This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef

This is not the beginning of a nursery rhyme.  Well, it is a nursery rhyme, but I am talking about This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef, the restaurant in the East Village on First Avenue and 9th Street.  You may know the people behind this restaurant - it is the same people behind the growing establishment Artichoke.  Artichoke pizza started on 14th and 1st, expanded to Chelsea, and now has a location in the Village, next to Off the Wagon. 

This Way on a roll

Artichoke’s Francis Garcia and Sal Basille did a great job with Artichoke.  There is always a line out the door and people come from far and wide to get the pizza.  This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef has not achieved that status yet, and I am not quite sure that it will.

Basically, your choices are This Way, That Way, and The Other Thing.  A This Way sandwich is roast beef with cheez wiz.  It is $5.50 on a roll, as seen above, or $8.50 on a hero.  Then you have a That Way sandwich, roast beef with gravy and mozzarella cheese. Also $5.50 if you get it on a roll, and $8.50 if you get it on a hero.  The Other Thing is a pastrami sandwich on rye bread or hero with spicy brown mustard.  There is one last sandwich - The Something Else, a roast beef sandwich with cheez wiz, mozzarella, gravy, and a side of fries, for $12.50.

That Way on a hero

I got the This Way and Alex got the That Way.  We split fries.  The bill was $18.  We waited for TWENTY MINUTES to get our sandwiches and fries.  I thought that was kind of long for sandwiches and fries.  We brought our food home, since they have just a small counter place to eat.

The sandwiches are tasty, but they are messy.  That is not necessarily a criticism - it is fun to sink your teeth into a messy sandwich on a Friday night at home in your apartment while you watch old episodes of The Office.  So, if you plan on stopping here for lunch before going back to work, I would bring hand wipes and a toothbrush.

Hand Cut Fries

The fries are pretty good though.  They are more like potato wedges.  Look how big they are!  For $4.00, they are big and filling.  I have a feeling that is why we waited so long to eat - they had to cook these fries. 

Long story short (too late), everything was good, and I am glad I tried it out, but I am not sure I am going to race back there.  I could go for some more Artichoke pizza though...

Check out the menu here.

Have a delicious day!

NYC Menu Girl