"Verdict: Decent sandwiches, but there are better alternatives. Come during the week because the nightmarish weekend lines are not worth it. The hype swirling around this sandwich shop imported from Florence is as thick and palpable as the stracciatella they spread on their focaccia sandwiches. But while said sandwiches are undeniably tasty, we wouldn’t send someone here unless they were already on Abbot Kinney. The bread here is the weakest link: it has a nice crunch, but is a bit dense and sticks to the roof of your mouth even after it’s softened by the thick layer of stracciatella. The fillings are the real business, though, like the generous amount of mortadella and pistachio cream in the La Paradiso. Given the general chaos of street parking, long lines, and the overall claustrophobia of Abbot Kinney on the weekends, consider pushing your Italian sandwich plans to Monday—or maybe heading to Lorenzo or Tre Mani instead." - sylvio martins, brant cox, nicolas zhou
