Blink and you’ll miss the micro-storefront location of Yanni’s Sausage Grill in Penngrove— a bare bones walk-up eatery that takes its sausage seriously.
Because sausage is the new hot dog. The fatter, sassier, more interesting cousin to the humble weiner, sausages have the added benefit of, well, flavor. Stuffed with pork, chicken, lamb or turkey and a variety of spices, herbs and add-ons like apple, mango, mint or peppers, they’re the total package.
For best results: Grill to within an inch of bursting from its snappy natural casing, plop onto a toasted sweet Italian roll, top with sweet peppers and grilled onions, and you’ve got a fingers-burning-through-the-foil street classic.
On the menu, eight flavors of sausage — from Loukaniko, a rustic Greek sausage with citrus and spice; garlic mint, sweet and hot Italian, chicken limoncello; Olympic Flame (extra hot made with brandy); greek kalamata olive and feta; and lamb sausage served with tzatziki. All are under $6, most under $5. Buy a couple because you’ll likely want another after scarfing down the first. They’ll burn your tongue and scorch your fingers, but slowing down to savor these dogs just ain’t an option.
The tiny space (expect to eat sitting on the sidewalk or for takeout) also plans to serve up deep dish pizzas on Friday and Saturdays and a breakfast pizza on Sunday mornings. Hours are still fairly early, but sandwiched between two bars, it wouldn’t be difficult to do a brisk late night biz.
And by the way, if you’re going by can you bring me one?
Yanni’s Sausage Grill, 10007 Main St., Penngrove, 795-7088. Open Wednesday through Friday, 11am to 6pm; Saturday 10am to 7pm, Sunday 10am to 3pm.
