Hog Island Italian Deli

The service was pretty bad. We couldn’t even get in the front door. And the windows were all papered up like it wasn’t even a place of business. And in the back there were two big fat guys with blutooths in their ears constantly for no reason simultaneously crying and trying to look tough. I think they were also arguing about Rhode Island being a state or not, what does that have to do with running a failed cheese steak restaurant?
I hope your next place burns down on your mothers birthday, fellas.

I’ve been here several times before and while never blown away, the sandwiches have always been decent. There was nothing that would even hint that things could get as bad as they did today. I ordered the turkey hoagie and it was shockingly bad. The so-​called hoagie roll was old, dry and crusty. There was a tiny portion of turkey throughout the whole sandwich which left me with a pile of bread. I had to get mustard packets and dig the few chunks of turkey out with my hands to create some semblance of a meal. I would of given one star but the service was good and they brought my sandwich (if it could be called that) to me. My coworker was there too and got the same awful sandwich. So disappointed in this place and apologized to my coworker since I recommended the place. Never again.

This is an average sandwich shop. After dining there today I certainly wouldn’t go out of my way to return and at this time I’d rather go to Thundercloud, Which Which or Schlotzkys any day.
I asked about the pastrami — Is it lean or fat? The answer it is pretty lean, so immediately I crossed that one off the list. If you’re a true pastrami fan then you know that lean pastrami should be illegal. If you want lean meats, then choose something else, like turkey.
Instead, I selected the Philly Cheese Steak hoagie that was well reviewed on Unilocal and my conclusion was that it was just «ok».
I’ve had the real thing in Philadelphia (Jim Steaks, Geno’s) and this one doesn’t even come remotely close. My biggest issue was the bread, which was either stale or too chewy. I like to cook and with every bite I kept thinking this bread is on the verge of being perfect for making croutons.
Amoroso is a famous bakery in Philadelphia that makes the amazing hoagie rolls that are used by most cheese steak shops in Philly. There is nothing chewy or crusty about the outside of their rolls. Fix the bread and I think your cheese steak would be much better.
Finally, the prices were a bit on the steep side. A 12″ sandwich and large soft drink was a bit over $ 12, including tax. This is a sandwich shop and there’s nothing all that special about it, so that’s expensive.

You know I love trying new places, so Saturday 1÷21÷12 Robert woke up wanting a Philly Cheese Steak. Um, we’re in Austin, not Philly. So we google Philly Cheese Steak in Austin, TX and Hog Island Deli was the first result.
We trek to downtown Austin around noonish… traffic wasn’t bad, we were able to park in front of the deli and had to feed the meter. I was pleasantly surprised at the décor, it did remind me of a New York style deli with the brick walls. The place was neat and clean, I ordered the 7 inch Turkey Hoagie and Mozzarella sticks. The sticks were served on a bed of lettuce and the sandwich was pretty good. The bread was was nice and soft. Robert had the 7 inch cheese steak, he liked it. I’m glad we didn’t get the 12 inch sandwiches, we would’ve needed a doggie bag. The prices are a little on the high end.
I will go there again but only for takeout. The reason… I don’t want to feed the meter plus the chairs are not very comfortable. If you have hips, you will not be comfortable, the chairs are made for people who are not curvy.

Well, another cheese steak review. Here are my qualis: Eaten many a Jims, Pats and Ginos… if you don’t know what those are you don’t know what a cheese steak is.
Rolled in for a quick lunch and bought a half a sandwich. Was offered mushrooms on it which sours the experience.
The sandwich was not very big for the price; there was more bread then steak, the bread was fairly chewey and pedestrian, the meat was not very flavorful, there were not many onions… whatever. I gulped it down and just was thinking, « Unilocal sucks.»
Maybe I caught them on a bad day but I doubt it. The guy that cooked it also brought it to my table.
One of the bad things about Unilocal is you have people reviewing foods with zero reference point as to what good food really is.
I know many peeps from Philly and they will absolutely NEVER eat a cheese steak outside of Philly. Makes total sense.
I’m a food snob so… whatever.
Enjoy!

I am happy to conclude and pronounce that Hog Island’s disappointing cheesesteak I had several weeks back, was largely an anomaly.
I needed a decent sized sample group to draw a conclusion. 7 was about right. (That’s a full punch card, plus the freebie.)
Here’s the thing, though — the quality depends on who makes your cheesesteak. Some of these guys don’t quite have it down. I got one cheesesteak that was severely undercheesed. As it turns out, «undercheesing» is a major problem for the «cheese-​steak» sandwich. Not good.
Sometimes the meat’s a little on the skimpy side. Sometimes it’s bursting at the seams.
A little consistency might be welcome here. On the other hand, there is something to be said for variety and spontaneity. If you’re a take-​it-​as-​it-​comes type, you might like the adventure of seeing what quality of sandwich Hog Island deals you today. An opportunity for acceptance and non-​resistance of life as it comes, perhaps — or maybe just an omen of how the rest of your day will unfold. Is the roll half full, or is it half empty? That is the choice of the eater.
Me? It depends on the day. That’s life. Sometimes you eat the sandwich, and sometimes the sandwich eats you. This time I ate the sandwich.

WEAK!
I grew up just outside of Philly (but have been in ATX 10+ years now) so my cheesesteak and Italian sub experience is solid. Came here for lunch today and what a disappointment. I ordered a small cheesesteak. And it was SMALL! like another reviewer said, mostly bread and mushrooms. Taste of the meat was good for the 2 oz portion on there. I ordered a large old Italian to go but I was still so hungry after my lame $ 7 cheesesteak, I had to eat the italian as well. Bread was doughy and undercooked. Meat quality was good but paper thin sliced. Worst of all, they put balsamic vinegar on the italian. Where did they get this bad idea? Totally overpowered the whole sandwich. In Philly, they would rough you up like a Cowboy’s fan for pulling these stunts! So, $ 20 later, I’m finally full from a very disappointing lunch. The staff were nice enough and even asked how it was, hence 2 stars and not one. With these small portions of meat, Hog Island must be making Hog Wild profits but one lame sub. Even Delaware subs is better than this. Next!

I feel like I just sinned. My lunch turned into a hot date with a sandwich.
Thank you to my fellow Unilocalers for recommending the cheese steak sandwich.
The delivery guy brought in the large foil wrapped 12″ oblong package, handed it off to me calm and cool, I took it to the break room, and unwrapped this warm package.
First thought… my eyes are playing tricks on me, is this really a large, hell yes, baby it was. My hands grabbed the perfectly toasted buns filled with shaved meat, and onions, smothered in melted cheese while my mouth watered and opened wide.
First bite, and my eyes rolled back inside my head, and my stomach got the warm fuzzies, wanting more and more.
Each bite full of flavor, and the texture of the toasted bun, and slow cooked meat were a party in my mouth.
Lunch break over… going back to work with a stain on my shirt, wanting more.

Cream of Celery Soup! When I was young and unafraid (of calories), my dad would make us grilled cheese sandwiches (velveeta, grilled with butter, basically fat free) and campbells cream of celery soup. I loved it. Hell, I probably STILL love it. So when i decided to meet a friend here for lunch, I was super double jazzed that they had it on their sandwich board.
Alas, I was there for the philly cheese so I had a tough decision to make: Childhood fave or that which could be lifechanging. So I settled somewhere in the middle for a taster of the soup (which they were kind enough to provide) and a 7″ philly. Cherry peppers, jalapenos, grilled onions, mushrooms, meat thinly sliced and rich with flavor between the softest bread this side of sliced white. The soup was great but the Philly rocked my world.
I’ve been on a hunt for that perfect philly ever since I consumed three in a two day time span in philly a couple of years ago. The one missing thing from ALL philly experiences here? Cheese Whiz. Scoff if you like but that’s the way those philly snobs roll. It’s called whizwith and and I havent found it anywhere in Austin until this place. So go in, order the wizwith and then be prepared for 7 or 12 inches of pure glory. And let the jokes begin…

Living downtown is difficult to eat on the cheap, and I am a fan of places that aren’t pretentious and sit down. Some place where I can just grab something to go, or have a quick bite in a dark corner somewhere. Wow I totally sound like a man right now, but I doubt women are attracted to the name Hog Island Italian Deli.
They have a window right on the street on Lavaca, around the corner from Halcyon. I got an Italian because it was too hot for a cheesesteak (I’ll def get a Philly next time). The man at the counter said it was one of the subs that sells, which is good because its one of my sandwich staples. The Italian was oily, salty, spicy and delicious. You will get heartburn after though. With all the healthy, organic, grass-​fed eateries in Austin its nice to know a greasy grill is a 2 minute walk from my apartment.
I want to give it 3.5 stars.

Hoa-​gie, Hoa-​gie, Hoa-​gie. This place definitely has the hoagie down. I am not crazy for sandwiches, but I will admit that Hog Island offers a pretty solid one. The sandwiches come out quick, and there are plenty of options to choose from.
The bread is light, but firm. It has the perfect crunch, and it also has that nice soft interior that allows all the juices of your filling to soak in.
The Philly was amazing. It had really flavorful, juicy beef and creamy caramelized onions. The cheese melts right into the sandwich, thus making the package complete.
The meatball sub was a little more generic. It had some pretty tender and tasty meatballs and marinara sauce, but the only negative is that it was not up to temperature par. The meatballs were on the room-​temperature side, and the cheese was not all the way melted.
The bread here is definitely some of the best baked bread I have had in Austin, and the fillings are a great compliment. Next time I want a hoagie, I am coming here, but if the sandwich does not come out piping hot, I will be slightly disappointed.

Man oh man. Screw you, Texadelphia. Capitol City Subs, you have competition for the best Philly cheesesteak.
They use real cheese, not whiz, and mix it into the meat like it should be done. The bread is top-​notch.
Pretty big menu — I look forward to eating through the whole thing.
Stop by on Sundays to observe a bunch of Eagles fans go nuts and expand your child’s profane vocabulary! Better than flash cards!

I walk in thinking, «With a name like Hog Island, why have I never been here before? This is the greatest deli name of all time!» That was about 2 months ago, and since then I have been there about 5 times.
Funny though, the most disappointing thing I’ve had there was the Pulled Pork Po-​Boy. Don’t get me wrong, it is delicious. The pork just falls apart and… it does everything right. It’s just that it’s too easy to find find a better pulled pork sandwich.
The Philly is the real reason to come here! I watched them cook it while I was pretending to talk to my friends while we were therefor lunch today– I srsly thought about jumping on that flat top. The meat was sizzling and getting mixed in with the sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, and the jalapeños, OH THE JALEP– this when I started drooling and was slapped in an effort to snap me out of It. I think the best thing about their Philly is how they handle the cheese. They make more of a cheese sauce and it’s serves as this thick plasma that everything sits in! Yes a cheese plasma.
I’m going there right now.
But one last thing– if you have read my other reviews, you may have picked up on that I am really into customer service. The people here awesome. Mostly because they also think the food is delicious. I once asked the girl who works the lunch-​shift counter what was better X or Z, and she seriously was drop jawed. It was an impossible position I put her in, and I am sorry about that.

This review is nearly exclusively for their Philly cheese steaks that are, without question, the very best in Austin. My wisp of a wife has made a Philly cheese steak tour of Austin, eaten every damn Philly that Austin has to offer. Hands down, this is the place.
I like the salads. But I’m funny that way.

A cheesesteak haiku:
For your Philly needs,
If it’s not Pat’s or Geno’s,
Hog Island’s the one.
(And if you don’t know what I’m talking about, just trust me.)
NOMNOMNOMNOMNOM.

Wowzers! This place serves the most amazing cheesesteaks!
Lemme break it down for my Unilocalsters…
1) The Bread: Previously, they served the cheesesteak on a slightly harder bread, topped with sesame seeds. While delicious, I prefer the current roll a little more. Now, the cheesesteak comes on a softer, white roll, sans sesame seeds. It maintains its shape and texture. Furthermore, doesn’t suck up the juices of the sandwich, thus becoming a pile of mush. = fabulous
2) The Cheese: At first glance, one may not see the cheese. Instead of cheesewiz, the sandwich contains delicious American cheese that melts right into the steak. Although you may not see a large clump of cheese on the sandwich, take your first bite and you will experience the tasty, creamy cheese. Warning, the cheese and steak juices tend to sneak out of the back of your sandwich while taking a bite — so protect your clothing/​furniture and be sure to keep a little piece of bread till the end to clean up those remaining juices ;)
3) The Steak: Thin slices, YES! I absolutely love the thinly sliced, generous helping of steak provided on the sandwich. It’s so tender and tasty that it almost melts in your mouth. The combination of the steak, juices, and cheese makes for a very enjoyable experience.
Basically peeps; go get one! The sandwich may be a little pricey to some, but trust me, it is well worth it! :)

I understand this is a pretty moot review– I got a really basic sandwich at a place full of deli meat and philly cheese steak. But the experience was stupid enough for me to Unilocal.
I get that y’all are busy when I walk in at opening hour, but thats what prep time is for. I was the only one in there, and it took eight minutes for them to make sandwich of four cold ingredients. (Maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad if I wasn’t subjected to Real Housewives of OC on tv while I waited). Sandwich sucked. Cheese was smashed in to the bottom of the sandwich, so each bite is either nothing but cheese, or nothing but lettuce. I have no idea what the bread was like, because it was completely saturated, soaked, inundated, sogged with balsamic vinegar, it was barely tolerable. Heard a «have a good day» from one of the half-​dead employees when I was on the sidewalk. What?
This was definitely not a «you get what you pay for,» it was poor quality and quantity for the price. I’m now really wishing I just waited for Jimmy John’s to open. Pretty weak.
P. S. charging extra for mayonnaise? Get over yourselves.

I have eaten here several times and have to say that this is an enjoyable place to grab a snack. They’ve recently wildly expanded their menu, which I cannot comment on yet.
However, I can comment on the cheesesteaks. They’re very tasty! Great bread, great ingredients and always served hot. I say that they’re serviceable and good and excellent for late night snacks, but not necessarily worth venturing downtown just to get.
They’re also a very welcome change in the late night options, which mostly include Roppolo’s, Casa Del Fuego, and whatnot in terms of stand food.
Good stuff, well worth checking out!

I went here for lunch with promises from my friend that I would be impressed and really like the place.
He was right.
Their Turkey Hoagie was so freakin good!
The bread was fresh, ingredients also fresh and tasty and the folks here are so friendly and polite. (A great GREAT find nowadays!)
I will be back for more.

I’m half-​Italian. My Dad and his late brother ran a family-​owned chain of 9 submarine sandwich shops in Albany NY during the 70’s and 80’s, specializing in Italian delicacies. I worked there through high school, and even for a bit after college. Between home cooking (Mom’s, Dad’s and Grandma’s) and working in the shops, I developed an appreciation for great Italian food, especially subs, hoagies, grinders, wedges – whatever regional name you might prefer. Except for Delaware Subs, no one here comes close to the kind of NY sandwich we made with pride.
Until I found Hog Island, that is. This place does it right, with fresh ingredients on FRESH bread arranged in pleasing traditional and non traditional combinations and served up fast at reasonable prices. The Philly cheese steak is an authentic, lovingly-​prepared star sandwich, but the menu is old school Italian deli all the way, with many more featured attractions.
Dad made home-​made sausage and meatballs back at the shops in NY, so I’m pretty particular about them if I’m eating out. Hog Island’s sausage, meatball (and for that matter Chicken Parmesan) hoagies actually made me think of home.
Their «Old Italian» would make Tony Soprano forgo his daily trip to Satriale’s. The cappicola, Genoa salami, guilt-​inducing mortadella and sopresatta combined with roasted peppers on a crusty roll, soft on the inside, could make a believer out of the most hardened ex-​New Yorker, yearning for the subs of old Bensonhurst.
The place is small and simple and spotlessly clean, with a dozen or so tables and oddly aluminum semi-​comfortable chairs without much character really. But the food and service shine. I must add that my opinion of the place was favorably skewed by my first visit years ago.
They used to close at 6pm, and I showed up about 5 minutes before closing, oblivious. I told the guy at the counter that I had heard about the place, that it was my first visit and shared the family sub shop history as I ordered a 12″ Italian. Unfortunately, the guy came back and said they were actually out of bread (and gently mentioned it was kinda because they were just about to close). BUT, he won my heart when he said, «if you don’t mind waiting a few minutes, I’ll bake off a new roll for you.» Mind? I was sold.
That sandwich, cheerfully made at closing time on bread they baked FOR ME without griping at the idiot who came in 5 minutes before closing was wonderful – as a sandwich, and as an example of good old-​fashioned customer service from a store that cared about making the best first impression they could possibly make.
They may hail from Philly, but they make this New Yorker happy every visit.