June 16, 2011

Choosing Favorites: Torrisi's House Roasted Turkey

It might be perfect...
I might start to have choosing favorites when it comes to sandwiches. I can't resist any longer. I hesitate to do this because as you know sandwiches are very near and dear to me. Sometimes I feel like they are my children. Choosing a single favorite would just be plain wrong.

But sometimes, you have to do what you have to do.

After hearing quite a bit of buzz about the sumptuous offerings Torrisi Italian Specialties, the new sandwich-shop-by-day, experimental-multi-course-Italian-inspired-restaurant-by-night has to offer, I had to try it for myself.

I woke up this morning, as I usually do, knowing in my heart that in this world there are bad sandwiches, mediocre sandwiches, good sandwiches, great sandwiches, and even a select few exceptional sandwiches (Nerbone, for example). But there are no perfect sandwiches.

Or so I thought.


Venturing off to work at Serious Eats this morning, I had no particular plan for lunch. Nearing lunch time, however, I was reminded of Torrisi. I had walked by it a couple of times, and every time someone in the office brought up a turkey sandwich, it was always compared against Torrisi's. I decided today would be the day I would go. Amy, who works at Serious Eats, had talked up the sandwich quite a bit, so my expectations were high.

But not high enough.

This sandwich, dare I say, is perfect. It is on an eggy, soft, perfectly moist bun. The turkey, first marinated in honey, garlic and herbs, is house roasted and thick cut. It's juicy and flavorful and probably better than anything you've ever carved up at Thanksgiving, good as that may be. There is a shmear of something a little spicy, the perfect touch of mayo (yes, please!) chopped lettuce, tomato and onion.

It works like magic. It's so good you don't want it to be over. You savor every bite hoping it won't end only to realize when you've finished the sandwich that it is actually quite filling.

But I would have eaten two.

Torrisi Italian Specialties
250 Mulberry St. New York, NY 10012  
Lunch 11-4 Daily, Dinner 6-10 Daily.