What’s Your Beef

I really like the breakfast plate here. Simple scrambled egg and seasoned potatoes. The toast that came with it this time was just glob of butter instead of spreading it on the toast which I wasn’t too crazy about but overall a good delivery service if you work downtown.

I love a good dive, a hidden gem. I wanted to like this place after stumbling on it between meetings in downtown Orlando. Unfortunately it left a lot to be desired.
I’m not from Chicago, so maybe I’m not a qualified expert on hot Italian sandwiches, but here’s my recap.
The décor is fine, the place is very small and kind of downtown cool. The guys are nice enough, not overly helpful for a first-​timer, but it’s not too difficult to order a sandwich. My table top was sticky, but it’s the food that counts, right?
I ordered the hot Italian beef. It took a little while but finally arrived, mouth-​burningly hot (temp not spice). I ordered it with hot peppers, which is basically carrots and veggies in vinegar I think. Not really spicy hot, but maybe it’s a Chicago thing. The sandwich was pretty big, and the pasta salad on the side was tasty enough, but the meat was tough and bland. It was wet and messy and burning hot (temp, to be clear), but very boring and chewy.
I’m not a sandwich snob, but this was a disappointment. The price was reasonable, the guys seemed nice enough, and I might try it again to see if they were having an off day, but I was very underwhelmed. I think the core of their business is downtown office folks who have limited time and options. I’ve had far better hot sandwiches from Togos back in Cali, so I guess the search continues.

Working downtown this is my one stop shop for breakfast after getting to the office. They offer a good variety of breakfast delights. The biscuits and gravy is loaded with a hefty portion of chopped sausage in the gravy. My go to is a Bacon, Sausage, Egg, and Cheese on a buttered croissant. Great taste and great deal for the price.
The staff there are just as good as the food they serve, always offering friendly small talk while they cook. If you are a regular to the place and you get the same order, they will usually remember what you get. Best hot breakfast on the go in downtown!

I have always loved Steve and the What’s Your Beef team. I was very happy to observe with their new hire specifically took the time to make sure she got my name the first time I got in as she wanted to make sure she knew who the regulars were and was able to pick up on them as quickly as possible.
I typically stick to the special of the day when its something that seems appetizing and on at least 3 occasions have been able to comment, either on request or in passing, as to what I would like to see as a special in the coming days or the following week and had that exact item for lunch just a few days later on special.
Leading up to every payday I take a sizable list of breakfast sandwiches orders from co-​workers so that on Thursday evening I can email in the «Payday Friday Breakfast Sandwich» order. I specify what time I expect to arrive and have only had to wait on the food to finish being bagged up on the few days I have arrived early.
I have nothing but good things to say for the staff and the food.

During a recent walk around downtown, I found What’s Your Beef. On my never-​ending quest to find someplace new for lunch, I figured I would give it a try. When I did, I was pleased with what I found. First, the place is not that easy to find. It’s on Washington Street and a little ways from the hustle and bustle of Orange Ave.
I had the Italian Beef with peppers and made sure it was dipped. The sandwich was, as it should be, a mess. You need a knife and fork, for sure. Eating in the restaurant was quiet, and in the case of this sandwich, necessary. I think it would have soaked through any to-​go bag. The meat was good, but a little tough on the day I went.
Overall, not a bad place to try. Staff was friendly and polite. Prices were reasonable for the quantity and quality of food. While its not a place I’d hit every day, I’ll be back at some point, when the craving for a hot, wet sandwich hits.

After being on the hunt for a more traditional type sandwich, the kind found in Chicago or Philly, I found What’s Your Beef on Unilocal.Reminds me of the sandwich counters you find in larger cities in the Northeast. Don’t blink or you will pass it. Specialize in Chicago style sandwiches, hot dogs, subs with salads and wraps thrown in for good measure. They even have a stand up counter for the proper eating etiquette. Tried the Italian beef this time out. Bun was thick, and the beef tender with a nice gardinare. While the sandwich was tasty (though a bit on the salty side) I ended up being a bit disappointed since they did not also dip the bun in au jus, which made it a bit dry. I plan on going back as just about everyone deserves a second chance.

Working in Downtown Orlando, you find every little food spot you possibly can. This is a little joint, that has limited hours, and a limited menu. I find that the breakfast is their forte, for lunch I would recommend their salad’s.
The sides are a bit bland for my taste. I have never tried a pasta dish or an Italian beef as I am a vegetarian.
The best bet is the Scrambler in the morning. Sometimes they have free coffee! Everyone is totally friendly and down to earth, and it is quality food. Be sure to check this place out if you work downtown near Washington/​Orange.
They have daily specials, and they are just a few steps down Washington from Orange.

I work in downtown Orlando, so this place is perfect when I need to grab something quick for lunch.
Aside from being very friendly, the food – at least everything I’ve ever had – is really good. It’s going to sound crazy, but they make one of my favorite Chef Salads in town; it’s yummy.
I definitely endorse What’s Your Beef! Maybe next time I head there I’ll take a stab at something new.

Walter’s girlfriend here.
The day started out with the typical «What the hell are we going to eat today?» argument. Walter was in a foul mood, and continued to throw out suggestions for various downtown spots while simultaneously shooting down all of my suggestions. I attempted to disarm him with the hollow threat of McDonald’s drive-​thru (mmmmm… McChicken) but his pre-​meal pissiness is only matched by his morning post-​awakening grouchiness. Alas, I gave in.
The interior was unremarkable and bland. Fine by me, let the food do the talking. I ordered a Chicken Curry Wrap and Chicken Noodle Soup.
Argh, she hacked my Unilocal account! Walter here!
Anyway, we walked around downtown and passed up a couple of places until we stumbled upon What’s Your Beef? and we walked in at HER insistence. I ordered the Italian Beef with hot Giardiniera and their Macaroni BLT as a side. The service was friendly and they had a pretty extensive menu of wraps and key Chicago staples. The last time I had an Italian Beef was over at Italian Beefstro about six months ago, so I was definitely in the mood to get sloppy.
Our plates came out and they looked promising. As we dug in, we were left with a feeling of mediocrity for their provisions.
The first culprit, the Chicken Noodle Soup. The initial spoonful into her mouth was followed up with a, «Ugh, this tastes like oil». I thought to myself, how can you mess up Chicken Soup? I took a taste myself, and yes, it tasted like oil. You could barely taste the spices of the broth, and the noodle, chicken, veggies were terribly sparse. They should rename it Kerosene Soup.
I didn’t quite understand the title, «Macaroni BLT». I overheard the girl taking our order say that it’s the first side that usually sells out. I didn’t know what to expect, but I expected something unique. What I got seemed to be a standard Macaroni Salad. The only ingredient that showed from the BLT acronym was the bits of chopped tomato. No lettuce, no bacon that I could discern. Decent for what it was.
The Italian Beef? Again, decent. I could taste the Oregano seasoned beef and it was topped with a nice amount of hot Giardiniera. It came with a side of Au Jus that I didn’t hesitate to completely drench the sandwich with. There was a nice pool of Au Jus at the bottom of my basket that I repeatedly dunked my already soaked bread into. It satisfied me, but didn’t wow me like the Italian Beefstro did. There was something missing… not enough zip in «hot» Giardiniera?
What saved this place was the Curry Chicken Wrap. It was pretty darn good. It tasted fresh, creamy, crunchy, chunky, light, but at the same time hearty enough to placate your tummy.
If we came here solely for wraps, I’d be more inclined in granting this place 4 stars. So, if you’re in the downtown area and in the mood for wraps, I’d definitely recommend this place.
And yes, if my gullet isn’t downing food after a prolonged period of time, or I’m just waking up from a night of sleep, it’s in your best interest to give me 30 feet ’cause your head will likely get lopped off. Unfortunately, my girlfriend has to put up with me and as a result, has sown her head back on her neck an innumerable amount of times.
RAWR!

I ended up here because I couldn’t find Gringos Locos. I don’t know what happened, apparently I needed some B-​vitamins to get my brain working so it’s good I found this spot.
When I lived in Chicago, I didn’t have many Italian Beefs, I’m more of a hot dog fan really. Still though, this sammy made for a nice lunch and I loved the addition of hot giardiniera. Had to skip the bun, which was fine because there was plenty of meat to get full.

They say they’ve been there about 5 months, I’ve never heard of them before Colleen found them a few weeks ago. They still have some kinks to work out, but I wish them much success.
First I got the «super world class tamale» it had some grandiose name like that. It was about the size of a hot dog and stuffed with ground beef. I believe it was steamed. The corn meal was a little mealy (ha!). It was decent but nothing special.
My main course was the hot italian beef sandwich. I got sweet peppers on it. I’m not sure why but I expected a cup of au jus sauce with it, turns out they just dip the sandwich in the broth after they make it. The ample beef was shredded up and had a strong taste of Oregano. The bread was exactly like a publix sub bun. I didn’t find the sandwich especially flavorful, it needed some sauce or onions or cheese or something on top.
I was still hungry afterwords so I got a meatball marinara sub with mozzarella on top. The meatball tasted homemade, but again not very tangy. Maybe the issue I have here is I like strongly flavored and spicy food. It’s possible Chicagoans or the owners prefer more mildness.
According to the sign their maximum «occpancy» is 30 so it’s not a very big place. The staff were all very nice and friendly, and since it was slow we were chit chatting a lot.
They do not have fountain drinks or brewed tea just bottled stuff, they did not have forks or even free cups of water.

I have been here a couple of times now. Both times I had the Italian Beef sandwich. The first time I visited the beef to bread ratio was terrible. It was all bread and a little bit of beef. The beef was seasoned really well and the hot giardiniera was delicious.
The second time I visited they changed the bread. The review in the Orlando Sentinel said the bread was fresh from Publix. I love Publix bread, just not for this sandwich. The bread was too crunchy on the outside and couldn’t hold a lot of the au jus which is key to a good Italian beef sandwich. They placed a lot more meat on it this time around but it didn’t seem as flavorful. It could have used a little bit more seasoning.
Overall, the sandwich is good but not great. When it comes to wanting an Italian Beef sandwich in Orlando, I prefer Italian Beefstro over Whats Your Beef. I think Italian Beefstro is more authentic to what you will get in Chicago and the sandwich’s I’ve had there seem to be more consistent.

Read that as 3.5 stars.
Stopped by WYB? today for lunch. The menu is short and sweet with plenty of meat! Hot dogs, sausages, Italian beef and a pizza thing.
I got the Italian beef with 2 sides of peppers, sweet and Giardineira. I much preferred the later, myself. The meat was seasoned heavily with oregano. I mean really heavy! It’s tasty and flavorful, but it seems to be missing something. I don’t know if cheese or some kind of steak sauce could have improved it for me. The sub rolls are from the Publix bakery, which isn’t a bad thing.
The place is very clean, and the workers are friendly. It’s obvious the owners are trying they best to break onto the scene with something novel for the area. I definitely credit them for that.
A few things need to be hammered out, but overall it’s was a positive experience. They need to really promote to compensate for the location, which is far enough from Washington St. (midway between Orange Ave and I-​4) that most people would never know it’s there.

Welcome to Orlando What’s Your Beef !!! I have a great deal of respect for people who see a situation they don’t agree with and actually do something about it !!
Enter What’s Your Beef — a hard working, dedicated Chicago couple finally got fed up with the lack of good Chicago Style food and focused all their efforts and resources to changing that… and change they did !
Simple, specific, authentic, true to its origins menu — nothing more… nothing less, just good Old Chicago Hot Dogs or Italian beef sandwiches among the staples the superstars in the menu.
Sitting there enjoying my Italian beef sandwich with giardinera peppers… dipped, I could hear the crowds cheering as Andre Dawson hit a home run or maybe Mark Grace making a play in first base !!!
Hmmm or maybe the big hurt hitting it out of Comiskey park — or Scottie Pippen uttering his now famous Re pe at !! in Grant Park … either way — Welcome Chicago to Orlando and its all good !!!

We literally drove straight here from Miami on our last trip to Orlando to spend the weekend. No stopping at the hotel to check in for us! We had heard from Colleen that there was a great Chicago Italian Beef place and we were there.
Of course we had Italian Beef with extra Gardiniera peppers! Being from Chicago and having a ridiculous lack of good Chicago Italian Beef, Pizza and whatnot we take any place that has some home deliciousness very seriously.
The owners are working hard with a smile to give great service, and that they do! I had forgotten to ask for chips before we paid and when I asked to purchase a bag, she just threw it in. So nice.
Needless to say we had a small breakfast and an apple on the way to Orlando anticipating this sammie we had nothing else and it was worth every hunger pain. The bread was soft on the inside and firm on the outside, wet like we asked and chock full of delicious beef.
Immediately I noticed this was NOT Vienna Beef shipped in frozen and heated up. NOPE, it was very obviously freshly made. yessirreee Bob, home made Italian Beef. It was superb and such a nice surprise! I literally inhaled that sandwich up and could have had another without blinking even though they are huge, however we were headed to The Dessert Lady for some much anticipated dessert.
The place is very typical of a sandwich joint in Chicago, one table and some stools. Not elegant, just your typical joint and well worth it.

Mike is awesome! Was welcoming from the second I stepped in. I was the only one in there for a moment so we chatted about how he was from Chicago and has been here for 11 years and was like… that’s it, Orlando needs some Chicago flavor. Seriously, after having the staple beef sandwich, I am so glad Mike put his foot down.
I went with the regular Italian beef and subbed the peppers with onions, im a sucker for fried onions. I also topped the amazing meaty deliciousness with a thick coat of melted sharp provolone cheese. Score!
Now, being from Philadelphia I am a cheesesteak snob and when I compare those type of sandwiches here to the ones in Philly… mu #1 complaint is… Where’s The Beef? As it seems that anywhere south of PA they seem to skimp you on the meat so I usually end up ordering double meat. Yes, a female ordering double meat… looks so sexy I am sure. Well here, at What’s Your Beef? They load you up with the meaty goodness so no need to order double meat because that would be basically ordering an entire other sandwich… which actually here, isn’t a bad thing.
The meat was just so tender and juicy, it had a little kick which was a nice surprise. The roll was as awesome as the portion of meat, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Being this was my cherry-​pop for an Italian beef, it was not as messy as I was expecting. The au jus was perfect, moistened up the roll perfectly. I believe I inhaled my sandwich it was so good and like I told Mike, if I was not heading out downtown, I would have gotten another one. It was THAT good.
I know I will be heading back to grad another Italian beef but I am also going to sample my usual go-to…Meatball Sub!!!
Their ingredients are all Chicago style so you must stop in to get this great taste of a northern city here in our awesome southern town… Thanks to Mike and his wife for opening such a great spot in DT Orlando!