I was fortunate enough to notice an email to Portillo's for a preview meal the week before their opening to the public. I snagged a time that worked for us and got confirmation via email and regular mail. The meal was free with a donation to a local charity.
We arrived to a packed parking lot and a line out the door, but the line moved very quickly. They had people writing the orders down so once you got to the register, the order just had to be input. The food took about 10 minutes to be ready, but by then I had managed to find a place to sit.
The food is not particularly photogenic, but it tasted a lot better than it looked. I had the Italian beef sandwich with cheese and hot peppers added. The cheese was shredded cheddar and a little sparse. The peppers really added flavor to the sandwich and I did ask it to be dipped in gravy. IT made the bun soggy, but added more flavor. The beef was tender, but didn't have a ton of flavor. I also had cheese fires that come with a small container of melted cheese, which tasted better than it looked. The crinkle fries were were good though.
John had the Maxwell Street Polish sausage topped with grilled onions. He said it looked a little burnt, but it tasted like the one he had in Chicago last time we visited. It is a spicier sausage.
Overall, the visit went much better than I expected. The service was fast, friendly and professional. They should be ready for the hordes to descend when they open to the public! We look forward to going back regularly.
Portillo's
12251 Elm Creek Blvd N
Maple Grove, MN 55369
Phone: (763) 316-0860
https://www.portillos.com/maplegrove/
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