Jimmie The Beef Guy - Bonita Springs — Restaurant in Bonita Springs

Was vacationing in Naples, FL and looking for a good Italian beef sandwich (I am from Milwaukee, WI, but regularly go to Chicago to try many different foods and Italian beef is one of our family favorites, and we have had MANY beef sandwiches from a large number of longtime Italian beef joints there). We had a different spot in Cape Coral for several years that is good, but not open the last few times when we visited, even though the hours listed stated that they should have been open... So I googled Italian beef near me and discovered Jimmie's. We visited on 06-15-2023 and were not disappointed!!! Store hours stated that they opened at 11am and we were the first customers of the day. I could tell by the smell when we walked in that this was the real deal. Ordered a mild beef with delicious marinated sweet peppers, another one with hot Giardinera, a side of Italian Stallions, and fries with a cup 'o cheese. Let me tell you, this was the real deal...simmered beef with 'gravy', the correct Italian beef rolls and true Chicago Giardinera...It was absolutely delicious! I had asked the young man who took our order if the owner was a native Chicagoan, and he informed me that himself and his father were the owners and transplants from the Chicago suburbs! Authentic, delicious and worth every penny and every mile you travel the get one of these great sandwiches! They are located in a large strip style mall, with free parking right at the door, indoor (table and counter, for those who know how to eat a Chicago Italian beef) and outdoor dining, super clean facility and just as clean restroom. They are also very friendly, and quite busy too, but your order is filled in short order, so you will not be standing around getting hangry... If you have never had this type of sandwich before, I would suggest that you try it at least once...you will not be disappointed, and may become your Midwest...

After countless positive reviews on social media, we we're excited and motivated to try "Jimmie The Beef Guy". Upon arrival, we made note of the printed banner sign which may be utilized in a permanent fashion. Putting this "red flag" aside, we proceeded indoors where shortly after "The Beef Guy" emerged. The menu selection although vague, seems adequate for this cuisine. We tried a beef & sausage sandwich with the stallions. The food came out swiftly and Jimmie's service was beyond excellent. However, this is where everything went down hill. We were enthusiastic about trying this location because "The Beef Guy" claims to have worked in the bread industry. The bread appeared raw, and completely waterlogged in lard. The meats themselves appeared to be of substance but the taste was bland, and the door handles of our Maserati TC convertible had more shine from our hands than they would from an Armorall treatment at Bonita Bubbles. ("GREAT CAR WASH") The stallions from the Chinese restaurant were 30% water from not being thawed correctly before being deep fried. As someone who has owned several restaurants in the Philly Capital and adjacent areas, food prep is always of the utmost concern. Currently, we still taste the sheen of oil from the meal and I can already feel my IBS starting to kick in. Please fix your bread, eliminate using frozen products! People want fresh! Otherwise go to McDonalds! We need a good local eatery in Bonita and really hope this business takes off after some...

After reading the glowing reviews on google I wanted to try for myself. I lived in Chicago for decades and know Chicago beef. In one sentence..meh. The beef and au jus had no flavor. The bread was soft and fluffy (not what you want). At $16.50 for a mediocre beef and a fountain drink in a strip mall is not a good value. Adding insult to injury is the 5% service fee (in May/Florida =low season) which is not shown anywhere until printed on the receipt. The business model includes burying extra hidden fees. Class act. You mean charging $2.50 for fountain drinks ($0.05 for syrup) does not have enough profit in it for you? For the record, I understand good hearted people leaving positive reviews to try to send some good vibes to a new local business. The problem with this idea is the owners do not get any feed back to hopefully correct their questionable food / business practices. I assume all the “good reviews” are one and done as the place was pretty empty. Hopefully, a new restaurant comes in with solid food/solid business practices such that faking positive reviews isn’t needed. The one gold star was that the sweet/bell peppers were quite generous. Overall grade C for food D- for biz practices. No need to return. Too bad the nearest...