Vennie's Sub Shop — Restaurant in Vancouver

This place is spectacular. My fiancé had the Classic Deli, and I had the Beef Carpaccio, both in half sizes. At first, I was a little sticker-shocked by the $17 price for the 6-inch Beef Carpaccio, but let me tell you: it’s worth. Every. Penny. I’d pay more!

The portion is generous, much bigger than what you'd get as an appetizer in a sit-down restaurant (with those overpriced fancy crostinis). You get all that, but better, in this sandwich. Plus, you don’t have to sit alone at a white-tablecloth restaurant with a $22 carpaccio starter, feeling like a sad Hannibal Lecter. You can enjoy it on your own terms, no side-eye from a waiter.

I don’t even like mushrooms or pickled things that much, and this sandwich was perfect. My only tweak: I’d add a bit of shredded lettuce to the arugula and ask for extra crispy shallots (just for my taste, I wanted a bit more crunch).

We went out of our way to stop here on our way back from the ferry, and man, was it worth it. It’s unassuming from the outside, but once inside, you’re greeted warmly and given space to browse the menu. I overheard one of the team members calling the other “Chef” — “Yes, Chef,” “Would you prefer this, Chef?” As someone who’s worked in the service industry, that’s a great sign. SANDWICH ARTISTS.

My fiancé’s Classic Deli sandwich was awesome too. I had a bite and loved how they pre-dress the lettuce, it’s a small detail, but a huge difference. I asked for notes from him on the Classic Deli and got none, and rightfully so. The recipe and proportions are perfect.

While we were eating, a man came in and asked for a Club Sub. He wanted to add pickles and something else, but the Chef asked if he’d been there before. When the guy said no, the Chef said, “Trust me and try it as is. If you come back and want to change anything, we’ll 100% do that for you. But please try it as is first.” Truer words have never been spoken. (Obviously, if you’ve always hated onions, this place won’t magically change your mind, but you get the idea.)

All in all, worth the dollars, worth the detour, and I’m already looking for another excuse...

In many ways, the work of a Google food critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their cuisine and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average ham sandwich from an East Van dive is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so.

But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends. This afternoon, I experienced something new: an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions about fine sandwiches is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core.

In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for that old belief, "anyone can cook." But I realize, only now do I truly understand what that adage means. Not everyone can become a great sandwich artist; but a great sandwich artist can come from anywhere. It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the geniuses now making sandwiches at Vennie’s Sub Shop, which is, in this critic's opinion, nothing less than the finest submarine sandwich in all of Vancouver.

I will be returning to Vennie’s soon,...

Came here with my girlfriend recently after seeing it on social media. It was honestly fantastic! As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the gentlemen behind the counter. They were very personable & helpful in making recommendations. The actual decor was nothing special; simple tables, simple chairs, simple order counter.

We got The Classic Deli combo, which came with a side & a drink. We got the chips & salsa as our side & it was delicious! The chips were crispy & the homemade salsa was quite a treat! It was a red pepper salsa which was quite unique & had great acidity & heat. The sandwich itself was also good. You can get a half size or a full size, and we split a full. Half a sub each was definitely more than enough. For a $26 sandwich, you’re getting your moneys worth. The ingredients all paired nicely together, the meats were nice & the red pepper salsa was actually added onto the sandwich, which added a nice fresh element to it. My only problems were that the bread tasted slightly old (sort of like it was left out from the night before), and although the sandwich tasted good, there weren’t any bold flavours that stood out. It was just simply good, but it could have certainly been great with a standout feature. Regardless, we enjoyed ourselves & will be returning to try their...