If You Don't Like Mad House Sandwich Shop's Food, Then Go Somewhere Else

Mad House Sandwich Shop owner Gino Sierra isn't the least bit humble about his food.

"I make the best sandwiches around," declared Sierra.

The former owner of the Mr. Empanada franchise at 10312 Bloomingdale Ave., Suite 111, Riverview, for five years, Sierra gave up the franchise to start his own restaurant in the same location.

The new restaurant features selections such as pork Sierra roasts himself, ham baked right at the restaurant and homemade meatballs with marinara sauce, Sierra's own recipe.

"Everything is handmade, from the ham on the Cubans to the best deviled crab in the state made with 100 percent real crab meat," said Sierra. "Our goal is to give our customers great food at great prices."

The bread is made fresh daily at Casino Bakery and Sierra uses all produce grown by local farmers.

"If I had the space, I'd make my own cheese, too," he said.

His most popular sandwich is the Continental, a triple decker sandwich on pumpernickle bread containing ham, salami, roast beef, mozzarella and Swiss cheese that is butter pressed and then quartered.

"It's big enough for two people," said Sierra.

But what truly sets Mad House Sandwich Shop apart is Sierra's unique take on customer service.

"Here, the customer is not always right. We are," he said. "I make a great sandwich and I don't allow any substitutions. I can get snarky, and sometimes downright rude about it. If the customer doesn't like it, he can go somewhere else."

Opened last month, the new restaurant seats 28 people. Sierra is in the process of obtaining his wine and beer license and plans to serve Cigar City Brewing of Tampa  products along with wine and sangria.

Mad House Sandwich Shop offers carryout as well as delivery through TakeOut Butler.

For more information, call 813-623-6232.