Fiore's House of Quality
Sandwich shop · Hoboken ·
Roast beef & mozzarella hero with gravy, Thurs/Sat only
Roast beef & mozzarella hero with gravy, Thurs/Sat only
"Hoboken is known for its old-school Italian delis that specialize in sandwiches and perfectly briney housemade mozzarella. Fiore’s is one of them, and it’s famous for its hot roast beef special with mutz and gravy. There are no written menus—instead, the deli clerk will guide you through ingredient options and daily specials, and if you’re lucky, hand you a chunk of housemade mozzarella for you to taste. You can get an excellent Italian combo with thick slices of mozzarella, juicy peppers, and a light drizzle of balsamic any day that they’re open, but be prepared to wait a long time on Thursdays and Saturdays, when they serve the acclaimed roast beef special. Bring cash, and ask for extra napkins." - anne cruz, kerry smith, marissa lamastra, michael sinatra
"“On Saturdays and Thursdays only, Fiore’s Deli in Hoboken serves a very special roast beef sandwich with gravy and fresh mozzarella. This spot has been around since 1913, and it’s the kind of place where you get a little stage fright when ordering because the men and women who work the counter are demanding, confident, and efficient, like how I imagine a queen bee or George Lucas to be. One weekend, I waited an hour in line, selected my yard-long baguette, ordered the roast beef with “mutz,” gravy, and hot peppers in a shaky little voice - and now I understand Jersey pride.”" - hannah albertine, nikko duren, hillary reinsberg, arden shore, matt tervooren
"At 414 Adams Street near 5th Street in Hoboken, I discovered Fiore’s House of Quality: the sign outside says 1913 but the shop was actually founded in 1903, John Amato Sr. bought it in 1965 after working there since 1948, and following his recent death it’s been taken over by his son John Amato Jr., an almost royal succession in the Mile Square City. The tightly organized Italian deli—shelves lined with pastas, sauces, taralli, olives, and pickled peppers—has been celebrated for over a century for its homemade mozzarella, nicknamed “mutz,” made fresh daily. There’s no official menu, but every Thursday and Saturday that mutz is used to make a sandwich unique in the metropolitan area: the hot roast beef and mozzarella hero with gravy ($20 whole, $10 half). The roughly two-foot hero loaf (formerly from Dom’s Bakery Grand, now from Amato’s Bakery) is split and filled with thin, generously layered, marinated roast beef that needs no extra seasoning, thick slices of mutz tucked under the beef, and gravy ladled from a water bath—the gravy is definitely not canned and the sandwich maker controls it—producing a moist balance from cheese, gravy, and rare beef that glisters with meat juices; garlic-laden sautéed red peppers are optional. Yes, it’s a glorious mess with no place to sit, so eat it immediately or risk it dissolving into a kind of savory bread pudding." - Robert Sietsema
"Hoboken is known for its old-school Italian delis that specialize in sandwiches and perfectly briney housemade mozzarella. Fiore’s is one of them, and it’s famous for its hot roast beef special with mutz and gravy. There are no written menus—instead, the deli clerk will guide you through ingredient options and daily specials, and if you’re lucky, hand you a chunk of housemade mozzarella for you to taste. You can get an excellent Italian combo with thick slices of mozzarella, juicy peppers, and a light drizzle of balsamic any day that they’re open, but be prepared to wait a long time on Thursdays and Saturdays, when they serve the acclaimed roast beef special. Bring cash, and ask for extra napkins." - Anne Cruz
"This Italian deli founded in 1913 is perhaps the most famous purveyor of the fabled roast beef and mutz hero, a gravy-drenched wonder only available on Thursdays and Saturdays. But other days bring other delights, and this being Hoboken, the mozzarella is made fresh in store every day. There’s no seating, but the sandwiches are so good, you won’t have time to sit as you wolf them down. A distinguished selection of Italian groceries to take home is also available." - Robert Sietsema
