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Category: Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: BallardMon-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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heheh i still have one left over at home, i'm a tad bit greedy so i got two. the hehehe is me giddy that i gonna have a great dinner to go home too.
ambience = is sorta my thing, but the absolute only reason its not a five
Service = some of the friendly ppl around, almost border line uncomfortable but it was me and not them that have issues:(
Food = French dip is great, but hard for me to judge since this is probably my 10th one. once i try phillippe in LA i'll be back to update
Price = $
Favorite = character of the kids, cheap, and great w the swiss cheese
Worst = no seating
Final Say = will be back, for sure
Rizzo is the shiznizzo!!!
I walk in and there are about 4 or 5 guys huddled around a small TV watching Jerry Springer. As soon as I walk in, they start joking around with me very jovially. Mr. Rizzo asks if I've been there before and I mention that I'm in from out of town. He asks where and we banter a bit about Austin. Totally nice guys.
I get my sandwich (w/o cheese) and grab a container of the spicy horseradish mustard to go. Shortly thereafter I unwrap and eat one of the tastiest French dips I've had. I love that its pre-dipped traditional style. The au jus was flavorful and the horseradish mustard added the perfect kick. It was filling enough that I even skipped dinner. Yum!
People thought this was:
On food alone it is probably 3-stars; plenty of meat, and nice and juicy at that. But the bread just goes soggy too fast. The mustard / horseradish really helps.
But you've got to love these guys. Feels straight out of S. Philly or the Bronx, not Ballard. The crew and the joint both have so much character. And their complete lack of irony just puts it over the top.
Their commercial spot killed me: http://bit.ly/3pV1wa. Go support them.
Five stars in the "French Dip" category!
This isn't that hard to achieve in Seattle... If you were in Chicago, I imagine "Beef Sandwiches" is a business type sub-category on yelp.
But look people, it's not hard, just go get an original with Swiss. It's the way a french dip is supposed to be. I know, it's fun to dip, da da da, whatever. Rizzo's is the best in the city and if you don't agree, you don't really love a true french dip!
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What kinda monster writes a bad review on this clearly family owned restaurant that has mastered the french dip sandwich!? This place is amazing and their sandwiches are EXACTLY what you'd want a beef sandwich to be made by EXACTLY the kind of guys you'd trust to make a beef sandwich(that's what she said). Perfection!
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First off Seattle needs Rizzo's more than Rizzo's needs Seattle. I forgot about this place after reading the article in the stranger a while back. Then the other day a buddy was dragging me to Lunchbox lab down the street but it turned out to be closed so we spotted Rizzo's and we had to stop.
Walking in the door I looked to my right and saw a small table pushed into the corner above it a tv blaring Goodfella's. In front of the counter was a young lad in a nike track jacket sitting on a stool. We moved up to the counter and an older teenager behind the counter took our order. $6 bucks and your choice of cheddar or swiss and an extra $3 bucks for double meat and that's it.
After ordering we were waiting for our food and the older kids asks "how did you hear about us?"
I replied "from that stranger article"
The young kid in the green track suit top puffs out his chest and proclaimed proudly "I was in that story!!"
And sure enough he was. A classic joint.
Keep in mind that the French dip is dipped in house and that you will not get a tub of gravy. That is the original way. For all of you that can't seem to understand that it was called a "dip" because it was dipped and then given to the customer and not the other bastardized way...I say to bad!
Its Damn good..
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I almost missed eating here today because when I arrived at 11:15am, the blinds were drawn and the "Closed" sign was in the window so I gathered it was...closed. Still for some reason, I was unconvinced that it wasn't open so I tried the front door and it was unlocked, so I entered. And they were open!
I ordered the French Dip Original, which comes with a macaroni salad. For $3 you can get additional beef on your sandwich. A loaf of zucchini bread is available for $5.
I took my sandwich and salad to my car to eat (there really isn't any parking in front, so I parked on a nearby side street).
Frankly, I was majorly disappointed in the sandwich. First off, they call it a French "Dip", but there is no au jus. What's up with that?
Upon wrapping the sandwich, I was confused because I thought the sandwich had oatmeal on it. Well no, it wasn't oatmeal. I'm guessing they pre-wrap the sandwiches so far in advance that the sandwich roll gets mushy from all the moisture trapped inside the foil.
Yeah, some of the other Yelp reviews indicate that the sandwiches here are pre-dipped and that that is the correct way to serve French Dip. Mushy is desirable? Not in my book, folks.
And then the flavor of the meat. It was unpleasantly heavy on the garlic. Basically, it tasted strange. Even though I think their French Dip sandwich is reasonably priced, I just didn't care for it.
People thought this was:
Damn - I really wanted to like this place. It's a true whole in the wall selling one of my favorite meals on a street I travel often.
I know it's been well documented in other reviews that they pre-dip the bread in Au Jus (which makes the bread a bit soggy). So, I guess they can technically still call it a "French Dip." But, c'mon! Who doesn't want a savory bowl or cup of Au Jus with their FRENCH DIP!?!
The other dissapointment was the meat. Yes, it was tender and carved nicely, but I found it to be a bit bland. You know what would have fixed that? A bowl or cup of Au Jus to dip it in!
I also wasn't a big fan of the non-descript mac salad. Buy a deep fryer and offer up some fries as a side order.
You ever get a craving for something and get the meal that should satisfy that craving, but it doesn't? Then you're left with an even bigger craving for the thing you wanted. That's where I'm at.
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I walked in, asked the man for an "Original, that's it" with $6 in my hand - you know, Soup Nazi style.
I don't want any trouble here mister, just give me the goods.
He looks at me for one moment and smiles. "You've been here before, huh?"
This man knew I meant business. "Nah bro, I'm originally from Chicag-"
"PORTILLO'S," he interrupted with a finger pointed to the heavens, "best beef in the midwest."
Those words struck me, as I were Keira Knightley, listening to a sonnet from that dreamy Mr. Darcy or a tween listening to her first Jonas brothers song and having their first girl / boy *thing*. There was a connection there people. A BOND. lol.
I've always thought there was a shortage of Italian beef joints (which there are), but even though this is a different sandwich, it is a delicious substitute. Great hearty bread that holds the delicately shaved meat into place, which in turn creates little pockets for the gravy to nuzzle into. Amazing. A.MA.ZING.
Some tips:
You should really eat this sandwich within 5 minutes of receiving it - you don't want the bread to get gummy.
If Rizzo put the sauce on the side, you would only get 2 ounces of gravy - which is about 340975304967390467th of what the sandwich normally comes with.
Thank the man for making a place that doesn't have too many options - if that's what you want, Lunchbox Labs is just down the street. Just order your damn sammich and be on your way.
If I were a smart man, I would open up a waffle-fry shack next door - that's all I'd really want.
Eat there today and thank me later.
~Spec
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Adding another star because I emailed Rizzo's about why they don't serve the Jus on the side, and I now stand corrected, I "assumed" that the "proper" way to serve a French Dip was to have the Au Jus on the side, and the nice folks at Rizzo's said, if you would like your Au Jus on the side, "the popular style", but not the 'traditional' style, we will gladly do that for you... so, I looked it up on Google and according to Wikipedia (and a couple of other yelpers here) the original style _was_ to pre-dip the bun/roll...
http://en.wikipedia.or...
Well, I'm glad they're willing to accommodate those of us who prefer to break from tradition occasionally, and given that the original reason might have had something to do with crusty old bread, it's a good thing, I mean, maybe if the bread they used was crusty and hard to start with, by the time I got home it might be just right, but then again, apparently a lot of us just prefer to dip it ourselves! ;-)
By the way, I had a delicious French Dip up around the corner (85th and 8th) at the Sundown Saloon:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
They have relatively new ownership and they smoke their own meats.. the place is WAY different from when I used to go there a few years ago.. back then it was a total dive.. a good thing sometimes!
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As a long time Ballard resident I wanted to love this place, it's a quirky, small (really small),… Read more »
RIZZO FOR PRESIDENT!
Holy crap, this tiny little french dip sandwich shop is DELICIOUS. Been here twice now (in about a 10-day span), and every day at lunch time, I'm craving more. I love how they offer only one item: They've mastered it and leave it at that. I'd much rather have one choice of something amazing, than 12 choices of mediocrity.
It's cheap too. One sandwich and one drink will run you around $7, and you will be full for the rest of the day. The meat is extremely flavorable, and the bread is top notch. I love how it is soaked in the au jus sauce, rather than you dipping it in. It's so much easier to eat, and it's maximum au jus goodness. If you had to dip your sandwich in a side au jus, there's no way you'd get that ratio of bread:meat:sauce.
The guys are hilarious too. Everytime we go there, they strike up a conversation, tell you a joke, ask you questions on how to better the place. Super nice guys, and I hope they continue to do well.
I will be continuing to get my sandwich on at Rizzo's every chance I can get.
People thought this was:
"Cheese or no cheese"
Simple enough. Though I was not expecting my options to be processed Swiss or American. Ew.
No au jus on the side? Sniff, sniff.
Okay yes, the meat is very tasty but how is it a French Dip without....dip? I'm confused.
I would recommend taking your order to go. Since we traveled from the south end to see what the fuss was all about, we opted to just stay and eat while it was still warm, soaking up the beautiful view of Aurora Ave.
I wish Rizzo's the best, but this place just isn't for me.
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I thought the food I had here was pretty bad. I ordered the sandwich (there's only one) with cheese and it came with a side of macaroni salad. The bread, meat and cheese were all tasteless and the sandwich was very soft. The macaroni was dressed with a light coating of mayo and black pepper and mixed with scant diced vegetables. Got a tiny plastic cup of bitter mustard/horseradish and that seemed to make things worse. It looked as though they had just had a delivery and all of the cheap, prepackaged food products were piled on the front counter waiting to be put away.
There aren't any tables in the small room, just a counter, fridge, television (pointed at the kitchen) and an office chair occupied by a bored-looking guy. I was ignored for a bit when I got there, then finally moved a couple of feet closer so I couldn't be missed. It's almost as if he didn't really care whether or not I ordered.
I can appreciate a good 'joint' but I think there has to be some redeeming merit to either the food, the atmosphere or the people.
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Decided to give Rizzo's another try this weekend and they have made some nice improvements. The bun is bigger and more hearty so that it doesn't turn gummy while wrapped up in the foil. The sandwich is bigger. Oh is it bigger! I had a hard time finishing the whole thing by myself. They also offer a small to-go container of a whole grain mustard/horseradish sauce that helps to punch things up.
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I was very excited about the prospect of a French Dip restaurant. I was probably too excited… Read more »
I was a bit skeptical of this place when I walked in....I saw all the employees on their lunch break eating Taco Bell...really?...you have a full kitchen behind you and places around you to eat and you choose Taco Bell..nasty. Its ok, I wont hold it against them.
Tiny place, no where to sit so prop yourself on the curb and enjoy your sandwich..and watch out cuz it gets messy. The sandwiches are pre-soaked in aujous (it was almost gravy-like), thus no side of aujous, however you do get a side of mac salad (meh...flavorless).
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Just wanted to let you know that after a day or two in the fridge, and a minute or two in the microwave, the sandwiches are still good.
Very nice!
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Rizzo's for shizzo.
I tried this new TINY place last week. It was pretty darn good. If you go, you…
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A friend of mine lives across the street from this place and from the moment the owners drove over to her standing on the sidewalk having a cigarette and asked her why she hadn't stopped in we were sold. The people that own this place are characters, in a good way. Not only that they make some kick ass french dips, that comes with this amazing horseradish sauce.
This was one of the happiest days of my life. Ballard always seems to deliver in taste and style.
"Cheese or no cheese"
Their French Dip is the only thing on the menu...and with anyone else I would have thought they were crazy because most places need a little variety to survive. Rizzo's proved me wrong, though, and my wife and I are completely hooked.
The meat is seasoned perfectly, the bread is perfectly saturated in the dip without being sloppy and over sogged, and the little side macraroni salad is pretty tasty too. We ordered 2 and it was around 13 bucks...PERFECT. I'm used to eating crappy food at that price, so it makes me pretty happy to eat one of the best sandwiches I've ever had for that price.
Also, the owner is extremely friendly and personal with every customer. I see this little place being around for a LONG time.
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Like some other reviewers, I really wanted to like this place. My husband & his coworkers rave about it all the time.
I realize that historically "French Dips" did not come with Au Jus on the side, they dipped the old crusty stale bread in it when prepared so they wouldn't have to waste the bread. I get it. I'm sorry, I don't care, I want to dip! Not to mention, the bread they use is not crusty, it is really soft and them "dipping" for you just turns it into a nasty sticky mess, with no real flavor!
The meat was also not very flavorful, I couldn't tell if it was seasoned or not. If I had some Au Jus to dip in, maybe I wouldn't have cared. The worst part of the meat was having to bite into huge pieces of gristle, I know it's hand carved, so take a second and cut out the big hunk of fat so that I can have some MEAT in my sandwich.
The macaroni salad was just a waste of space in my bag, didn't look good, didn't taste good. But I am one of those people that prefers some fries with my sandwiches. No salad, no chips, but some deep-fried goodness!
Now for the cheese. I love cheese and will always add it to my sandwich if it doesn't automatically come with. Unfortunately I am not a fan of processed Swiss cheese crap. The American I can understand, but if I order Swiss, I want REAL Swiss, not some goopy tasteless mush.
Lastly, I would rather my take-out bag was not a political advertisement Rizzo's, but thanks for making that choice for me.
All in all it wasn't the worst sandwich I have had, which is why I will graciously give them 2 stars, but I certainly will not return again.
For the price, this place can't be beat. My sis and I were hungry mofos, in search of a cheap sandwich. We drove by and saw the saw the sign (ace of base style) and decided to check it out.
If you like french dip, this place is for you! It comes pre-dipped for the lazy gal or guy, and with nose-clearing brown mustard horsey sauce, on the side of course... Yum! While it's not the most amazing french dip I've ever had (Simon's in the IDX bldg is), it comes at a pretty decent price and with some character y'all.
do it.
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I haven't had too many french dips, but this one was clearly the best!
The whole sandwich is dipped in au jus, which makes it a sloppy but delightful mess to eat! I asked the owner if he recommends cheese and he said its not traditional, but if you like cheese then no problem.
The beef had great flavor, I can taste the pepper (and is that garlic)?
Don't forget the spicy mustard in the cooler!
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Perfection.
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I read about Rizzo's in the Stranger on the morning of my last day in Seattle. Thank god for newspaper coffee time! As a tourist, it was a bit of a mission to get here just because we were trying to figure out the bus system and we were on a time constraint. We were hoping it would be in the middle of the shopping district in Ballard but it landed up being in the middle of a residential area. That was quite alright though.
This place is so straight forward. You want a french dip sandwich? well, that's exactly what you get with no frills. There's no tables to eat at but there are a couple lawn chairs in the front. there's not even chips for sale at the counter. It's a small little storefront with an ordering counter. The only option you have is for american or swiss cheese.
My boyfriend and I are from LA, home of the famous Phillipe's french dip. Rizzo's is BETTER! what a treasure this place is! It was the perfect last meal in Seattle.
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Know two things when you walk into this unassuming place: Swiss, American, or none. I opted for the Swiss. It was perfect. The roll was fresh, the meat tender and the au jus flavorful. What more could you want? Well, according to the man behind the counter: He "likes his with an orange soda". Next time, and I guarantee you there will be a next time, I will do the same. The cold macaroni salad between bite's complimented the sandwich nicely.
I went with my friend Noel and we ate-in. We got the two best seats in the place. I think taking it home would have actually given the bread time to soak up juices and the cheese to set up even better. All-in-all a perfect lunch.. It gets 5 stars from me because Noel said "Best French dip he's ever had". I'm gonna have to agree.
The first time I drove by I thought I read the sign wrong. "French Dips"? There has to be more to it than that.
Turns out, it's not needed. Simple question: Cheese or no cheese? Considering how many times a week I eat out, having things distilled down to something was very refreshing.
Anyway: great beef, ok roll, friendly staff, everything just right including the price (although I would have gladly payed a bit more for a little cup of beef juice on the side).
Of note is the macaroni salad. Really fresh and delicious. Might be worth going just for that.
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Seattle has allot of complicated choices from Non-fat soy double shot espresso lattes and deciding out of 100 toppings at burger joints; Rizzo's took care of that problems of all those pesky choices with:
there is the parking spot
here is where u order
there is the table
Cheese or No cheese?
yes? Swiss or American?
That's it.
All the sandwitches are dipped in Aujus sauce. If you want extra on the side, just ask!
The roast beef is well seasoned and flavorful with melted cheese and the roll is a good crusty french bread that they dip the whole thing in sauce.(I like the sauce)
It comes with a side of macaroni salad and they have a spicy mustard horseradish sauce to top off ,if you want.
In and out!
Hey they even will suggest who to vote for...
They got you covered at Rizzo's.
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I bought 3 Rizzo's French Dips for colleagues at work last week, and while they were good, they weren't a home run.
I am a huge fan of French Dips, and these were certainly not the worst I've had, but they weren't the best, either. For the price, they are probably just about right (around $6.50, cheese is 75 cents more).
Wikipedia defines a French Dip as "a hot sandwich consisting of thinly sliced roast beef (or, sometimes, other meats) on a "French roll" or baguette. It is most commonly served au jus ("with juice")..."
The original French Dip was claimed to be invented by one of two restuarants in Los Angeles, either at Coles, or at Phillipes, around the 1910's. Both serve their sandwich the "original" way, with the juice dipped right on the bread (NOT served in a side cup).
Rizzo's is the only place in town I know of that serves their French Dip the "original" way. That method certainly has it's benefits, such as that it's much easier to eat, especially on a "to-go" lunch break. But I still happen to like my au jus on the side so that I can dip to my hearts content and make the entire loaf soggy right before each bite.
Regardless, there wasn't a lot of jus on these sandwiches -- more like a thin layer neatly drizzled on each slice of baguette, instead of "dipped". The roast beef was not the most tasty I've had -- slightly overcooked, curly roast beef, and gristley with some bites. I think the beef could improve a lot if they cook the beef with with more seasonings, like garlic, or more salt and pepper, or perhaps slower, or less well done. Also, I generally think beef should be straight slices, not curled up from over-cooking. The cheese (you can choose American or Swiss) has more of the texture of original Philly cheese steak cheese -- like cheese whiz. Again, I prefer more real-textured and tasting cheese.
Apparently, I am SO UN-"ORIGINAL", because I like my au jus on the side, and my cheese to taste like real cheese. Also, I am being very picky about these dips, since this is all they do. Fact is, this place really is worth a try.
The small cup of macaroni salad is a nice touch, and tasted very fresh. It would be great to see Rizzo's offer a few more options, as they were talking about maybe some other kinds of sandwiches, and possible chilli, which sounds great to me.
Even though Rizzo's only has dips, they should consider printing some kind of "to-go" menu, or at least a card of some kind so that customers can remember who and where they are, and keep a copy of their phone number in their wallet. As of this post, nothing like that was available yet, but may be coming.
In the end, my work-mates and I were unanimous in proclaiming that these sandwiches were "pretty good", but "not the best".
PROS: French dip prepared the original way, with the jus right on the sandwich. Only a 5 minute wait time.
CONS: Not necessarily the best-tasting French Beef Dip in town.
People thought this was:
You wanna French Dip? You gawta French Dip.
This place is friggin' great. It's about as big as a breadbox, but there's really no need for more room than that. The reasoning? Housemade Roast Beef.
They do it up right here. No frills. No fries. No BS. Just good, ol' real deal French Dip. You order it and hand over the cash. They bag it up for you with a smile.
Tony, Tom, Frank... and Tony: You guys are the best. It's like having our own slice of Little Italy right in the middle of Ballard. Tony told me on opening night that his wife had made the curtains and their aprons (which all have their names on the front of them- SO cute). He also said they own the entire block... "just like the Sopranos," he laughed.
Now the sandwiches? They're GOooooOOD. Before you start getting confused about French Dip like I was, don't be. Traditionally, you're supposed to get the bread jus'd up, and then the meat comes afterward. That's how they roll here... and it's delicious. Housemade roast beef, tons of it packed into a perfectly bready, french roll. It comes plain ($6) or with cheese (an extra $0.75 cents if you want it) and with a small side of macaroni salad, which is quite delicious (and I don't even like the stuff).
In the future, they let us know that they'd be servin' up meatball sammies and other varieties.
I really can't think of a reason not to give them 5 glowing. These guys are lovely. Happy, friendly, real awesome, good folk. Lots of restaurants focus on atmosphere and making things look pretty. Rizzo's focus is on the food and their customers. Period. Great addition to the 'Llard.
I wanted to hug them all by the time I left and I bet you they would hug me back if I did. :)
Cash only for now.
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I kind of loved this little place. Oh sure, it's a dive and there's nowhere to sit, but the meat in the sandwich is high quality. And for those of you that just hate the idea of not having au jus on the side, you can ask for it and they'll give you some. I also loved the spicy mustard horseradish sauce.
When I went, I was lucky enough to have one of the owners--Frank Rizzo--come outside to talk with my small group. What a character! I couldn't make this guy up if I tried. Chatting with him was the best part of my day.
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I'd never had L.A.-style French dip before. At Rizzo's, the sandwich is dipped and wrapped (rather than having juice on the side).
It works! And it's definitely comfort food.
Perfect for when you've been working in the yard all day and just want something simple and tasty and filling to eat. It's a much healthier choice than a greasy hamburger, and there are no temptations like fries and shakes. Just beef, bread, and juice, with a small side of fresh macaroni salad. (Cheese is an option, but I stayed with the classic version.)
Great old-fashioned counter service, too!
This place is the best!
Edit: I went here again to pick up a several sandwiches for my friends at work, and everyone loves them. I felt bad, because I caused a line to form of people waiting for sandwiches while they made my order. These sandwiches are thick and juicy, and I highly suggest the spicy mustard sauce they make.
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Rizzo's is off this hizzo, fo shizzo... you dig?
We picked up a sandwich from here yesterday, hubsters added cheese, I went original - and what a deal it was! So much roast beef, it is insane!
I think I'd ask for a side of the au jus as I like mine dripping in it. They said they dip the bread in the jus, and the meat has been sitting in it as well, but I enjoy the "dipping" part of the French Dip.
You better bet your sweet ass I'll be back here.
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I appreciate a place that chooses to do one thing and does it well.
I just had a great sandwich, thick slices of roast beef, much better than any deli counter's, topped with jus and swiss cheese. They also offer a really good horseradish mustard which doesn't skimp on the sinus cleansing.
The macaroni salad is nothing special, but a nice addition. Some bemoan the lack of a side of jus for dipping, but my sandwich was just holding together with the amount of jus in it already and I thought it was fine as it was.
Super fast service will have your sandwich in your hand by the time your money's left your wallet.
A great addition to the neighborhood.
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I drove by this tiny restaurant today and had to stop: they had a sign advertising my favoritest sandwich in the world, a french dip! It's the only entree on the menu, although beverages, cheese and extra meat are available. I didn't see any tables (unless they were hidden outside), so this place is takeout-only.
The instant I picked it up from the counter, the sandwich began leaking through its foil-wrapping and paper bag--when I arrived home three minutes later, the paper napkins in the bag were useless. I was pleased to see there was a complimentary little tub of macaroni salad, though.
The french dip comes pre-dipped in au jus and, consequently, without a side of au jus. The sandwich is made with thick & tender cuts of beef that give off a rich flavor from being soaked in au jus.
While I applaud Rizzo's for bringing back this classic take on the french dip sandwich (I'd never had a sandwich fixed like that), it's just not good enough. French dip without the side of au jus is simply a glorified roast beef sandwich. I need that salty broth to soften my bread and convey even greater heights of meaty goodness to my salivating taste buds.
Final conclusion: a decently tasty sammich, but fail on presentation and completion.
Also: there's a sign on the side of the place advertising "Rizzo's French Dip's," which made me cringe and almost swerve away. Ayeiii! Rogue apostrophes! *makes warding sign against bad grammar*
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I love French dips. If I go to a place I haven't been before and they have one on the menu, chances are I'll be ordered one.
When I heard about Rizzo's I knew I had to get there and try it out - after all, it's practically in my back yard.
When you show up at this unassuming little joint, make sure to bring your appetite. This isn't going to be some Arby's French dip that you can toss down and then feel hungry an hour later, oh no. When I felt the heft of the bag which contained two French dips (one for me, one for the roomie) and two cups of macaroni salad (comes with the sandwiches), I'm pretty sure a smile crossed the face of the owner as he handed the bag over. Yes, you heard that right people, the owner was there handing me my food.
After a quick introduction and a meet the owners session, I snapped a pic and we headed back to our apartment to enjoy the French dips. The time that it took us to drive back to our place (with a stop off for some chips) was the perfect amount of time for the Swiss cheese (added for $1) to melt and for the lovely au jus to work its wonders.
The macaroni salad was equally great and capping it off with a cool soda made the experience all that much better. I'll definitely be back and I think I'll grab a seat outside the front door next time.
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I noticed their *FRENCH DIPS!* sign tacked onto a streetlamp the other day. I'm always game for new lunch spots around town, so I gave them a try today.
You can tell that they're a brand new enterprise and probably don't have everything nailed down, but the French Dip I picked up was a worthy effort. I got mine with Swiss cheese added. This was processed Swiss, the white deli kind that you can get at Costco. Not bad, but I'm sure real Swiss would have been much tastier.
Also, I was under the impression that a French Dip sandwich gets a cup of au jus sauce to dip in? Neither mine nor my husband's came with one. Maybe it's because I said I liked spicy mustard?
In spite of these two slight shortcomings, I thought that Rizzo's had a mighty tasty sandwich offering for less than what you'd pay for lunch at a lot of national chain fast food places. The owners are super nice guys and I'm rooting for them to succeed.
People thought this was:
Twas a hot and beautiful day at work on a Saturday and my boss surprised us with sandwiches. He said, "this place looked interesting so I decided to stop, oh boy am I glad I did! Check out this sandwich!"
Now as a disclaimer, my boss is a HUGE sandwich nut and is very picky about where he goes and if he will return for more. This sandwich put him (and me too) into sandwich heaven! There is only one choice of sandwich, the dip. And you can have it one of two ways, with or without cheese. I had the swiss, yummy-in-my-tummy-goodness, and my boss had american, fabulous he said! But the one thing that put it over the top and really made this sandwich out of sight...was the mustard!!! Do it, don't argue, you'll thank me later I promise. The mustard has horseradish blended in and it really just sends the taste sensation over the moon!
So if you are in Ballard and are in need of a great sandwich and don't want to fuss with too many choices and you want some simple, stick-to-your-ribs, mouth watering goodness. Then look no further, Rizzo's is your place!
People thought this was:
Let's start with the aggravating part. Rizzo's ran out of meat and had a nice sign posted stating to come back at 6pm. Needless to say I had to wait over 25 minutes when I showed back up at 6pm. The Rizzo's had definite personality and offered apologies up and down. I would prefer if they set the bar low and posted to come back at 6:30 or 7:00pm.
Now to the important part. The sandwich! The beef was an absolute 4 star and was tender and flavorful. This is why I hope they succeed, but the bun tasted store bought for $1.99/package and the potato salad was warm and lacked flavor.
The Rizzo's are new to the restaurant business and it shows in the execution, but they are full of passion to produce the best roast beef in Seattle. I'll be back in a few weeks to see if they have the hang of it. If I wait another 25 minutes with the 6 person team running in circles I will never come back.
People thought this was:
Eh, lotta hype on this place here. Went by this weekend to try and was astounded a business can survive on ONLY serving essentially 3 versions of the same sandwich: French Dip with no cheese, with Swiss or American Cheese. As I waited in the cramped/odd joint, I noticed a bakers rack with dozens of large cans of Swansons broth. Then continued to see one of "the Rizzo's" tong grab slices of meat soaking in said broth in a hot dog boiler. The meat was slappen on a basic baguette roll and cheese was added. It resembled an average cheese steak sandwich in the final presentation, less a French Dip. It didn't include any Aus Jus (or even Swansons broth) to dip in. I wasn't impressed. Hype it up all you want cause it is truely a "whole in the wall," but the food was mediochre. And I ordered 3 sandwiches for friends and the review was consistent. The only thing that gave 2 stars for me was the comedy factor of the older "Rizzo's" wearing goofy aprons with their names and their look-alike younger apprentices.
Not going back soon unless they offer more options and get creative with the ingridiens (read "ditch the canned broth").
Wasn't "Rizzo" a character in a Jerky Boys prank call? Frank Rizzo??
this place is da bomb. It's everything a good hole in the wall should be. Good, Simple with a side of Ghetto. PERFECT. The spicy mustard is so perfect. If you want you Au ju on the side got to a fancy place where they will give you a cute fabric napkin that you can tuck into your shirt and get ready to pay $12. Is you just want some real grub go to rizzos and recognize real.
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