Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
4 Succulent Porchetta Sandwiches You Really Need To Try
By
Nell Casey
Published Jun 12, 2014
Modified Jun 12, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Nell Casey
Published Jun 12, 2014
Modified Jun 12, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
On a recent visit to Rome, I became enamored with the Italian equivalent to the casual sandwich shop, the rosticceria, where one can procure all manner of roasted meats presented in sandwich form for munching on the go. It was the porchetta sandwich, in particular, that captured my stomach; a preparation of roast pork that combines all the best elements of eating pig into one delectable dish.
Moist pork shoulder (or other cuts) rolled with garlic, herbs and spices—and often the pig's gnarlier bits—covered in the pig's skin and then roasted until the juices are dripping and the skin is caramelized and crunchy. The resulting meat package is then sliced and served on crusty bread either naked or adorned with cheeses, veggies and spreads. In short, it's heaven.
There are a few NYC establishments taking part in the Italian tradition, offering up their take on the dish; here are a few of our favorites.
(via Porchetta)
Porchetta: We'd obviously be remiss not to mention Chef Sara Jenkins's aptly named East Village shop, where she's roasting up a killer version of the pork dish heavy on the herby seasonings. The tiny shop offers a full porchetta sandwich for $12 or a half sandwich for $7; Jenkins notes that each sandwich includes "pork three ways," meaning each serving gets "fatty belly, crispy skin and lean loin." Sandwiches are served unadorned—with the exception of the aromatics clinging to the meat—on a super crusty ciabatta-esque roll. If you're currently eschewing bread, opt for the porchetta plate ($15) with greens and beans.
Porchetta is located at 110 E 7th Street, (212) 777-2151; website.
(via Yelp)
Bergen Dean Sandwich Shop: This relative Prospect Heights newcomer has been winning people over with its simple and flavorful sandwiches, proving that you don't need tons of bells and whistles to make a superlative sandwich. Their version of Porchetta ($9) has been a huge hit, with fans applauding the succulent meat and the excellent bread, which they'll lovingly scoop a bit to stuff in more pork. The sizeable sandwich comes slathered with a little swipe of mustard and a fresh herb sauce that helps balance the fattiness of the meat.
Bergen Dean Sandwich Shop is located at 64 6th Avenue in Prospect Heights, (347) 463-919; website.
(via Yelp)
Maialino: You can't get it at dinner (unless you sit at the bar), but Danny Meyer's Roman-inspired trattoria offers a few different takes on the classic porchetta sandwich, including a special breakfast and brunch version packed with some additional protein. During the early hours, buttery grilled bread gets topped with a large handful of succulent pork plus two farm fresh fried eggs, which ooze their golden cream all over the meat. It's a hefty sandwich ($16), to be sure, but one well-suited to knocking out the after effects of too much wine the night before.
The porchetta gets a more subtle presentation at lunch, where a sandwich includes ciabatta stuffed with the pork, spicy broccoli rabe and provolone cheese and a rich pork sugo sauce. Accompanying your sandwich is a bowl of Zuppa Fredda, made with cucumber, almonds, dill and wine for $15. It's not the street food you'd find in Rome, but we won't dock points for finesse.
Maialino is located at 2 Lexington Avenue, (212) 777-2410; website.
(courtesy Eataly)
Rosticceria at Eataly: It stands to reason that a market designed to highlight the best of Italian cuisine would also offer its own access point for delicious interpretations of simple street fare. Every Thursday at the special rotisserie stand they'll carve up hunks of moist pork studded with crunchy bits of roasted skin. Other than a drizzle of olive oil and a few shakes of salt and pepper, the eatery lets the meat stand for itself, unadorned with fussy spreads or distracting veggies. It's how the Romans would do it and how you should too.
Eataly is located at 200 5th Avenue, (212) 229-2560; website.
Tagged
bergen dean sandwich shop
Eataly
Maialino
porchetta
pork
sandwiches
original
Nell Casey
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Oct 10, 2026
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .