Shop brings Philly taste to Lafayette
August 26, 2009

By TIM BROUK
tbrouk@jconline.com
Not quite open a month, Lenny's Sub Shop and its take on the Philly cheesesteak have already made a lasting impression in West Lafayette.
"We had a guy from Philadelphia who moved here seven years ago and said ours are the best cheesesteaks he's had since coming to Indiana," said Mark Vargo, co-owner of the sandwich and
salad eatery in Chauncey Hill Mall. And with success often comes spin-offs. Lenny's introduced a grilled chicken Philly. So far, customers have shown both enthusiasm and trepidation.
"It's chicken breast sliced really thin," Vargo said. "It's a healthier option and the flavor is a little different. But it looks just like a regular Philly."
Lenny's, a franchise based out of Memphis, Tenn., takes the Southern penchant of big portions and adds an East Coast flair.
"Our 7-inch has about a half-pound of meat and cheese," Vargo said. "Our 15-inch sandwich, which is on a full loaf of bread, has a pound of meat and cheese."
Some of the weightier sandwiches are on the cold sub menu. The Italian sub offers four kinds of meat and provolone along with the usual trimmings of onion, lettuce, oil, tomato, salt and pepper, oregano and pickles. The Deluxe Club Sub is the most popular with its turkey, roast beef, bacon and mayonnaise. With many sandwich chains around, Lenny's has a few features to differentiate itself from the pack.
Most sandwiches come with hot pepper relish. Made primarily with cherry red peppers, the relish gives the sandwiches a kick on top of the pickles on the cold subs or on top of the meat while cheesesteaks are on the grill. The relish and the cooking meat fuse for a flavorful result.
Then there's the grilled half-pound hot dog. The thick, foot-long dog is sliced in half and grilled. Any sandwich fixings can go on the dog, but most people opt for mustard, onions and relish, Vargo said.
Purdue University sophomores Ben Julia, Steven Straight and Jim Palac all had their first turns at Lenny's. With their apartment nearby, the trio sees Lenny's as a frequent stop for lunch.
"It's the perfect size," said Palac, an atmospheric sciences major, about his turkey club sub.
Location: 135 S. Chauncey Ave.
Hours: 10 a.m. to midnight daily
Price: Most food items range from $4.55 to $6.65. More information: Go to http://lennys.com or call
(765) 743-6468.
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