. I prefer the location on Elmwood Avenue in Niagara Falls behind the market, just because it was the original and the grill is a bit more seasoned, but the one on Military Road is just as good. I’ve probably eaten Viola’s steak and cheese subs (double steak double cheese) probably 1,000 plus times and I have NEVER ordered anything else off the menu. I have NO idea how anything else is at this place. The steak and cheese subs are that good. They are freaking amazing! Thinly sliced beef that is griddled, soft rolls, velvety melted cheese and a seasoned tomato/​onion topping. If I had one critique it would be to lose the saran wrap they wrap the subs in. The subs are super messy, but heated saran wrap takes on a nasty chemical smell. I can deal with it though. When I’m in the mood to take down a 5,000+ calorie meal I avoid the Golden Arches and head down to Violas! Truely a hidden gem in the heart of Niagara Falls.

This is a classic spot. It may look like it is closed when you drive up, but walk right in and take in the classic vibe of a true American Niagara Falls beauty. It is grimy inside and the dude on the grill seems the same. I got a steak and cheese with only mayo. That is how I usually get my cheesesteaks. This was better than the Philly cheesesteak I had in Philly. Unreal. They use thinly sliced ribeye, oil and spices to flavor the meat. The tip jar reads «Tip-​Ping is not a city in China». The cook was a great cynical dude, very in tuned to the town and gave me pointers on other spots to check for. He did not mince words. He was a smart ass but true to his craft. My old man tried to order the ham and cheese and he said, «Come on you come all the way from Cleveland to order something you can make at home? Get the steak and cheese.» He was glad he did. Great establishment.