Heroic Italian Berkeley

We decided to check out Heroic Italian in downtown Berkeley, next to the library! The outdoor patio was so relaxing on a hot summer day. If you love Italian food as much as I do, y'all need to check out Heroic Italian! Everything was so fresh and light. It's simply delicioso! OMG! OMG! The OMG sandwich was light, airy, crispy, and delicious; while the Chicken Tetrazzini Rotini pasta was light, creamy, and tasty, it was perfect with the glass of white wine. I love me a good salad, and the California Caprese salad did NOT disappoint. Not only was it beautiful, it was so refreshingly delicious! I want one now. Lastly, the Calabrian Shrimp Roman Pizza was delicious. It was my first time having a shrimp pizza- it had the perfect balance of savory and tartness. Ps. There’s a parking lot next door, and it cost the same as the street parking meter.

Pretty mediocre and below average pasta for what you pay for. Waitress simply brought the food and walked away. No attention given to patrons after they order even though there were only two people in the restaurant.

Heroic Italian is located next to the Downtown Berkeley Library on Kittredge Street not far from BART. There is free 2 hour parking on the street, and there is a parking garage close by. It is located on the bottom corner of a five story with lots of windows so the restaurant is filled with natural light. There is a large patio outside, so you have the choice of eating inside or out. David, the owner is friendly and loves to share about his business!!! I had an OMG sandwich to go with an Italian Bio drink. I see why it is called OMG--it was very tasty made with fresh bread, Italian meats, smoked Mozzarella, and Roasted Artichoke Spread. Yum, yum!!! They have a large variety of Italian wines to choose from to go along with sandwiches, salads, pizzas, and pastas. This is a great place to come for a taste of Italy.

Great Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown Berkeley. I was there with a large party and everyone was impressed by the quality of the dishes. The OMG sandwich was so good that I wanted to get another one for to go. We did not all get our dishes at the same time, but that’s perhaps a consequence of the online-only menu. I would much prefer the old fashioned personal ordering.

a homey italian restaurant - love price is a little high (20) for a sandwich but its soooo good. i love the quadronna- juicy sandwich with fluffy bread. the OMG falls 2nd. with a lovely spicy flavor mixed with the sweetness of tomatos. workers were kind and the candy that comes with order was nice! thanks

Grey meat grey taste, bad esspresso drinks, unhappy looking staff ...what a waste of a great patio. Chicken tetrazzini sandwhich was the worst sandwhich that I have had in 10 years in the Bay Area. The staff are obviously underpaid, which is depressing.

Delicious food and a spacious outdoor dining area. The portions are all very generous and shareable. During the summertime I bet this place will be very popular.

Fabulous! Little place serving up amazing pizzas, antipasti, salads coupled with a great wine list. Friendly staff and good service. We went for an early dinner before a concert at the Greek Theater.

Lovely spot in Berkeley tucked away in a corner. Great sandwiches and salads with a variety of drinks offered! Staff is very kind and friendly. Lots of seating outdoors and some indoor. Great spot in Berkeley for an outdoor catch up.

OMG Sandwich was surprisingly good -- perfect amount of meat and the bread was soft and warm. Their meatballs were worth trying but i would have appreciated a bit more sauce with the meatballs. Overall, a decent low key wine and food option. Service was also very friendly and attentive. Their indoor seating was a bit weird and could use some modification. Looked like decent amount of outdoor seating space if the weather permits.

1st time trying this place. We ordered pickup for lunch. I had the pork lasagna and a side salad Boss had the red sauce pinsa Co-workers got the OMG & Genoa. Everyone liked their food and were putting it onto our lunch spot list. Pickup was easy and everything was labeled nicely. I will definitely try something different next time - they have a big menu.

We decided to check out Heroic Italian in downtown Berkeley, next to the library! The outdoor patio was so relaxing on a hot summer day. If you love Italian food as much as I do, y'all need to check out Heroic Italian! Everything was so fresh and light. It's simply delicioso! OMG! OMG! The OMG sandwich was light, airy, crispy, and delicious; while the Chicken Tetrazzini Rotini pasta was light, creamy, and tasty, it was perfect with the glass of white wine. I love me a good salad, and the California Caprese salad did NOT disappoint. Not only was it beautiful, it was so refreshingly delicious! I want one now. Lastly, the Calabrian Shrimp Roman Pizza was delicious. It was my first time having a shrimp pizza- it had the perfect balance of savory and tartness. Ps. There's a parking lot next door, and it cost the same as the street parking meter.

Heroic Italian is a cool little spot in downtown Berkeley near the library. They offer heated patio seating which is adds a nice touch to the experience. We got there just in time to take advantage of the 1/2 off happy hour appetizers and drinks. Food was pretty quality here and portions were great.

I didn't know this was part of a burgeoning chain owned by Boston-born brothers Jeffrey Merrihue and David Bullitt. Their first cafe opened down in Santa Monica on Wilshire where their Italian sandwiches took off, so much so they opened another shop in the Castro and now this spot in Downtown Berkeley. I just happened upon it as I was finishing a visit to the library. The patio was so inviting that I asked to be seated there, but the cold wind picked up and I scurried inside. Temptations abound between the four entree salads and the ten specialty sandwiches (their most popular items), but I decided to order the $19 White Sauce Pinsa since I've had these Roman-style flatbread pizzas at other trattorias before (photo: https://bit.ly/3MQirGE). It was a surprisingly hefty portion laid out on a cutting board featuring burrata and frontal cheese melted with shimeji mushrooms and leeks and drizzled with a balsamic glaze. It was cut up into eighths, so it took me a while to plow through. But plow I did, and it was pretty tasty. I couldn't help ordering the $9 Marscarpone Strawberry Gelato but was a bit surprised it came packaged (photo: https://bit.ly/40dE5HN). Still hit the spot though. FOOD - 4 stars...burrata on a pinsa was a good idea AMBIANCE - 4 stars...enough room inside but the terrace seems ideal on a warmer day SERVICE - 3.5 stars...attentive enough though they were busy planning the dinner service TOTAL - 4 stars...how heroic is an Italian? RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

I came to Heroic Italian with some friends during my visit at Berkeley. The restaurant had a super cute setup on a patio outside, decorated with fairy lights. The indoor seating section seemed to be smaller. It was pretty quiet when we came. Although the restaurant is sit down, you order online through the QR code as opposed to through the waiter. My friends and I ordered the pesto sauce pizza, chicken tetrazzini pasta, and bruschetta appetizer to split. For the bruschetta appetizer you can customize 2 options between 4. We went with the burrata + balsamic glaze and avocado + roasted tomato. We personally preferred the burrata + balsamic glaze, which was super light yet sweet. For the mains, the pesto pizza was loaded with roasted artichokes, roasted tomatoes, and drizzled with balsamic glaze. I personally don't love artichokes but I will admit this pizza was yummy. The chicken tetrazzini pasta was also pretty light, maybe if anything a bit too light. The pasta was paired with mushrooms, peas, and chicken in a cream sauce. Overall, the food was alright, maybe a bit overpriced for what it was. I was also really hungry and we split these items among 4 people which left me feeling hungry for more. That might be more on me though.

Highly recommend! Such a sweet spot. Adorable little outdoor patio. I just grabbed an OMG sandwich to go and so happy I did. Excellent quality, superb taste. Incredible meats + truffle mayo + giardiniera + roasted tomatoes = heavenly Sammy. Not cheap but well worth a splurge. Lovely and kind service. Sad the Santa Monica location closed but now I have something to look forward to when I'm in the Bay Area.

Ordered to-go, and had the wrong sandwich delivered -which the owner was kind enough to fix and personally deliver to my house so 10/10 for service. Maybe the kitchen was having an off day but the pasta left much to be desired not a lot of taste and extremely dry. Ironically enough the chicken tetrrazini sandwich I received by accident was better than the OMG sandwich (if I had to pick) possibly because the second time around the bread seemed stale and overall constructed poorly? I don't know how to explain it other than the first bite you take out of a good sandwich is so satisfying if it's put together well with the right amount of spread, lettuce, meat etc but this just wasn't it unfortunately

I got the OMG sandwich and it was great! The bread was light and fluffy with a good crust, and all the italian sandwich meat was a great combo! My friend ordered the vegan sandwich and couldn't finish it so I had the rest. It was one of the best vegan sandwiches I've had! Ton of flavor and didn't miss the meat. Will definitely come back!

Needed a place for an early dinner before a show, and Heroic Italian accepts reservations so we had no doubts about timing. Previously we thought this place was more deli than restaurant and I'm happy to report it's both. Everything is cooked to order, friendly attentive service, relaxed vibe with music playing in the background. Fresh crusty bread for the table. I ordered the Gladiator salad, she ordered pasta - both entrees were excellent. A good local place with good food.

Ordered last night for lunch today (picked up between meetings)-and there was my order right on the counter bagged up and ready! (& paid for) Delicious Genoa sandwich and Shrimp pasta- perfect for my husband & I. Delicious, fresh & extremely tasty. Will happily pay for 'California Artisan' level of cuisine and preparation

The sandwiches are quite the heroes at Heroic Italian. Located on Kittredge Street in downtown Berkeley, Heroic Italian took over a cozy interior cafe space and large patio space that was previously occupied by Mise en Place Kitchen a little over a year and a half ago. Heroic Italian is actually a southern California-based eatery that not only became popular for serving their hearty artisan sandwiches that are big enough for two, but also serving various salads, pasta dishes and flatbread pizzas not to mention a plethora of wine and beer to keep anyone's spirits high. Credit must go to brothers David Bullitt and Jeffrey Merrihue for bringing this trendy concept up north as they use all locally sourced ingredients for their food, such as their sandwich rolls being sourced from Montesacro Pinseria in San Francisco. After garnering lots of buzz when they opened their first Bay Area location as a pop-up in the Swirl wine shop in the Castro neighborhood that would become a local mainstay, they headed east for their first local restaurant and bar outpost. What originally introduced me to the food at Heroic Italian, was they were offering a special deal that I had the opportunity to take advantage of, and I couldn't believe how delicious their sandwiches were the first time I tried them. I remembered them so much that the next time I happened to be in downtown Berkeley, I made a promise to myself to order another sandwich, as I loved their fast and courteous service that was fast casual, which made ordering takeout super easy. Finding parking on the Sunday afternoon that I decided to go was super easy, but did require a short walk, once I made it in, only their patio had customers, so there wasn't much wait to order. I decided to order their signature sandwich which is their OMG sandwich, which had slices of prosciutto, salami, capocollo, mortadella, porchetta, smoked mozzarella, artichokes, tomatoes, housemade giardiniera, a spread of mustard and black truffle mayo all served in between two slices of a toasted Italian roll. My total bill with tap and gratuity was a little bit under 24 dollars. which initially gave me a little sticker shock, but once I bit into my toasted warm sandwich, all of those concerns went away quickly. After waiting a mere five minutes for my sandwich, I decided to be good and take it home as planned and this sandwich, although appearing small, provided enough of a meal to serve me over the course of two lunches. It was the perfect amount of meat to vegetable to bread combination that their OMG sandwich was literally one of the best composed sandwiches that I have ever enjoyed in my culinary life. I also noticed they also give you a complimentary Zotz Fizzy hard candy that dissolves in your mouth in your takeout bag, which is a literal sweet touch. I cannot wait to return to Heroic Italian to enjoy a nice glass of wine with one of their artisan pasta dishes such as their Pork Lasagna or their Porcini Ravioli, plus the fact that they now serve antipasti dishes such as a meat and cheese board for two, various bruschetta dishes, and even seafood tins, which only adds to the European atmosphere of sipping on wine in an al fresco setting that Heroic Italian is trying to create. Here's to their continued success in downtown Berkeley and hoping that more locations of Heroic Italian open up in the Bay Area, as we could definitely use a little more elevated sandwich shops and wine bars in the area to thrive!

Yummy! Cute outdoor patio area if you'd like to sit outside (I saw heat lamps were available). We ordered the OMG sandwich...so good. Perfect amount of food without feeling stuffed. A bit pricey for a sandwich, but you could tell it's all quality ingredients. Our waitress was also super sweet and offered my boyfriend's dog a treat and some water! Would love to come back!

After reading the reviews, I was expecting an excellent sandwich, and was willing to pay for it.....but it was just so-so. The bread was not very good and slightly stale, and not sourdough enough....you know, like a dumbed down generic bread.....the ratio of condiments to meat and vegetables was also off. And man, when I pay so much money for a sandwich, I expect it to be on point. I will not be back.

Humbly nestled in an apartment building right off of Downtown Berkeley, Heroic Italian quietly dishes out the BEST Italian sandwich known to man. I came during the evening and was delighted to see no wait. Since they didn't seem to be very busy, I had my pick of the litter when it came to seating and ultimately chose a spot indoors (but I should mention both the indoor seating area and the patio are very clean and nicely decorated). I ordered the OMG which is their spin on the classic Italian sandwich, and OMG this was a damn good sandwich. Every single aspect of this sandwich from the warm, lightly crispy bread to the fresh, fatty deli meats was utter perfection. I kept doing double takes bite after bite to see if I really wasn't dreaming. All that to say, this is the best Italian sandwich and possibly? the best sandwich I've ever had. An added plus is that their ingredients are either directly imported from Italy or locally sourced. It's no wonder that they have several other successful locations, considering that their food is just THAT good. The food does air on the pricier end, but you truly get what you pay for... that is, one of the most flavorful bites you'll ever experience. The man who also helped me was super pleasant and so friendly, even ensuring that I knew where the refillable water station was. As a Berkeley student, I've been spoiled with a diverse range of cuisines around campus but most are mediocre to just decent. HEROIC ITALIAN, however, is a breath of fresh air and a MUST TRY if you're ever in the area.

You ever start a Yelp review with a question? I mostly do. But have you ever fought a gladiator and kicked someone in the chest and yelled something about Sparta? I have not. What I have had was these damn sandwiches. They are amazing. I don't usually rave about places so often but this is one of those places that I do mention every time someone mentioned the word sandwich. I have a few favorite spots and this one is on my top 3. They can all fight it out in my head cuz I won't be singling out favorites but if you have not enjoyed this (these) sandwich(es) you really should do yourself the solid and try at least the OMG. I have yet to try other things from the restaurant but if it's anything like the quality of the sandwiches I've had. I can assure you. It's v good. I appreciate quality ingredients and a friendly staff any day. Sure the price might be a tad above what I pay, but it's worth it. If you don't feel good about spending the dough you could ask ya moms for a raise on your allowance or just take the red pill and see how amazing these sandwiches go. :))))))))

Everything was lovely. The outdoor seating is spacious and gets a lot of sun. The sandwich was delicious! Like you can taste the quality of ingredients in every bite! The bread was perfectly crispy too without it hurting the roof of your mouth (IYKYK). Be sure to ask for the spicy sauce too because it kicks it up a notch. The salad was just as good, even though I realized it was the exact same ingredients in my sandwich haha, oops! The only thing was that either the salad or the sandwich was a bit salty. I just felt my tastebuds burning. The place is underneath an apt bldg and next to a school and library so there's is a lot of foot traffic. Definitely can't wait to come back here and try another sandwich when I can eat meat (it was a Friday during lent when I went).

Loved it here...first time here, walked in and was just staring at the menu on the door for a while. I forgot who the individual was that walked up to me with a warm welcome and exceptional customer service. Suggesting and explaining what to get, really appreciate that. David? I wanna his name was. Ordered 2 sandwiches the chicken tetrazzini and the OMG(no pictured). I was skeptical with the peas in the sandwich but it was good, THE BREAD made the sandwich, can't really explain it but got try it for yourself. Nice interior and really chill outdoor seating. Appreciate the service. Will def recommend and come back, need to try the pastas! Thank you

$5 dollar Americano from a home coffee machine with regular beans? Not worth. Food is so so

Ate here yesterday! As a vegan, I loved the spaghetti (no meatballs)! I also got a salad and bread to eat. I enjoyed two glasses of Rose wine as well. My friend gotta the pasta with shrimp! Will definitely be back!!

Relatively new spot in town (1~ year?), nearly hidden in the concrete jungle. You wouldn't guess it, but Heroic Italian has some of the best sandwiches in Berkeley. For COVID safety purposes, hand sanitizer is provided. Decent amount of free side street parking. We typically sit at their outdoor patio area for a breezy, light lunch. Staff here are very attentive and quick. Dave, the owner, is great-- he'll always make sure you've warmly greeted upon arrival. CHICKEN TETRAZZINI: Small but mighty! The chicken is always super tender & wrapped in velvety cream sauce. The peas add a refreshing touch to an otherwise rich pasta dish. I've had this probably upwards of 10x already :') BUONGIORNO (w/avocado): This is my bf's go-to! Photos don't do this bread justice. SO FLUFFY & LIGHT on the inside but crisp outside! Definitely recommend adding avocado to balance the richness of the egg/cheese/sauce. Their sandwiches use super fresh ingredients & have uniquely Italian flavor profiles; highly recommend over your average sub sando chain. Note: I am obsessed with their Italian candies that come with every order. Try it!!! Sometimes we literally come here for lunch just because I'm craving their fruity fizzy goodness.

It's the Pinsa for me! I'm also down to try healthier versions of my favorite things to eat. So when Dave the owner explained exactly what Pinsa was I was totally down! The pesto one was my favorite but I really enjoyed the salami instead of pepperoni on the red sauce.

The food was balanced and delicious. The ambiance (we sat outside on a clear January day) was pleasant. The service was standard, not in a bad way, just nothing particularly unique or memorable. I will certainly be coming back. We ordered the Marinetti sandwich, the Mount Etna salad, and a kid's pasta with butter, salt, and parm. The bread on the sandwich was fantastic, and the flavors were great. The salad was a nice balance of textures between the cauliflower, the farro, and the squash/carrots. Perfectly dressed. And it comes with four small pieces of lightly toasted/buttered/salted bread. The kid's pasta was a hit with our five-year-old. I ate the leftovers and was quite impressed with the kid's pasta! Nice bounce to the noodles and the butter/salt/parm was just right. It is slightly on the pricey side, but just by 10%-15%, not a big deal in my opinion. I will be coming back and look forward to trying more of the menu next time!

My husband and I went for dinner last night, and had a great time! We sat out on the cute patio and were warm under the heater even though it was a chilly night. We liked the glasses of wine we got, and really enjoyed the antipasto board and ravioli. The board has a great variety of meats beyond just the usual salami and prosciutto (though those were great too). We got the tiramisu for dessert which was also tasty. They have online ordering with QR code, but the waiter was still really nice and attentive. It is a bit pricey, but makes for a nice date night or place to catch up with a friend.

Heroic Italian opened in Mise en Place Kitchen's space. indoor, outdoor, takeout, delivery available. place looks similar to before. despite the small space, dining area has a taste of luxury. offerings: sandwiches, salads, small bites, drinks eats: OMG sandwich (17) lives up to it's name. hot spice was on side-chili's from Italy. initially mildly spicy, noticed it was growing spicier with every bite. -imported Italian meats (prosciutto, salami, capocello, mortadella)/ spices, /herbs ...on Italian bread. superb taste, complex flavors. -though OMG looked small, it was initially fulfilling (for about an hour:) ). definitely a repeat if parking permits.....

What an amazing and welcoming restaurant!! We were very disheartened when we left another Italian restaurant that was extremely rude and un inviting and stumbled upon Heroic Italian, it was truly meant to be as this restaurant is absolutely delicious!! We had the gladiator salad, Pesto sauce Pizza, lasagna and spaghetti and honestly you can not go wrong with anything on the menu as it was delicious and the service was fast and friendly! Our hotel recommended another Italian restaurant but will let them know that this Italian restaurant is the one that they should be recommending!

Heroic Italian is an excellent addition to the neighborhood. When I learned that it would open on November 13, I made plans to visit after I shopped at the nearby Saturday farmers' market. Unfortunately, I hit the market soon after it opened at 10 AM and realized that it was way to early to think about lunch (especially since Heroic opens only at 11:30AM). On the morning of November 14 (Sunday), I began my day by attempting to place a sandwich order online for midday pickup. The earliest pickup time kept receding into the evening every time I looked at the order page. I figured that H.I. was slammed and that it would be impossible to get in the door so soon after opening day. In fact, the online ordering system was buggy, as I learned by trying the email channel for ordering: you can write to eat@heroicitalian.com and communicate with the team. It was the founder and bossman, David, who replied to me. He had my sandwich ready for pickup at the appointed time. When I showed up, there were a few customers having lunch at the outdoor tables (which I remember well from the days of Maison Bleu) and one or two people inside. Basically the place was empty. I took my order (one Quadronno and one Marinetti) back home. The sandwiches were great. We liked the Italian-style bread on the outside. Inside the sandwiches, every ingredient seemed to be top-notch. It's up to you to decide whether the quality/price ratio here justifies your patronage. Our Quadronno and Marinetti came to $38.83 when tax and a 15% tip were included. I certainly plan to be back--soon and maybe even often.

A little expensive for a sandwich, but I get what they're trying to accomplish. It's a nice place to chill in downtown Berkeley. It feels like the owner put a lot of thought into the build-out. The bread they use is delicious. The owner said they get it from SF; I'm glad it's not the local bakery every restaurant in the area uses. A refreshing change is always nice. It has to be challenging to open a new place in a restaurant-rich area at the tail end of a pandemic. I wish them luck and will do my best to support BB

The outside seating was really nice. I had the artichoke, salad, pizza and I tried the ravioli. I want to go back try the sandwiches.

David and his crew are absolutely wonderful. The ambiance and food are added bonuses ;) Berkeley is lucky to have HI!!!

Food was fresh but we only had pasta dishes and salad. Service was good and we sat outside which was nice on a warm weekend but they did not look to have a lot of inside seating. Overall it was a nice restaurant.

Clueless service. TV blaring loudly (but they turned it down when we asked). Nice Italian wine selection and tasty bread. Opt to sit on the patio instead of inside.

Gayle and I recently made a 6:30 Open Table reservation at Heroic Italian. That wasn't necessary as we were the only patrons there upon arrival and departure from the restaurant. They also do delivery and take-out of which we didn't see any action in that area. Gayle thought that maybe Heroic Italian is "out of the way", despite the foot traffic. Yet, from the Hotel Shattuck (where we were staying), it was an easy 2 block walk. The next "Con" is that when we were scoping out the Heroic Italian Website, finding the restaurant's menu was a challenge, that was only resolved by looking at the Door Dash and Uber Eats links to the place. The restaurant's to-go/delivery menu was incomplete, an example being that no salads were listed. The only other "Con" from our dinner here was that the menu seemed to be a bit limited. Yet, none of these nits influenced our dining experience. The guy running the place was fun, informative, and welcoming. And we were served well. As for our food choices (via QR Code), Gayle and I chose well, and really enjoyed our meal, along with a couple nice glasses of red wine. My pesto pasta (with chicken) was vary tasty, as was Gayle's Mount Etna Salad (Warm Roasted Farro and Vegetables (Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots) on a Bed of Seasonal Greens, with Garbanzo Beans and Red Wine Vinaigrette. It was a cool evening, but thanks to the well placed overhead heater, we were very comfortable in our outdoor seats. The outside patio was roomy and very nice, with a small indoor dining area available. Prices were reasonable, and although Italian cuisine is normally not high on your list of restaurant choices, we'd happily come here again.

This restaurant embraces contactless and technology so you can order and pay by scanning the qr code. Outside seating is fantastic and service was great. Bruschetta was amazing with 4 portions to die for. I ordered "The Vegan" sandwich which was very well done and extremely tasteful. Spinach ravioli was not soaked in a sauce and ready to share. We shared all of it with glass of Rose and a Sauvignon Blanc and it was the perfect meal for a sunny June afternoon. And yes, outside seating is dog friendly. Our little puppy was greeted with a treat and a bowl of water. So the visit was very relaxing.

Five stars for great food (red pizza and a variety of pastas and appetizers) and 1star for horrible service. We were a party of seven for lunch on a quiet Sunday. Beside taking our order, our waitress never checked on us, smiled, or let us feel welcome in any way. The guy who brought us food was friendly enough but appeared to have limited English; he did bring us water from time to time - thus the one star for service. We waited, entirely ignored by the waiting staff, for a long time for our check. In the end, I had to call out to get their attention. Of course, because of our large party, we were charged $30 for 20% service charge. That is, we paid $30 for the privilege of having water delivered to our table. Although the food was great, I don't think that we would come back, which is a shame as the ambience and food are great. But why eating out and paying 20% for non-existent service when there are many other options with much better service around town?

Ohhh my God, where have you been all my life? I ordered myself a Marinetti sandwich and it was absolutely amazing. The bread is perfection. The flavors of the roasted tomato, mozzarella, pesto & avocado meshed perfectly together. I also ordered the artichokes and ordered my partner the Genoa sandwich. I won't be able to review this at this moment but will come back to update this review after I try them. I want to go back and try everything else. If you ever come across this listing on Yelp or google, or pass by and see "Heroic Italian", please do not pass it up. I promise you, it will be so worth it in the end. I Joke with my partner that next lifetime I want to be Italian. This food is just validation for that haha.

Absolutely love this spot! I literally crave these sandwiches. They have some of the best bread I've ever had. The quality of these sandwiches definitely beats out the competition. This isn't your regular deli counter. The meats are imported from Italy which means the animals are not treated horrible like here in the USA and aren't pumped with chemicals and growth hormones. The spicy is very good and fresh tasting. The peppers and black truffle aoli!!!! OMG. Even the balsamic glaze is delicious. You can't beat these. Now i have to try the pastas and pizzas. #yelpeastbay #yelpelite

Excellent sandwiches. People complaining about price should check the menu before buying and go elsewhere if they can't afford it so that the star rating for this place is accurate re quality of food.

It's a good sandwich. It's not an $18 sandwich. My husband and I both ordered the omg. His was supposed to be spicy. Any artichoke, olive, and truffle is undetectable on either. Smoked mozzarella is also barely noticeable. This should be a $14 sandwich.

Been here a few times now- am a huge fan of the OMG sando. Perfectly toasted and so many flavors! Also have gotten the Gladiator - yum yum yum! The outdoor seating area is cute and definitely one of the cutest outdoor set ups for outdoor options in Berkeley. Also - the service is wonderful - they brought my puppy some water and treats. Check this place out!

Don't hesitate to come here for dinner. It sounds like a lunch spot and I'm sure it is but dinner w my group of 6 had me feeling like a had my own personal Italian chef making an intimate dinner for my group. We ordered pizza, pastas, and their OMG sandwich and a few apps. It felt like a classic Roman spot which I hadn't a similar experience to since I last visited Italy. Good wine choices too. Cute space too. Happy my boyfriend told me about this spot since he is a big fan of Mark Wein's and he noticed the owner was a frequent guest on his show. It was the perfect little birthday spot.

We ordered the Cheese Antipasto combo with a bottle of red Italian wine as well as a side salad and shrimp with prosciutto. The taste was superb and savory, and the variety of cheese made the experience more tantalizing. It was a wonderful night for our pallets. The atmosphere is romantic and there is an outside area which is great during a warm evening. The service is good, and we're fast on correcting a misunderstanding that occurred with our order. Overall I loved the experience and I look forward to returning on another date night.

I would come to Berkeley from Pleasanton just for a sandwich from here! The owner was super friendly and my sandwich is sooooo good. Genoa sandwich with spicy sauce on side. The bread is unlike anything I've ever had. Perfect softness and crunch! Next time I'll do the sauce on it. It's not too spicy and has great flavor!

ATMOSPHERE: Beautiful space, both indoor and out. Right near Shattuck in Downtown Berkeley tucked away where it's a bit quieter. The outdoor space is sectioned off in a cute patio, so no need to worry about pedestrians passing by. The indoor space doesn't have too many tables but has a warm cozy feel. FOOD: Mt Etna Salad: Wow, what a salad! Certainly fitting of its name... it's massive! I don't typically consider salad a "meal", but this one certainly filled me for lunch, it was great. Filled with warm hearty roasted vegetables like purple cauliflower and brussel sprouts. I don't even normally like carrots, but when roasted to perfection, it was really good in this salad. I also added on the chicken, it was actual rotisserie chicken - I'm impressed by the quality of the ingredients in this salad! OVERALL: It's clear that Heroic Italian focuses on creating their menus with really quality ingredients, and it shows, and tastes great.

Visited Heroic Italian during Berkley's Restaurant Week after seeing it featured in a couple of different places online. Several friends and I gathered here in the early evening to try an array of items from their menu. The first thing you notice when you arrive is the trendy atmosphere. They have a lovely patio area and a small but beautiful inside area, as well. We sat outside since it was a beautiful day, and it was lovely! You scan a QR code on the menu to place your order through an online system. It was seamless and efficient. We took advantage of the restaurant week deal and ordered a bottle of wine and a pinsa to share. Separately, I got the OMG sandwich and the Mt. Etna salad. I enjoyed the salad and the different textures included, but it could have used a little more dressing. The OMG sandwich was great, too! However, the absolute highlight of our meal was the pinsa! We got the pesto one, and it was AH-mazing! I'm not usually a fan of artichokes, but they were so tasty on this pinsa! The wine wasn't my favorite, but everyone else loved it! The one hangup I have is the price point. It's definitely more of a splurge kind of place for me. I'll definitely be back another time when I want to treat myself to some yummy pizza!

Heroic is amazing! We turned up around 2pm so it was pretty quiet and the staff was friendly and quick with our order: delicious food (we got the Marinetti and the bruschetta) and tasty drinks (we got the blood orange soda). Check 'em out! Great outdoor seating area, too! UPDATE: The Genoa is excellent, too!

Great food atmosphere and service! Highly recommend the lasagna and pesto pizza with gladiator salad! Definitely better than Lucia's Berkeley!

Came here after hiking the nearby regional park. I was looking for a small table in the sun to enjoy a sandwich and some wine and this was exactly that. An absolutely phenomenal sandwich - simple ingredients well executed. Would recommend for a lunchtime excursion.

Nice meal here. Great outdoor ambiance, loved the QR ordering system. The food itself was also quite good, and the service was good, too. I wouldn't say the food didn't blow me away, and was definitely a pricey meal for the quantity. But overall solid meal!