Salumi

"If you want to keep things relatively uncomplicated on an Italian sandwich, come to Salumi for ones with thin layers of cured pork products and some briny globs of fresh mozzarella. This institution in Pioneer Square has some hot creations with things like meatballs and porchetta, but for the purposes of your voyage, go with one of their cold sandwiches. There’s a grinder and a muffuletta, but we prefer keeping it simple with the build-your-own option. Choose between regular salami, hot salami, mole-inspired salami, or hot sopressata, various cheeses like fontina, mozzarella, or provolone, and enjoy at a speed of around 15 knots." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley

"This Pioneer Square icon may no longer have the Old World cachet that it did during its days as Armandino Batali’s post-retirement passion project, but what it’s missing in paisan cred, it’s gained in user-friendliness. Since Martinique Grigg and Clara Veniard took over ownership in 2018, they’ve streamlined the ordering process, easing the long waits in line that were formerly typical of Salumi’s lunch rush. You could argue that weathering the line was part of the je ne se quois, but it’s really about the meat. And the namesake salumi hasn’t changed, still made using Armandino’s recipes. The braised porchetta here is every bit the unctuous indulgence it’s always been, spiked with a Calabrian chile chimichurri and pickled peppers to pull it back from the brink of heaviness. Though let’s be real, you’ll still likely want to have a power nap after eating it (something you’ll have time for since you didn’t have to spend your entire lunch waiting in line.)" - Mark DeJoy, Harry Cheadle

"A pioneer square staple, Salumi was founded by Mario Batali’s father, Armandino. The Batali family has since sold the bulk of their stake in the place, but the sandwiches remain some of the most beloved in the city. Meat lovers will tell you that the Cubano and braised porchetta are their best sandwiches, but we’d like to draw your attention to their eggplant parm, which is truly a work of art and comes with a tub of hot marinara sauce for dipping. It has panko-fried eggplant cutlets, a delicious herb and garlic spread, fresh-pulled moz, roasted onions, and pickled green peppers. Note that sandwiches here can be pricey (around $17) but hearty. It gets very busy so be prepared to wait if you’re here at peak lunch hours." - Eater Staff, Harry Cheadle, Zoe Kahn

"Salumi is a Pioneer Square go-to for Italian sandwiches, hot or cold, filled with homemade cured meats, also-homemade fresh mozzarella, and a delicious olive oil spread made with capers and garlic that does bad things to our breath but good things to ciabatta bread. There are rotating pasta and sandwich specials, too." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley

"Salumi is a Seattle institution founded by Mario Batali’s father, Armandino. The Batali family has since sold the bulk of its stake in the place, but the sandwich shop remains largely unchanged. The meatballs are fairly famous at this point but the porchetta, with some sharp chimichurri sauce, is a terrific lunch as long as you can take a nap at your desk afterward. The Grindhouse is such a well-balanced Italian sandwich that we’re not even mad about the dill pickles in there. Just be warned that there’s typically a wait during peak lunch hours." - Meg van Huygen, Harry Cheadle