North Island Sandwich Shoppe in Batavia was born out of a commonly heard complaint.
“I was tired of listening to moms taking their kids here to eat and then the mom would say, ‘I’m not eating here, there’s nothing healthy,'” said Allen Soboj, owner of Bulldog’s Red Hots Restaurant.
So Soboj bought out a second storefront and added North Island Sandwich Shoppe within Bulldog’s Red Hots Restaurant, giving his eatery a healthier alternative so everyone in the family could find something to eat.
Bulldogs offers hot dogs, Italian beef, Polish sausage, burgers and chicken, plus fresh-cut fries. “Very traditional,” said Soboj, who lives in Oswego. “We’re widely known for our gyros.”
North Island Sandwich Shoppe offers deli sandwiches made only with gluten-free Boar’s Head meats. Gluten-free bread also is available.
By adding a fresh deli alternative to the Chicago-style foods offered at Bulldogs, Soboj found another audience for his sandwiches — teenage girls. After all, Bulldog’s is a nod to Batavia High School’s sports teams.
Pricing: At Bulldog’s Red Hots restaurant house favorites range from $4.59 for grilled cheese with fries to $8.59 for rib eye steak sandwich. Italian specialties from $4.29 for homemade pepper and egg to $6.99 for cheesy beef. Salads from $4.99 to $9.29. Dogs and more from $2.79 for all-beef hot dog to $5.89 for Polish sausage and fries. Burgers are $4.19 for 1/3-pound burger to $8.99 for Bulldog’s Raging Bull with fries. Seafood from $6.99 for cod fish sandwich with fries to $8.99 for jumbo French fried shrimps. Gyros plate is $8.99. Kids’ menu from $4.89 for hamburger to $5.59 for chicken strips.
At North Island Sandwich Shoppe all deli sandwiches are $4.99 for cold sandwiches from Italian subs to chicken or tuna salad, for wraps from chicken to turkey and for grilled sandwiches from pastrami to turkey. Soup of the day is $3.99. Salads are $7.99 for strawberry walnut salad to $8.99 for chef salad. Sides are from 99 cents for whole dill pickle to chips for $1.29. Add a side and drink for a combo for $7.59.
Catering is available for Italian beef, Italian sausage, gyro meat, whole baked chicken, grilled chicken breast, mostaccioli, spaghetti, lasagna, ravioli, grilled chicken wraps, salads, oven roasted potatoes and desserts.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Saturday, May to October, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, November to April.
Bulldog’s Red Hots Restaurant/North Island Sandwich Shoppe, 32 N. Island Ave., Batavia. Contact 630-879-7955 or go to www.bulldogsbatavia/northislanddeli.com.
Shonda Talerico Dudlicek is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.
