Two Noyes Street neighbors are small, more than 40 years old and still luring students. The pair has become household names and has far surpassed other, more youthful competition.
The restaurants, Al’s Deli, 914 Noyes St., and Rollin’ To Go, 910 Noyes St., are turning the once-deserted street into an old-school hot spot.
“I think we’re turning Noyes Street into a little downtown Evanston itself,” said Rollin’ to Go owner Tim Camasto.
These small restaurants manage to stay packed serving only a lunchtime crowd and keeping everything in the family. Both owners said they believe they have figured out the exact recipe for success.
As a restaurant catering mostly to a sandwich-loving crowd, Rollin’ To Go offers a wide range of customizable sandwiches, Camasto said.
Starting as a different family business 40 years ago, Rollin’ To Go branched out from a pizzeria at Foster Street owned by the current owner’s grandparents.
As ownership was passed down through the family, Camasto said the restaurant’s goal has been to “have the students come in, try the food, love it and keep coming back.”
Students and Evanston residents alike often ask for Rollin’ to Go’s most popular sandwich, the al forno, Camasto said.
“I’m addicted,” said SESP sophomore Sarah Steffes. “Somewhere between the al forno and pizzas, I think I’ve found love.”
Camasto’s “for the students” idea has been working – advertising through word of mouth, and only more recently through The Daily, Rollin’ has contributed to the popularity of Noyes Street. Students not only work at Rollin’ to Go, but also often contribute to ideas for new sandwiches.
Rollin to Go’ is known for the “unique” names of its sandwiches, Camasto said.
“We like to have a little fun with (the names),” he said.
He added that the Italian-inspired sandwich names have come from his family members’ names – “Paulie Walnuts” from his father Paul, and “Carmella” from his great -aunt’s name – customer’s names and all sorts of other random inspiration.
Camasto said his greatest enjoyment is to get to know and have fun with the customers in his laid-back setting,
“Usually they walk in and we already know what they want,” Camasto said. “I want to keep that about this place.”
Moving only from 910 to 914 Noyes Street, sandwich lovers can leap from sourdough to baguette. Though they nearly share a storefront, Rollin’ to Go and Al’s Deli are each inspired by a different type of cuisine.
While covering the at-times overwhelming lunch rush, Al’s Deli owners, brothers John and Bob Pottinger, stand under the “We Accept Euros” sign at the cash register. The brothers said they embrace the European idea of the sandwich.
“We’re just Francophiles,” Bob said. “In France, they take time to enjoy life and enjoy the sandwich, it’s just standard. We try to keep that here.”
Bob and John’s father, the restaurant’s namesake Al, opened the restaurant in 1949.
When asked about the original decision to take on his father’s business, Bob joked that the job was “definitely for the mortgage payments and my biannual trip to France.” He added that it’s the customers that make it fun to work.
“The only downside is the long hours,” he said.
Striving to maintain a high standard and level of quality, even though the store closes at four, the brothers often prepare for the next day until 7 p.m.
“People come here for my cooking, so it’s all my cooking,” Bob said.
Customers have said his tactic is working; students like Weinberg junior Ryan Libster have said they return regularly for the restaurant’s most popular items, a smoked turkey sandwich with aioli and a roast beef sandwich with Bearnaise sauce.
“I keep coming back for the freshness, and maybe the cookies,” Libster said. “And when you give Libster a cookie, he’s gotta have some Bearnaise sauce.”
