Pepino's Restaurant

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CLOSED NOW - Opens at 11:00am

I have patronized Pepino's for years, starting at their Cal City location in the mid 80's, as well as the location in Schererville. I have sent MANY friends, family and co-workers to Pepino's. I was in the store with my Mom about 6 months ago, her first time at Pepino's, she was really looking forward to it after hearing me talk about it so often! Joe (the owner) was standing behind the register while a very young girl (maybe 16) was waiting on the person in front of us. She was apparently struggling with an order or having trouble with the register and Joe began yelling at her and humiliating her in front of all the customers there...very, very unprofessional. The young girl looked as though she was going to cry as Joe pushed her aside while he continued to embarrass her in front of everyone...he completed the sale. There was a man behind the register at this time who (when Joe walked away) said to the young girl and the people in line that it's amazing they can function when Joe's not there! This man apologized to the people in line, I think he could tell what we were thinking by the expressions on our faces! I did not realize at the time that this Joe was the owner of the business until we asked who he was. Fast forward 6 months, my Mom stopped in the store this past weekend to purchase beef...not sandwiches but loose beef, about one pound. She said she waited in the parking lot at 11 for the store to open (she was on her way to work and wanted to take food for someone there) She said there was one other car in the lot and when the owner (she said it was same man who treated the young girl so bad the last time she was there) opened the door to let the people in and made some kind of comment under his breath about not even letting him get in the door. My Mom and the other man both heard the comment. She said she asked if she could buy just some loose beef and Joe snapped at her and said "you can after 1 p.m...I have 150 sandwiches to make right now" My Mom said she understood and just told him that she only wanted about one pound, not a large order and he repeated himself in the same rude manner. My Mom said the man in line behind her made a comment about how rude and abrasive the man behind the counter was and said "I'd go someplace else" which my Mom did, she went to Dickey's because they were open and she had to get to work. I will NEVER go to Pepino's again...I have been eating at Giuseppe's in Schererville at the suggestion of a neighbor and some co-workers and the food there is VERY good, atmosphere is awesome and the staff is extremely friendly...owner as well as everyone else. Their Italian beef sandwich is very good and this restaurant is actually a bit closer for me.You would think he would be happy that customers are lined up to get in no matter what day or time it is, and if he didn't have beef ready at opening, he could have at least been apologetic to my Mom and kindly asked if she could give him until 1 p.m. to place her 1 lb order, although she had to get to work and could not come back at 1 at least he wouldn't have lost customers over his bad attitude. This is the kind of thing that will take customers away from a business, regardless of how good the food may be. I brushed off the first incident as a bad day (although still not acceptable behavior for an owner) but this recent incident was the last straw for me and many of my family and friends. I talked with a friend who knows Joe and frequents Pepino's and he said he has seen some of this behavior himself in the past.

The beef sandwiches are amazing there. The flavor and size alone make this a place to go !!!!

all i have really tried was the roast beef. it was very tasty. i would like to try there pizza. i had a carryout & by the time i got home the bread was all soggy. next time i will ask them to wrap the meat separately & i'll assemble the sandwich at home. definately would go back. service was good. you can also eat inside.