Cousin Vinny's Sandwich Co.

If you’re looking for the best sandwich shop in Tampa, look no further than Cousin Vinny’s Sandwich Shop — an authentic New York-style deli experience right here in Florida. From the moment you walk through the doors, you’re greeted with a warm welcome, and the service is second to none. What sets Cousin Vinny’s apart is the personal touch — the owner himself often checks in table-side to ensure your meal exceeds expectations. That kind of old-school hospitality is rare and unforgettable. Now let’s talk sandwiches. The cutlet sandwich is hands down a masterpiece — perfectly fried chicken cutlet layered with fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze on crusty Italian bread that’s soft on the inside and toasted just right. It’s everything you want in a hearty, satisfying bite. Craving heat? The spicy meatball sandwich packs a flavorful punch with tender meatballs simmered in a rich, spicy marinara and topped with melted provolone. It’s bold, saucy, and absolutely crave-worthy. No visit is complete without grabbing a classic black & white cookie — soft, cakey, and nostalgic in all the right ways. Whether it’s lunch or a weekend indulgence, Cousin Vinny’s in Tampa delivers authentic flavor, exceptional service, and true New York deli soul.

The Tony picante sandwich is so delicious, it’s a must try in Tampa. It’s so good that i took a pregnancy test because i had such intense cravings for it for months, I figured this must be what people are talking about when they have pregnancy cravings. It was negative, the sandwich is just that delicious. Thin and crispy cutlet, perfect bread, and I only need half to feel full, then i get to put the rest away for later. It actually heats up fairly nice as leftovers for a saucy sandwich. ALWAYS get an extra side of the spicy vodka, it is the best sauce on earth. Maybe even 2 extra sides. When I’m trying to be healthy I’ll just go get a side of cutlet w sauce and dream about the Tony Picante. My takeout is always ready in under ten mins too

This was the best chicken cutlet sandwich I have ever had! The food was so fresh and tasty! The atmosphere was amazing and the service spectacular. They were very helpful and nice.

What the hail!!!!!! I’ve been living in Bangkok for 1.5 years and Bangkok undoubtedly has if not the best one of the very best food scenes on the planet. And Cousin Vinny’s took me right back to the best sandwich place in Bangkok. This place absolutely ROCKS! The food is fresh and so ridiculously full of flavor and the folks who work here are just the best! So grateful to have this place in town 🙏🏻

Fantastic hot and cold sandwiches. My suggestion; go slightly off-menu. Order a Parm Don (fried chicken cutlet sub with oven-melted fresh mozzarella) - but disregard their listed choices for sauce (Red or Vodka) - and instead choose Spicy Vodka sauce. AND THEN ask them to add on some thinly-sliced Prosciutto, please. Great sandwich. Bonus tip - you're gonna want an extra side of the spicy vodka sauce for dunking the sub as you go. ((Fair warning, this is a thick stack of napkins affair.)) A pair of the owners were on-site, both super friendly, despite the serious look in the picture.

We saw the Instagram reel of this place and said we have to take the ride and try it out. Seldomly places meet our expectations. This place absolutely blew us away!! From the start the young girl at the register was so welcoming, the food was fabulous! Bread shipped in from Staten Island daily and fresh Mozzarella made in house. The owner came to greet us as well. We will definitely be back and already told all of our friends! Please Vinny and Russ open a store by us in Palm Harbor. You would all kill it in our area.

I feel like I paid for a sandwich with no flavor? The cutlets are not crispy, chickens dry & no where near enough flavor… the bread was the star of the show. The ladys taking your order are nice! Only 3 tables available. I don’t see us coming back here ever again.

Our first time here. The food was outstanding!!!! I was given the wrong sandwich by mistake and they quickly addressed the issue. The mistaken sandwich I was given I will be back for (Tony Piccante) not only did they address the issue quickly but also gave us a complimentary cannoli cream pudding which was also out of this world. Staff was so apologetic for the mishap while remaining so friendly. They went above and beyond to make us feel like family. Highly recommend this restaurant for a good quality sandwich. 20 out of 10 for sure. Food that we had: Bella Bruschetta Tony Piccante The shweet one (highly recommend) Cannoli Cream Pudding

Good sandwiches, we got chicken parm w marinara and one with vodka sauce. Cutlet, sauces, cheese and bread all good, only complaint would be it needs another cutlet. Interesting that a lot of pictures show more than one cutlet in the sandwich but ours only had 1. For the cost, there should be more chicken.

Great authentic NYC style deli. Staff is very personable and efficient. Great atmosphere. Always look forward to Cousin Vinny's. Chicken cutlets are on point.

I stopped by to check out this new spot after hearing all the buzz. Definitely lived up to the hype. The cutlet Cesar wrap was phenomenal. Highly recommend this spot to anyone.

If Tony Soprano had to visit Tampa and wanted a sandwich, he would have chosen Vinny's. I got off the golf course and was hungry for a Killer sammich. 1st time to Vinny's and I'll be a return customer. ! Russ and the girls are crushing it up front with great smiles and customer service. Vinny's in the back "knee deep in meatballs" as he should be. I prefer their chicken cutlet to Mazzaro's and that's saying a lot. Someone call Joe Pesci ffs! Go visit this week. You won't be sorry.

Follow up review now that I've tried the actual location as opposed to the old ghost kitchen. I've been so so excited to try this spot out and have been hearing a lot of hype. After having a pretty quick ordering experience with great service, I ran back to my car to try "The Uncle Jun" sandwich. I'm now left feeling pretty conflicted. All of the ingredients are top notch and taste so fresh. The pecorino cream is just insane and I really like the flavor the red pesto adds into the sandwich. There's a good amount of capicola too. The quality really shines through and transported me back to eating paninis in Italy. However, I found the sandwich wayyy too greasy in certain parts. It seems like the oil from the red pesto, or if there was addl oil used to press the sandwich and make it a little crispy, really seeped into the bread. Since the schiacatta was so thin, the top layer really absorbed that oil and the bottom edges as well. It was basically oozing oil and I ended up tasting the oil first when biting into it. Not sure if this was a one time thing where too much was used or if the sandwiches are normally constructed like this. Haven't seen any other reviews saying the same. Overall, have mixed emotions but can understand the popularity of the place. Side note - seems like there's some issues going on with the neighboring establishment (an angry employee ran in and yelled about parking). I hope this comes to a resolution and all the smaller establishments in Tampa can support each other!!

I normally don't take the time to update reviews, but there is such a stark difference between the sandwiches at the original location vs the new location on Cass. It's a total bummer because I looked forward to it's return after the temporary closure. I ordered the same sandwich I used to, which is Thee Parmesan Don (aka Chicken Parm). This time the sandwich came on stale tasting bread basted with garlic butter, fresh mozz, smidge of sauce, and a single thinly pounded breaded chicken cutlet. Overall, the ingredients still seem of reasonable quality and I like the garlic butter, but now the sandwich is very mediocre and just falls flat in terms of flavor. Putting flavor aside, the notable differences in execution are the bread, amount of chicken, and amount of sauce. Verdict: At a cost of $15, the new sandwich just isn't worth it. Unfortunately, I can not recommend...keep looking!

This place is absolutely amazing! The staff is incredibly friendly, and the space is super clean, making for a great experience from start to finish. While it's more of a grab-and-go spot, there are a few tables if you want to sit and enjoy your meal. I ordered the Uncle Jun, and it was phenomenal--the combination of fresh arugula, thinly shaved -- but packed in -- capicola, homemade pecorino cheese and homemade red pesto was perfectly balanced and packed with flavor. My friend went for one of the cutlet sandwiches and couldn't stop raving about it. I'll definitely be back soon, and I can't wait to bring others who haven't tried it yet. 10/10, highly recommend!

If you are nostalgic for a NY Italian deli sandwich and live in the Noho area, this is your place. I'm not a New Yorker, and my first experience eating the Florida version of a NY sandwich wasn't inspiring, but I decided to try again with Cousin Vinny's after reading about it in the TBT. The menu is pretty limited, mostly chicken cutlet sandwiches. The offer a meatball sandwich. If you don't want to eat meat, you can have a cheese sandwich. I do wish they'd offer breaded eggplant as an option, because I'd be all over that! Sides are very limited, mostly chips. They have black & white cookies. I arrived before noon, and there was already a group of people inside waiting for their food. I ordered the Tony Piccante without red peppers (too messy, don't like how bell peppers dominate a sandwich's flavors). My food was ready in about 5 minutes, which was great. (Note: I originally wanted to place my order online, but they weren't taking online orders.) The sandwich was okay. it was dry. While more sauce would have made the sandwich much messier, I felt that it needed more sauce. I liked the flavors of the spicy vodka sauce and the mozzarella. I couldn't discern the ricotta. I wish there were some other veggies as options other than the red peppers, maybe arugula or spinach? Something to make the sandwich feel a little brighter. The sandwich was big, but probably not $15 big. The setting is nice, but there are just three tables, each with 4 seats. There's no private lot, just street parking, and parking on Cass is a pain since it's only on one side.

Finally checked out this spot to see what all the hype was about. The sandwich was pretty good for what it is, but I preferred the cutlet sandwich over the schiacciata. I came around lunchtime, and the process was straightforward as you order at the front, and they call your name once your order is ready. I'd definitely come back to try other cutlet sandwiches. What I ordered: - The Uncle Jun: Capicola | Arugula | Housemade Pecorino Cream Housemade Red Pesto - Thee Parmesan Don: Hand Breaded Chicken Cutlet | Mozzarella | House Made Vodka Sauce| Grated Parmesan Cheese

Ok, a family friend told me about the grand opening. The moment I walked in, I was welcomed in. I ordered the meatball sandwich, blood orange soda and black and white cookie. My meatball sandwich with the red sauce was so good. Very flavorful and the bread was soft. My cookie was very good too. It's very cozy inside and a good spot. Go check out Russ and his crew.

Is there a better sandwich spot in south tampa. These sandwiches are well priced, the service is quick and they are delicious. Whether you're stopping in for a quick bite or to sit and drink some classic pop it's officially a must stop in south tampa.

Great sandwich spot near downtown Tampa/UT area, right next to Santoro's. We tried a couple of the cutlet sandwiches, The Basic and Thee Parmesan Don with vodka sauce. They were both good and I especially liked the bread. Parking is limited, just a few spots out front and some street parking. There are only a few tables inside but most people are there for to-go orders. Food came out fairly quickly, but the person calling the orders is calling names at a regular speaking volume and can barely be heard over the music. Luckily they take down your phone number and text you when your order is ready.

I LOVED IT. 8.5/10 Caesar wrap, (chicken was a bit dry) sauce, croutons, and the wrap itself was perfection. Plus they weren't stingy with the filling. Scratch kitchen so everything is made in house. Small place and servers were nice. I'm so coming back here

Got some sandwiches to go from here. Everything was delicious. The chicken cutlet sandwiches are definitely their specialty. Can't wait to try more from here!

Sandwiches do not look like the pictures they post. Very little meat. I had high hopes. I will say that the flavor was on point. Does not match up to the top tier sandwiches places like Mazarro's in St Pete or Gulf Coast Sourdough in Tampa.

My wife and I tried out Cousin Vinny's this past Saturday, we've been so excited to try it out since the original location in SH. First, let's talk about the space. It's small, so make arrangements to either wait for a table (there's only 3) or get it to go. Second, the service was pretty quick so that was great! Lastly, we ordered the 'That Louie' & 'Thee Parmesan Don'. This is where we felt some major disappointment. The bread was soft and fluffy, but the chicken cutlet to bread ratio needs work. Point blank, they need to add another chicken cutlet. 5 oz is not nearly enough for a sandwich of that size. For the price of the sandwich we expected better. They also need to add more sauce as it was a bit dry. We would also love to have the option to have the sandwiches toasted. All in all, the flavors were great. I would have given Cousin Vinny's 3.5 stars but that's not an option on here and 3 stars didn't feel accurate. I hope they take these criticisms seriously because I really want Cousin Vinny's to last a long time in Tampa. Oh and one other thing to add, please please turn down the music. EDM blasting through the speakers when I'm trying to enjoy my meal and talk is highly obnoxious.

Spicy chicken parm sandwich was to die for! 10/10! It's busy because it's good! Definitely will be back and parking is on the side of the building FYI or street parking if you're lucky.

I really wanted to like this place after seeing how good the sandwiches looked online but unfortunately this was not the case. There is very limited seating so you will most likely have to order to-go. When we got our sandwiches they weren't constructed well or cut through so they had to be ripped apart. We spent $60 on the Uncle Jun, Prosciutto Di Papo and the Caesar Wrap with grilled chicken. The Uncle Jun was our least favorite since the red pesto had a weird flavor. We personally thought the flavors of the sandwiches did not blend together well. The Prosciutto Di Papo had no flavor except for the overpowering salt from the prosciutto. The Caesar wrap was decent but nothing special. Again, we really wanted to like this place. Our food did come out quick and it was fairly busy, however, I don't think I'll be returning to this restaurant.

Enjoyed my first taste if this sandwich place, devouring The Louie. For 15 bucks though they can at least throw in a back of chips and/or a drink. Its a thinly pounded breaded fried chicken, on a fresh roll with a slice of mozzarella, roasted red pepper and pesto mayo. A once in a while treat indeed especially for 15 bucks for just a sandwich. At a sit down restaurant with service you would at least get some fries and a drink and service.

Love this place! I remember going to their original spot in Seminole heights and was very sad when they closed down. But the comeback was greater and better! To many, it may be just another sandwich place. But to me, it's a going somewhere and getting treated like family. From the art outside to the vibes inside, cousin Vinny is that cool cousin that hooks it up with delicious sandwiches when you come visit. All their sandwiches range between $14 - $16 (including wraps). Inside is made up of a couple tables and a stand up eat-in bar. Everything is made fresh to order. The bread taste fresh, and soft, while the cutlets are crispy and juiced up with their respective sauces. Sauces aren't over salted, and dont give me heartburn!!! :) do yourself a favor and try the manhattan special, a coffee soda. Yes, it's odd, weird and delicious. Great food, great vibes and expect some wait time since they have their long awaited return. Parking is scarce but there is plenty all around the neighborhood. Great job and welcome back!!!

Wow! The food is on point here, love the vibe. Happy to see spots like this pop up. I had the prosciutto DiPapo, it's was a huge sandwich. Perfect balance. I'll be back

Finally Tampa has a prime Italian sandwich shop and let me tell you, it hits the spot. First off, the vibes/art work surrounded by this restaurant is so cool, which is exactly what you need to stand out in Tampa. The food is out of this world. The chicken cutlets in each sandwich is made to perfection, sliced nice &thin, coated in the most delicious breading. The sauces/toppings in each sandwich will have you salivating. I also love how they sell Lemon-cello & Blood Orange sodas straight from Sicily. I would rate this sandwich shop a 20 out of 10! I can't wait to try their chicken Cesar wrap next!

Where to start, where to start. This was the wordy sandwich I think I've possibly ever purchased. I did not just get 1 sandwich I got 2. I got a hot and a cold. Immediately walking out of the store I looked in the box and knew without taking a bite that this would be absolutely horrible. When I purchase a hot sub I want a nice crunch to it and with the "that Louie" it absolutely did not have it. Well maybe you're the type of person that doesn't like the crunch and is there for the cutlet. Guess what... the cutlet was even worse. I swear to god that the cutlet was from a middle school cafeteria. It was, and I kid you not, the thickness of a Ticonderoga 2 pencil. Who in there right mind would go, "yeah let's sell this and say it's a cutlet" Horrible horrible horrible. Let's now talk about the cold sub. I unfortunately spent hard earned USD on the Prosciutto Di Papo. This sandwich had the absolute worst bread I've ever even eaten, again no crunch. I really don't get how you claim to be a "SANDWICH SHOP" and don't have a crunch.... The crunch is the most important part. The mozzarella was absolutely horrible and just a brick. I got a brick with bread. I got a brickwich. I like my prosciutto nice and salty tasting. This was not. This was from Walmart. It would make sense since they are a 10 minute walk from Walmart. I went with two other people and I looked at their sandwiches and I didn't even have to try it to know it stunk. Both looked horrible. Just because you have a solid Instagram page does not mean the food is good. Just because your are next to Santoros, which is good food, does not mean that you're good. Every single review or comment saying that this place is good is an absolute lie and probably family friends with someone who works or owns the place. I know good food this is not. I will never return. The closest I will come to the building is next store to Santoros because they might not make a cold sandwich but they at least know how to make a hot sub. I can't believe spent hard earned USD on a brickwich.

I went into this with high hopes having had their sandwiches when they had the ghost kitchen. First they don't have the roast beef sandwich which is good so it was disappointing not to see on the menu. Second you can clearly see the size difference between then and now. $15 for what it is pretty much a half of a sandwich. The sandwiches they made before this place opened were bigger for that price. I get inflation and all that but you don't make the sandwiches smaller. The bread isn't the same, It wasn't like a nice NY Italian bread. I think a Wawa or even Jersey Mikes bread would've been better. Hopefully more people are honest about this place and it will get them to make the sandwiches the way they used to.

Literally just took one bite of the sandwich and pulled my phone out to write this review. Walked in, welcomed by what I'm guessing is one of the owners. I got the TONY PICCANTE, I'm telling you it's perfect. The sauce is delicious big chunks of tomato perfectly cooked thin chicken cutlet crispy as hell. Good bread. 10/10 Welcome to the neighborhood

This was one of the best chicken cutlets I've ever had! It was exceptionally juicy and the spicy vodka sauce was a perfect balance of creamy, sweet , and spicy! Service was quick and the workers greeted me with a smile. I will definitely be back to try the rest of the delicious looking items on the menu!

Food is great! I ordered the chicken vodka sauce sub. Was delicious, however, a little dry for me and not enough sauce so ask for some extra on side!! The interior is simple. 3 tables, was very hot in there tho! I was sweating while eating lol.. drinks from cooler were also warm and not cold. So maybe just get water from the fountain and save your money. Prices seem fair for what it is! Definitely will be back to try another sub.

Im sorry, but this place is just not good and not even close to authentic. Don't fall for it. As someone who's lived in NY and have had real meatball parms, this is comparable to subway if that, at 5x the price. i tried it because of an instagram video and what a mistake. $40 for 2 sandwiches and a water? Thats a little extreme pricing for how bad it actually is. The meatballs had absolutely no flavor, none whats so ever. The sauce was watery and also flavorless. The bread is clearly some frozen junk. Seriously there are way better options out there for the money.

The sandwiches were amazing, place is super cool vibes, and the services was top tier! Can't wait to go back.

Got the Proscuitto di Papo & the Bella Bruschetta. Sandwiches tasted decent but seems like they don't put in the love that they show on social media. To consider 3 halved cherry tomatoes "bruschetta" is a disgrace to all Italians & New Yorkers. $35 for 2 sandwiches I would expect better

Pretty pumped to come to the new Italian style sandwich shop! No online ordering at the moment or call ahead. (Seems like it so the kitchen can get in their rhythm because it's a new place). Which is great rather than not being able to produce quality food! After waiting in line for 15 minutes to order I ordered the Prosciutto Di Papo and the Meatball Parm sandwich. The staff was all very friendly and was working together as a team giving, letting each other know they were doing a good job. I love seeing that! I thought the food was a little pricey spending $47 on the 2 sandwiches, a drink, plus $4 tip and tax. But I was ok with it because everything smelt and looked so good! The Meatball sub was amazing nothing short of perfection. The Prosciutto Di Papo however was not very good.. It's a cold sandwich which I'm fine with and usually enjoy. But the prosciutto on this was a little brown in color instead of red/pink. Was pretty disappointed in that with the price I paid for the sandwiches. But other than that I'll be back eventually to try something again sometime. Maybe when you're able to call ahead and not have to wait in a long line.

Best sandwiches in Tampa! They don't make them like this down here. Top hospitality too. Cool vibes too. Easily 5 stars

Highly recommend! My new favorite spot to get a samich ! Even though it's a little out of the way for me, I'll still take the drive over. Definitely worth it!

Driving by just saw this place opened up and I have to tell you I just had one of the best sandwiches in my entire life and this is coming from the most picky guy and I don't leave that many reviews and this is a must stop if you're in the area grab a sandwich you won't regret it

Chicken was fresh n tender Flavor was great / Wait time was good with friendly service !!

My favorite sandwich spot in Tampa.. nothing comes close One of the standout features of Cousin Vinny's is their commitment to freshness and flavor. The ingredients are always top-notch, and you can taste the difference in every bite But it's not just the food that makes this place special; it's the people. The staff at Cousin Vinny's are incredibly friendly and go out of their way to make sure you have a great experience

I've been eyeing this place for a while since Frankie's is too far away from me, and I finally got to try it today! I got That Louie, and the best way I can put it is that this is just a very, very satisfying sandwich. I especially love the bread, I got the seeded Semolina bread and it was so buttery and spongey. The chicken was really juicy so you know it's fresh, and the tomatoes tasted amazing! Overall I'm really glad I got to try another Italian deli that tastes so good, and I'm even happier that it's only about 8 min from me. My only wish is that they open on weekdays and have an actual storefront so I can sit and relax with my delicious sandwich more often.

One of the best sandwiches I've ever had! Unlike any sandwich shop in Tampa and I will definitely be back. Well done, Cousin Vinny's!

cutlets didn't stand a chance. best sauce and cutlets in the Tampa area hands down. The city has added a new staple restaurant that is a must try and that is Cousin Vinny's!

Cousin Vinny's sandwich shop is just what we needed here in Tampa. Being a native New Yorker for most of my life, I truly missed those Italian authentic sandwich shops that I grew up with in the ozone park/Howard Beach, Queens area. Chicken cutlets were unheard of when I moved down here over 5 years ago and I'm so thrilled to have found this place. So this place is take out only. You place your order through their site and chose a pick up time. I got a text when the order was ready and there it was as soon as you open the door on the rack. Now I will say, not having a place to actually sit down and eat my sandwich immediately kinda makes it harder for me as I was coming from Wesley Chapel however I made it work as I really wanted to try this new spot. Now the food... Oh 'em gee! Beyond happy that my sandwich did not disappoint. The cutlets were absolutely delicious. They were not cheap with the cutlets either. Big portion. The pesto sauce and vodka sauces were very tasty and simply amazing. The only thing for me was the semolina bread did not seem fresh like I know it to be. Perhaps If it was toasted that would have helped. All in all, hands down my new spot for a chicken cutlet sandwich. Good job!!!! Hoping in the near future they will open a place with seating. Thank you for having a piece of home here in Tampa.

Insanely good heros!!!! We had the Don Parm and the That louie!! They were served hot and packed with so much flavor. There was a line but it moved quickly and the food took about 10 min. I am bummed that we live 4 hours away but will def be back when we are back in Tampa visiting family.

First time I had the pleasure of having Vinny cook for us was at one of many house parties, many years ago, when this was just the beginning of the dream. And dream is what happens after experiencing those very talented guys creations. There have been many hours consumed making this to fruition. Being from NY, we know a good Sangwich. The vodka sauce is perfect. The chicken cutlets, stupid good!! And the bread!!! Mingua Now it's your turn !!! Come, take a selfie with Joe P

Food was delicious like back home we had an extended wait and they gave us a free sandwich and meatballs. Top notch service I would highly recommend.

Closed my eyes, took a bite and it was like I was back in Italia. These sandwiches are no joke! The authentic flavor profile of each sandwich was truly impressive. #1 choice is the chicken caesar wrap, add a little eggplant. Game over. If you're looking for a beautiful Italian sandwich here in Tampa, look no further. Cousin Vinny will hook it up!

Went to Cousin Vinny's today for the first time and will definitely be back. We ordered the meatball sandwich (I would recommend getting with the spicy vodka sauce), the proscuitto di papo, the chicken cesaer wrap, and a side of meatballs. All ingredients perfectly complimented the next and the bread was the perfect vessel to hold it all together. The owner and his team are friendly and efficient. Look forward to trying the Parmesan Don next!

Best I've ever had! 12 out of 10!! Have to check it out! Got me hooked now, can't wait to go back!

Really enjoyed this place. Great quality, fresh ingredients and Family owned! Excited to make this my regular lunch spot

Some of the best Italian sandwiches I've ever had. The sauce on the chicken parm was outsta and the vodka sauce is even better.

If you are in the Tampa area, you should be sure to add Cousin Vinny's to your list of culinary destinations. They combine the classic flavors of NY with the mom and pop service that so many yearn for when they leave the northeast. Missing out on indulging in one of their delectable sandwiches would be the mistake of a lifetime, and I highly advise against doing so. Better get there soon because before you know it there will be a line out the door!