Samuel Mancino Italian Eatery — Restaurant in Kalamazoo Charter Township

This place needs negative stars. I have NEVER left a review like this. Having worked in the service industry for 15 years, I'm usually quite forgiving.

First, after calling to place an order after reviewing the menu online, I was told that they don't have a menu online. They don't know who posted all of that stuff, but it's not theirs. Confused, I asked for suggestions to which I was rudely given non answers. I specifically asked about a certain type (similar to what we originally wanted) and sure enough, they had THAT one! (Specialty sandwich LISTED ON WEBSITE MENU....that's not theirs, remember). Ordered 2 sets of fries as well & hung up. Immediately received a phone call back saying they could only make 1 set of fries.

Arrived to pick up our order, total was $53.03 for 3 sandwiches & 1 fry. We asked for an explanation (the kid on the register seemed SHOCKED at the total). The very rude women again began that sandwiches are $15+ dollars each. Proceeded to mumble rude comments under their breath to us. The menu on the counter shows 4" & 8" prices, lists 16" also available.....no price. None of this was mentioned on the phone. Disgusted, but hungry & meeting our daughter who just came off a 12 hour shift, we paid the $53 and left. (Hours before, I had picked up three 9" sandwiches at our local Mancino's at home for our 3 other children for $14.97).

We arrived to our destination & settled into eat within 10 minutes of pick up. The TINY order of shoestring frozen fries ($2.99) was AWFUL! Cold, hard & rubbery. I could make fries at home, leave them out over night, throw them away in the morning, dig them BACK out of the trash that evening & they'd likely taste better than these. Our $15+ each sandwiches.....equally bad. Bacon was all undercooked, fatty, chewy chunks from a GFS frozen bag. Turkey was burned (black in places). Lettuce was brown, translucent & slimy.

Not only should every person avoid this scamming hole of an establishment, the Department of Health & Safety should go pay a visit...and shut this poor excuse for a good...

Order take out HOUR before closing 7 (they close at 8) I ordered steak sub. I got there at 730 they were packing up and looked like they were ready to close. I understand everyone just wants to leave at close ...but basically stop taking orders a FULL hour before??? (Online ordering was blocked I had to call to put in order) When I walked in the first question (I want to iterate not rude at all just was the first thing that was asked me) was you ordering or you pick up? Which I knew meant if I said ordering he would have said no it's too late but of course I said pick up and I was able to pick up my sub with no problem. Again the staff was very friendly and not rude at all this is not about the staff. But when I got the steak the steak itself was not that good I don't know what cut it was but it was not good. The steak sandwich itself overall was extremely "watery" and yes that's as gross as it sounds I don't know if it was the lettuce or the tomatoes were overwatery ...whatever it was , the one side of the bun was almost soaked with just water. I lived in Battle Creek Kalamazoo and have gone to mancino's many places many times it used to be my favorite but if this is what they've become I'm...

I was on tour in Michigan recently and our driver wouldnt shut up about Samuel Mancino's. He claimed they were the best sandwiches in the world. One of the other passengers asked him to describe them and he did. They said "it sounds like you're describing Subway". The driver said "Oh, not at all!" But I found that ironic as the sandwiches ended up being a fresher, better ingredients version of Subway.

At his recommendation I got the Italian Sub and the Chicken Sub, both on garlic herb bread. The Chicken was my favorite of the two. It was a standard chicken sandwich, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, etc, but it was good because the ingredients were good. The Italian sub confused me. it had Italian sausage on it, not sliced. It had green peppers on it. Lots of ingredients you wouldnt normally get on an Italian sub, I tried it as it came, thinking maybe the sum would be incredible, but it was not. It really reminded me of something you might randomly assemble at Subway.

So, good subs made from fresh ingredients, but nothing worth...