Sub chains that also sell pizza, salads and other stuff are a dime a dozen, but how about one that also sells homemade ice cream? Enter Bellacino's, which serves up pizza, subs, salads, pasta plates as well as chicken wings and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids. It also has its own ice cream bar, a la Marble Slab Creamery, where ice cream can be mixed with any number of toppings. And the subs have a story: They're called grinders, which apparently is what Italian immigrants who sold sandwiches called the workers who ground off rivets on warships.

WHAT: Bellacino's Pizza & Grinders

WHERE: 6044 FM 3009 at I-35, suite 290; (210) 651-6350; bellacinos.com

HOURS: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday

TASTE SENSATION: There's a great variety of subs to be had, from your standard roast beef and chicken to crab and seafood and taco. You can order a half or a large — the large is really large, definitely enough for two or to take home. They don't skimp on cheese or meat like so many other sub joints. The pizza is tasty, though the choices are not as varied as with the subs. The homemade ice cream is creamy and yummy, with flavors such as Egg Nog and Peanut Butter.

TUMS-WORTHY: There was nothing that screamed “I'm special and different!” in the sub we had, though it was filling. And a small pizza is listed on the menu as “8 inch,” which has to mean precooked because it came to the table disappointingly tiny. If you plan on sharing a small pizza, definitely get some cheese bread or baked fries.

THE 210 TAKE: With a varied sandwich list and plenty of reasonably priced salads, as well as a “light” menu, Bellacino's could be a way to eat out and eat right. The ice cream won't help in that department, but it is good. Half-sandwich prices are standard, but the large sizes seem to be the real value.

Julie Ann Vera | 210SA