Lioni Italian Heroes
Sandwich shop · Bensonhurst ·
Giant Italian heroes named after celebs, over 150 options
Giant Italian heroes named after celebs, over 150 options
"A beloved stop for fresh mozzarella, it’s one of the real old-school Brooklyn gems people still cross boroughs and state lines to revisit week after week." - Jessica Chapel
"Lioni Italian Heroes in Bensonhurst has over 150 variations on the menu, and if that sounds overwhelming, start with the #12 (the Sophia Loren). It has their famous fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, and stuffed peppers filled with breadcrumbs—a delightful bread-on-bread situation. That bread is beautifully blistered, and retains a satisfying crunch no matter how much olive oil and balsamic it soaks up." - willa moore, will hartman, bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick
"Lioni Italian Heroes in Bensonhurst has over 150 sandwich variations on the menu, and if that sounds overwhelming, start with the #12 (the Sophia Loren). It has fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, and stuffed peppers filled with breadcrumbs, which makes for a delightful bread-on-bread situation. The blistered roll somehow retains crunch no matter how much olive oil and balsamic it soaks up. The Order: The #12, and a hot sandwich too, like the #63 (the Alyssa Milano) with warm fresh mozzarella, crispy prosciutto that crunches like a potato chip, and an herb salad that tastes more like an unblended pesto." - will hartman, willa moore, neha talreja, bryan kim, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick
"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." - 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 #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. photo credit: Willa Moore" - Willa Moore
