Court Street Grocers

 

I mean this is ridiculous.

I have never considered myself a sandwich person just because I find they get boring and I’m not smart enough to make them unique.

You know who is smart enough?

Court Street Grocers.

If nothing else, you’ve gotta hand it to them that their combinations of ingredients are insane yet are everything you’ve been hoping for in a sandwich. The more “basic” sandwiches were sold out (italian, reuben, etc.) but that’s not what I was in search of. I got The Delight with corned beef (extremely vital choice) and The Ollie and HOT DAMN were they incredible.

The Delight was by far my favorite and honestly that bread looked like an art piece. The coleslaw? I hear the “corned beef” is actually corned short rib — I mean come on. Every element of these sandwiches melted together so perfectly. As for The Ollie, who would’ve thought broccoli rabe on a sandwich would be so impactful??

I want to try absolutely everything they have, especially if they have more offerings with comeback sauce. I’m a sucker for some comeback sauce. I saw they have a sandwich on garlic bread?

BREAKFAST CHORIZO?!

The Renaissance spot — they do it all.

Pane Pasta

 

This one gets a short story.

I was looking for the deliciousness that is a bombolini after seeing some unreal pictures of them on the internet. After learning they seem to have a million different names and that many in NYC are on the hunt for the best one, I stumbled upon Pane Pasta. I believe they opened sometime in 2020 and strive to give you a Sicilian experience.

I’m not well travelled by any stretch of the imagination so I cannot tell you if that reigns true, but what I do know is that the workers are an absolute delight and really seem to love their shop. It’s small, it constantly smells delicious, and my first mini bombolini’s were everything I could have hoped for.

Their desserts cabinets just about causes me to go into cardiac arrest when I arrive and I immediately want to try everything. Slowly but surely I am trying new things there, including their non-dessert items, and loving every minute of it.

Things I’ve tried and would recommend:

  • chicken panini: creamy and toasty

  • bombolone: not too sweet, light and airy

  • calzone: small, perfect snack

Next I’m going for their chocolate cake and asking asking for a bombolone filled with nutella. I’ve seen them do it if you ask!