Friday Foodporn: Zito's Sandwich Shoppe, Worth Getting Excited About

It only opened for business earlier this week, but Zito's Sandwich Shoppe, on Seventh Avenue between Seventh and Eighth Streets, is already generating major buzz.

Inspired by the Italian delis and salumerias of owners Marcello Bucca and Enzo Conigliano's childhood in Bensonhurst, the well-laid-out shop unapolagetically sticks to the classics: fresh mozarella  made daily with curd from Aiello Brothers in Sunset Park, beef and veal from Ottomanelli's, pork from Faicco's, prosciutto and other cold cuts from Salumeria Biellese, bread from Il Fornaretto. The sandwiches harken back to a time when an Italian deli could be found on any street corner in Brooklyn, and don't deviate much from those tried-and-true classics of old.

The 8-hour slow cooked pork braciole (top, a butterflied loin stuffed with bread crumbs, provolone, garlic, and parsley) is topped with marinara, and could sell for $20 a plate at a fancy restaurant. This one comes piled into a toasted, sesame seed-topped roll and sells for $10 (keep in mind that these are each big enough to feed two).

The meatball parm is stuffed with tender, garlicky meatballs, homemade mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, and marinara, is perfectly messy, and comes on a crusty hero roll.

Zito's take on the classic Italian sub is called the Autogrill (named after the stellar sandwiches that can be found at many gas stations in Italy), and piles this-sliced provolone, mortadella, capicollo, sopresatta, prosciutto and spicy pepperonino into a softer, less-crusty hero roll, perect for a cold sandwich. All the flavors come together perfectly, and it's thankfully not piled so high that it's impossible to eat. I love how every sandwich comes on bread that's perfectly optimized for it, and that gluten-free and whole wheat bread is available as well.

And Madonna mia, the arancini here are ridiculously delicious. I'm a fiend for these things, but without fail every one I've had around here just tasted like the inside of the refrigerator they'd been sitting in, waiting to be reheated. These arancini, saffron risotto stuffed with a ground beef mixture and deep fried, are prepared and fried to order, and come out light and crisp. If you find better arancini this side of Bensonhurst, let me know.

Zito's Sandwich Shoppe, 300 Seventh Avenue Brooklyn NY 11215. 718-499-2800. 11 AM - 10 PM Daily.

Comments

[ParkSlopePerson]

Went here tonight at 6:30pm, here is a list of the thing they were OUT of:

Sandwiches;

Meatball Parm
Six Point Braised Roast Beef
Any sausage sandwich
Panelle sandwich

They were also out of the following:

NO beer yet

Rice balls
meatball sliders
Veggie Fritto Misto platter
Pasta Fritatta

That is a TON of things to be out of on a Friday night at 6:30!! i know they just opened, but, this was quite a turn off!

Anyway, I ordered the potato and egg hero and hubby had the Trunzo sandwich (prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers and sundried tomatoes). The sandwiches took quite a while to come out (as a matter of fact, the woman who ordered before was still waiting as we ate).

But, I must say both sandwiches were amazingly delicious!! This was their only saving grace for me, because I was ready not to go back I was so ticked off! But, since the sandwiches were so yummy and they did just open a few days ago, hopefully they will work it out and order more food. Will try them again in a week or two.

[Jorge]

My hurricane prep consisted of buying six sandwiches for myself and my wife, which means I've now tasted a good portion of their menu. Everything has been uniformly excellent. Have had the chicken parm, eggplant parm, roast beef (especially good - my favorite thus far), Autogrill, and a creation of my own with fresh mozz, sun dried tomatoes, caponata, caramelized onions, and pesto. The bread and ingredients are fantastic. They take what you could get at a place like M&S and take it to the next level with the sit-down restaurant and more gourmet touches. A neighborhood gamechanger for sure, and up there with Bierkraft as the best sandwich in the Slope.

[ParkSlopePerson]

Yep, can't wait to go back, and hopefully, after they are open a while, they will be better prepared with more goods in stock. The sandwiches we did have were super yummy and I can't wait to try more!

[Sloper]

I LOVE this place. The food tastes like there is a little old italian grandmother in the kitchen. I did notice that they were out of a few things on the menu and one of the owners informed me that, that was because their stuff is made to order and not frozen, which is fine by me. If I have to wait an extra few minutes for a sandwich sans freezer burn I will.

So far my list of favorites are as follows: 1) Roast Beef 2) 18th Ave. Feast 3) Eggplant Parm

I can't wait to try the others