[Ron Johnson]

Ed Levine updates and expands his coverage on the best heroes in NYC. This time he gives some coverage to the other ethnic heroes like Banh Mi and the Cuban and Dominican roasted chicken versions.

He again includes a brief mention of his favorite Italian heroes. He lauds the chicken parm hero at Corona Heights Pork Store and a couple different ones at Leo's Latticini. Fortunately, I was able to sample heroes from both of these stores on my last trip to NYC. Both are exemplary. I was a little too full to give proper attention to the chicken parm hero, but I hear it made good leftovers.

NYC Heroes

This is the list of places visited by Mr. Levine for his article:

SANDY'S LECHONERÍA 2261 Second Avenue (116th Street), East Harlem; (212) 348-8654.

MILANES SPANISH RESTAURANT 168 West 25th Street, Chelsea; (212) 352-0755.

MARGON RESTAURANT 136 West 46th Street, Midtown; (212) 354-5013.

CIBAO RESTAURANT 72 Clinton Street, Lower East Side; (212) 228-0873.

BAO NOODLES 391 Second Avenue (22nd Street); (212) 725-7770.

NICKY'S VIETNAMESE SANDWICHES 150 East Second Street, East Village; (212) 388-1088.

BA XUYEN 4222 Eighth Avenue, Sunset Park, Brooklyn; (718) 633-6601.

CORONA HEIGHTS PORK STORE 107-04 Corona Avenue, Corona Heights, Queens; (718) 592-7350.

LEO'S LATTICINI 46-02 104th Street, Corona, Queens; (718) 898-6069.

ESPOSITO & SON PORK STORE 357 Court Street, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn; (718) 875-6863.

CLEMENTE'S 138 Avenue T, Gravesend, Brooklyn; (800) 427-0556.


So far my ranking of NYC Italian-style heroes would be as follows:

Mike's Yankee Stadium
Corona Height Pork Store Chicken Parm
Leo Latticini Super Italian
Melampo hero on the sfilatino roll
Manganaro's
Faico's
Manganaro's Hero Boy (poor)

[Abbylovi]

I'm surprised that you'd rate the Leo hero over the Melampo hero!

[omnivorette]

YOu guys have got to get to Dafonte's in Red Hook.

[Cathy]

Oh man, I want that Dominican chicken 'n' skin sandwich.

[Wilfrid1]

Stroll on, in seven years of shameless interracial intermingling, I have never seen, let alone eaten, the Dominican chicken hero. Since he cites three restaurants, it can't be a figment of his imagination. I have put a call out for further information.

[Ron Johnson]

Abbylovi, on Dec 1 2004, 09:00 AM, said:

I'm surprised that you'd rate the Leo hero over the Melampo hero!

I like the bread and arugula better at Melampo, but the meats, cheese, and condiments were superior at Leo's, especially the cheese.

[Robert Schonfeld]

I'm sure you guys know that, beyond the names named, it is still possible to locate great sandwiches at anonymous holes in the wall around and about the city. These places have the advantage of being foodie-free-sites. One such place, on 1st Avenue a block or so north of the 59th Street Bridge, had for many years an authentic Italian widow, dressed in black every day (in my memory), behind the counter. When she got to know you, she would lavish your hero with love as only an Italian Mama could. She died a few years ago. There are pictures of her taped to the wall. The Hispanic guys one finds behind the counter now learned from her. They do fine, but it's not the same. There are others. You have to nose them out.

[Ron Johnson]

Robert, you are absolutely correct. I think Melampo previously qualified as such a place, especially since its name appears nowhere on the exterior of the tiny shopfront.

[Vanessa]

Definition of a hero please. Thanks.

v

[Daisy]

Vanessa, on Dec 1 2004, 11:14 AM, said:

Definition of a hero please.  Thanks.

v

A large sandwich, usually although not always made on a longish loaf or piece of bread. Regionalisms meaning the same as 'hero' include sub, hoagie and grinder.

[Ron Johnson]

Vanessa, on Dec 1 2004, 11:14 AM, said:

Definition of a hero please. Thanks.

v

Whatever you do, never, ever call it a sandwich.

[Daisy]

Ron Johnson, on Dec 1 2004, 11:26 AM, said:

Whatever you do, never, ever call it a sandwich.

Mea culpa.

[mitchells]

Daisy, on Dec 1 2004, 11:18 AM, said:

Vanessa, on Dec 1 2004, 11:14 AM, said:

Definition of a hero please.  Thanks.

v

A large sandwich, usually although not always made on a longish loaf or piece of bread. Regionalisms meaning the same as 'hero' include sub, hoagie and grinder.

And wedge.

[Orik]

And if you want to know why Manganaro's Heroboy is so poor, go around the corner to 37th st. and see the storefront where many of their sandwiches are assembled from low end ingredients.

[Wilfrid1]

Are they called torpedoes in the UK, or am I dreaming?