Simple, stellar Italian sandwiches at Carmenta’s - Review - New York - The Infatuation

"In Bushwick, Carmenta’s is the kind of casual place you’ll want to be a regular at. But, if you’re already a regular reading this, you’re probably upset that we’re letting people know about the place you’ve been gatekeeping. But the people need to know about the Dom G. The shop makes a short list of simple, wonderfully executed Italian sandwiches. They also sell some pastas, but you come here for big, sloppy meatballs or creamy fried eggplant sandwiched between Napoli Bakery bread. In a city where it's not uncommon to line up down the block for sandwiches, the easy-to-acquire ones at Carmenta’s stand out. photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte Pause Unmute There are some seats here that look suspiciously like the lab stools from a high school physics class, but you’re better off taking your sandwiches to go—whether to nearby Maria Hernandez Park, or to your friend’s couch for their monthly independent arthouse film night. Food Rundown Dom G. This is the sandwich to get here. Creamy, crunchy fried eggplant melds perfectly with sweet, stewed peppers and a messy swipe of whipped ricotta. The sandwich gets brightened up with a few leaves of fresh mint and a tomato vinaigrette. Eat this immediately—the eggplant can get a bit soggy if you let it sit. photo credit: Kate Previte Prosciutto Cotto A big layer of thin-sliced cooked ham gets adorned with gruyere, labneh, and pickled mustard seeds. If we could only have one ham sandwich for the rest of our lives, it very well might be this one. photo credit: Kate Previte Jose Special Loaded with meatballs, eggplant, and salsa verde, this is the kind of sandwich that’ll make you consider wearing a bib. Their meatballs are juicy, well-seasoned, and slightly larger than a baseball. photo credit: Kate Previte Chicken Parm Of the three cardinal proteins of Italian sandwich shops (meatballs, chicken cutlet, and fried eggplant), we’re least wowed by Carmenta’s chicken cutlets. It’s not that they’re bad—it’s just that we love their eggplant and meatballs so much. photo credit: Kate Previte" - Will Hartman