Lioni Italian Heroes

"Since 1979, this hero shop — which makes its own wonderful mozzarella — has been hidden away in a residential corner of Bensonhurst. The theme of the well-decorated premises is Italian and Italian-American heroes, and its 150 sandwich selections are named after them. Sometimes the simplest combos are the best — like the Mario Lanza, which stacks opulent quantities of mortadella and mozzarella. There’s a follow-up location in Sunset Park." - Emma Orlow, Robert Sietsema

"Lioni Italian Heroes has over 150 different sandwich variations on the menu, and if that sounds daunting, just ask for help. Someone behind the counter asks you a few questions—“Do you like prosciutt?” and “What about a cutlet?”—before telling you to get the #12, or say the #62. It's all done with the confidence of someone who has every sandwich and its corresponding number memorized, and they probably do—this Bensonhurst shop has been around since 1980. photo credit: Willa Moore The whole place smells like their hot bread, which has an excellent blistery flaky exterior, and an interior that seems specifically engineered to soak up fresh mozzarella and drizzles of olive oil. Things move relatively quickly at Lioni, despite a sign that reads “Special Sandwiches Cannot Be Rushed, One Of The Principal Ingredients Is Time.” But if you find yourself waiting, there's an olive bar and an impressive variety of dairy products—including their fresh mozzarella—that you can peruse or purchase. Food Rundown photo credit: Willa Moore #12 The Sophia Loren “This One Is Beautiful" At first glance, this has all the makings of a classic combination—mozzarella, prosciutto, and iceberg lettuce. But then there are the stuffed sweet peppers. They’re filled with well-seasoned breadcrumbs, which basically means you’re eating bread on bread. As you should be. photo credit: Willa Moore #62 Alyssa Milano “Call Collect For This One” Leaving an Italian sandwich shop without getting one hot sandwich and one cold sandwich is a sin, so try the #62 too. The chicken cutlet is topped with warm fresh mozzarella, crispy prosciutto that crunches like a potato chip, and an herb salad, which tastes more like an unblended pesto." - Willa Moore

"The Mario Lanza at Lioni Italian Heroes The imprecation to never eat cold cuts for dinner goes out the window with this deliciously satisfying sandwich at Lioni Italian Heroes, a place that styles itself the King of Mozzarella. Especially when the cold cut is mortadella, the most venerable of sliced meats, wearing its little globs of mozzarella like James Beard Awards. And if you remember who Mario Lanza was, extra points for devouring this one ($17)." - Robert Sietsema

"This legendary sandwich shop makes over 100 variations on the Italian sandwich, which is why you’ll need to order by number. You might want to browse the menu ahead of time, too, so you don’t get overwhelmed when you look up at the massive board at the counter. We’re partial to #25, the Louie Prima, described on the menu as “a CRAZY sandwich.” That description is accurate. It’s sort of like your standard combo of hot capicola, salami, pepperoni, provolone, and swiss except there are also entire stuffed peppers, and that really pushes things over the top. Get a cup of tiramisu for dessert. You can eat it while you walk around the kind of houses where Mr. Prima himself might have hung out. " - carina finn koeppicus, will hartman

"Lioni’s, hidden away in a residential corner of Bensonhurst, is one of Brooklyn’s most venerable hero shops, with a menu of over 150 configurations, many named after Italian-Americans. The Mario Lanza illustrates how a hero doesn’t have to be complicated to be great. This one depends on the interplay of salty mortadella and unsalty mozzarella — the latter made on the premises and extra creamy." - Robert Sietsema