Portillo's Woodbury — Restaurant in Woodbury

Beautiful building in a great area. Unfortunately, We were not impressed with the food or the service. I ordered an Italian beef. The pictures looked pretty good with all of them showing, red and green peppers, and onions. So, unfortunately, I assumed that was how it came. I was asked, if I wanted sweet peppers, and I said yes. I thought that would be in addition to what the pics showed. My girlfriend ordered the "New, Wild Caught" Fish Sandwich. We also ordered a large French fry. For a Friday evening at 7 pm, most restaurants in the area are jam packed. That made me wonder a bit why its wasn't crowded but I just figure we got lucky. Nope! After ordering, there were just a very few orders ahead of us. We waited about 17 minutes to get our food. There were NINE people working behind the counter?!! They had 12 bags lined up, waiting for one thing or another to finish orders. It was the most unorganized production line, I have ever seen. I saw no management behind the counter at all. I watched a fresh batch of fries come out of the fryer. Unfortunately, they had put our (older) fries in the bag way before the fresh ones came out. So they sat in the bag while they waited for the sandwiches to be made. I was looking forward to trying the Italian beef. The good, there was a good bit of meat on the bun. The bad, everything else! There was absolutely no flavor to the sandwich at all, and the au jus tasted like luke warm water. Once again, no flavor. There were no onions, no red or green peppers like the pictures, just one, skinny little piece of sweet green pepper. Looked like a green worm. The bun, I am assuming is supposed to be somewhat mushy but the texture felt, and tasted like they poured water on the bun before adding the meat. My girlfriend said, the tiny square of fish on her sandwich was overfried, and reminded her of the frozen one's from the grocery store. Our fries, were barely luke warm when we took them out of the bag, and they got cold fast. This place has a complete lack of management. I was really hoping for a great experience, since I eat most meals out. Too bad, because the beautiful building in this high-end area must cost a fortune. If this is their business plan, I don't expect to see it there next year. Maybe this is considered good in Chicago but honestly, is there really anything good to come from Illinois? With the exception of Styx, REO, and...

I'm not big on chain restaurants, but with all the hype and everyone in this state building it up to be the greatest thing since sliced bread to enter our market, I of course had to check it out for myself. I'm just not sure why there was so much hype...

Once you finally are able to find a parking spot, which is a nightmare by itself, you can head on in, place your order, wait for your food and then try finding a table to eat at that hasn't been snatched up by someone who didn't follow a hidden rule. Order first, sit later!

With this being our first time dining here, I had to ask a few customers and staff what is the "hot ticket" item that is a MUST order. The overwhelming feedback was - Order the Italian beef with peppers and cheese. So, one Italian beef, a small fry and a small diet pop was my order!

Looked good, smelled good and after just one bite, it was just another roast beef sandwich you find at graduation parties or a dip found on most sports bar menu's around town. Seriously! Nothing special at all and lacking something that might actually help it out - some flavor!

Look, it certainly wasn't unappetizing, but I guess I was expecting to be blown away and wanting to come back for more. I mean, even their radio commercials try to depict how GREAT their food is and that we should wed the food. But, that wasn't even close to what I was thinking. I guess I'll check out the hot dogs since it's in their name and all or maybe their burgers, but I'm not holding my breath for a knock out meal!

Hey, at least they have crinkle cut fries!...

To save this place is overrated it's just scratching the surface. I've been here at least five times since it's opened and every time I walk away ask him myself why the heck I came back. The food is very subpar and their service is awful.

I'm going to start off by saying every time I've gone here, they have screwed up my order in some way shape or form. For example the first time they completely forgot my wife's order. I called the restaurant to let them know and they said that they would send me a gift card in the mail which never showed up... The second time they gave the the wrong items. This time I knew better and had them fixed while I was there which they were happy to do but it still took extra time an effort which is not why you go to a fast food restaurant.

I tried their hot dogs which taste like the ones you get in the cafeteria at school boiled and a giant pot with a thousand other hot dogs. Placed into a fancy looking bun covered in strange black seeds that are guaranteed to get stuck in your teeth. They're always soggy as heck unless you eat them immediately. If you're looking for a good hot dog, go check out butcher and the boar downtown Minneapolis.

I've also had their hot beef sandwich which doesn't have a ton of flavor in his counter by being completely smothered in greasy liquid. If you want a good Italian beef sandwich, go downtown St Paul and stop at cosetta's and pick up they're hot Italian beef sandwich.

Seriously do yourself a favor and just skip this place it's...