If there’s one place in Soho that’s always on everyone’s list to check out, it’s Italian sandwich shop Alidoro on Sullivan St. (btw. Spring & Prince). I am not a big sandwich person and no one really told me just why this place was so awesome. Was it the bread, the ingredients, what?!? After seeing it listed in a Downtown Lunch’er profile and then another, (and finding out even Zach has eaten there) I took the train up there (and really I should probably take advantage of this before they make good on the talk of getting rid of unlimited-ride Metro cards). Bread, meat and cheese after the jump.

The inside reminded me a little bit of Torrisi Italian Specialties, except with an Italian guy named Walter running the place, bantering with customers and making sandwiches all at the same time. It’s almost like you get a little show with your lunch, as I did when a couple of hipsters asked a few too many questions about a plate of free cookies sitting on the counter and got a very sarcastic response from the woman who was taking orders.

The menu is a long one and I would suggest looking at it online before going because I get the feeling they don’t take too kindly to indecision. I had narrowed my choices down to a couple but ultimately ended up getting the Romeo, which was ranked No. 8 out of the top 101 sandwiches in the city, on semolina bread ($10.75).

You can get the sandwiches on standard white baguette-type bread, or pay an extra 50 cents to $1.50 for more interesting varieties.

Nearly all of the sandwiches are $10 and above unless you want to keep it simple with either a vegetarian selection or one with a meat and fresh mozzarella. I decided I might as well go for the gold since I’d gone all the way up here. Plus, these sandwiches are humongous and could easily supply two meals or be split with someone.

The Romeo has thinly sliced roast chicken, eggplant caponata and arugula, with some bel paese cheese spread on the top piece of bread. There was no toasting of the bread, no mayo (don’t even ask for that, or fear for your life) and I saw the chicken being sliced. It was so good I’m glad there are two stops on the train between me and this place.

It was really stuffed with ingredients, which made for some messy bench eating, but it’s nothing I haven’t encountered in my lunching.

When I got there a little before 1 p.m. there were maybe five people in line, but when I left people were snaking out onto the sidewalk. I’m not quite sure I’m converted into a sandwich lover yet, but eating here was a good start.

And in case you thought I was kidding about the “rules” this place has, take a look at the list posted by the counter.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• The sandwiches are painstakingly made and gigantic.
• You get a little bit of a show every time you go there, everytime someone asks for anything.

THE — (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

• There’s a lot of attitude flying around, and if you say the wrong thing, it might hit you.
• Yes, the sandwiches are big and delicious, but almost all of them are more than $10.

Alidoro, 105 Sullivan St. (btw. Spring & Prince), (212) 334-5179

While wandering around Tribeca earlier this week, I found myself licking the windows of Chanterelle. Luckily they were closed or I would have gone in for lunch… who am I kidding I can’t afford to lunch there. The seafood sausage appetizer alone (which is delicious by the way) costs as much as two normal lunches. So I turned around and stumbled across the street into a bar where I saw large hunks of crusty looking bread and sandwich fixins calling my name. I checked out a menu which boasted “The best sandwiches in New York”. Yeah I know, you and everyone else.

I was hesitant viewing the menu, which had sandwiches in the $8-9 range. I figured they probably didn’t come with anything, and if they did it would be some tiny salad that was more for looks than actual sustenance. I asked, just to be sure.

“They come with a free beer”

WHHHAAAA? I was like really? any beer I want? She said, “Yes but you have to drink it here.. you can’t take it out obviously. This ain’t Amsterdam”

Umm ok I’m not sure what that meant but I was happy to stay and enjoy something from their decent tap selection (bottles are also available.) I ended up choosing a Kelso, which is a local Brooklyn brew, and sat down while my “Sofia” was made, a salami, fresh mozzarella, artichokes, and olive paste sandwich, on a nice thick slab of ciabatta.

The sandwich was delicious, filling, and well assembled on fresh Sullivan Street bakery bread. All of this for $8 with tax included! I knew I had scored a big win for downtown lunching when I noticed “Puffy’s Tavern presents Alidoro Italian Sandwiches” written on the menu. Alidoro did sound kind of familiar, so I did a quick little search on my phone and discovered that these sandwiches actually come from a pretty well known Italian sandwich shop in Soho, and that Zach had actually written about the original shop for Serious Eats. We even ordered the same sandwich! (I guess great stomachs think alike.)

On a second visit, I decided to sample the $8 Daniela, made with Italian tuna, fresh mozzarella, hot peppers, and dressing. I had this one on the Sullivan Street Pizza Bianca, which is a roman style flat-bread with some salt and rosemary baked in. Another excellent creation by Puffy’s Tavern with a nice kick from the hot peppers- although I’d go with the baguette or ciabatta over that pizza bread.

The place is totally unassuming as a lunch spot, and the food menu is quite limited (kettle chips is pretty much all there is in addition to the sandwiches.) But when you can go get a sandwich for 7-9 bucks with a beer that isn’t a bud light, that’s a cool deal in my book.

Puffy’s, 81 Hudson St (corner of Harrison), 212-227-3912
Menu is served Mon-Sat 11:30-5PM

Photos and post by Daniel Krieger