Staten Island is well known for great sandwiches around every corner of the island – we have some famous spots as well as some hidden gems, the list below shows the best 7 sandwiches around our little borough.

1.  Royal Crown Bakery and Royal Cucina

   

   It’s a bakery with Sandwiches ‘Paneantico” at it’s roots, Sandwiches make up about 75% of the menu and royal crown is definitely a sandwich hot spot of Staten Island.  It starts with the selection of bread, All heroes are made on traditional Royal Crown hero bread or panini, you may substitute with the 7-Grain, whole wheat, high fiber, brick oven from 14th ave Brooklyn or Softy.  Other bread options include Crispy Rosetti Roll, Soft Kaiswer Roll, Plain or Whole Wheat Wrap. Options include selection of Prosciutto with toppings such as Mozzarella and Caponata or the Capicollo made with Mozzarella and Fried Eggplant.  Various Cold-Cuts with unique toppings served on warm bread or Fried Chicken topped with Mozzarella and Broccoli Rabe is all over the menu.
   The selection doesn’t end with nearly 200 HEROES! and probably many more options. The categories go from Sausage, Meatball, Hot Pastrami, Grilled or Fried Eggplant, Grilled Chicken, Grilled Rib Eye Steak, Mortadella, Caponata, Broccoli Rabe, Italian Hero, American Hero, Parmigiana Heroes and many more!

   • Located at 1350 Hylan Blvd (Old Town)

   • View complete WYE listing of Royal Crown

2. Lunchbox on Forest Ave

   

   Creativity flows freely at this Forest Avenue Hot Spot, while Lunchbox is not necessarily famous for only the Sandwiches, as the entire menu has it’s own unique twist including starters such as the Tatar Tot Tower and Desserts such as Peanut Butter and Jelly milk shakes – The Sandwiches are a top hit in it’s own right.  Look at these unique creations Captain America made with Fresh Grilled Corned beef and Pastrami Brisket topped with caramelized onions, smothered with melted Swiss and a special blend of creamy mayo and spicy mustard. Other selections include The Dare Devil, Chicken Cutlet covered in spicy buffalo and crumbled bleu cheese.  The Punisher a breaded center cut pork cutlet topped with thinly sliced imported prosciutto topped with fresh mozz and hot and sweet cherry peppers.

   • Located at 1612 Forest Avenue (Port Richmond)

   • View the complete WYE listing with Menus & Dish Photos

3.  Ariemma’s Italian Deli

   
   It’s as Original Staten Island as it gets – This little deli gives a feel of Staten Island decades ago with littler newspaper articles of old time events and even prices of electric bills and other history facts that you find interesting every time you step into Ariemma’s.  They are very well known for their $5 Special Sandwiches (which are full size-and bigger + tastier than many $8-$10 heroes you find around the neighborhood of Dongan Hills).
   The standard hero specials include Chicken Parm, Meatball, Chicken Lu-Lu (A signature item made with Gravy and Mozzarella), Zucchini Parm, Potato and Cheese, Cheese Steak with Onions and Hot Dogs with Saurkraut.
   While this is all good, Ariemma’s also features a FULL MENU selection of specialty sandwiches that are posted on the board.  Try this for a taste (pictures below) – The Russian Turkey made with Cracked Pepper Turkey, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, 1000 Island Dressing.
   Other names of sandwiches include Belly Philler(Steak, Onions, Potatoes, Mushrooms, Mozz), Boardwalk (Thin Sausage w/Peppers, Onions, Potatoes), Chicken Gabriella (Chicken Cutlet with Zucchini, Mozz and Romano) and many more

   • Located at 1791 Hylan Blvd (Dongan Hills)

   • View the complete Ariemma’s Menu

4. Defonte’s Sandwiches

   
   It’s one of Staten Island Newcomers but with a huge following in Brooklyn Defonte’s definitely has to make our list of top sandwiches with items like the Nicky Special made with ham, Capicola, Salami, Provolone, Fried Eggplant, hot Salad, Marinated Mushrooms, Lettuce, Tomato, Oil and Vinegar, how could it not? The restaurant has an open display of meats fresh made and sandwiches are built in front – The large is good enough for 2, usually. Names include the Jerry Lewis, The Lorenzo, Italian Stallion.  On the Hot Heroes options like the Dino, Sinatra Special, Eggplant Parm and the Zio Vito take the spotlight.

   • Located at 95 Water Street

   • View the complete WYE listing of Defonte’s

5. John’s Deli on New Dorp

   
   “Welcome to SUBWAY” is the famous tagline of the “Original Hero King” specializing in Hot and Cold Italian American Specialties – but really they are famous for their Roast Beef, smothered with homemade gravy, caramelized onions and mozzarella.  John’s originally located on Stillwell ave in Brooklyn has relocated to New Dorp approximately 3 years ago – they offer daily specials sandwiches but quickly point out that Roast Beef served everyday and reads “Best Roast Beef Hero on Staten Island and Brooklyn”

   • John’s is located at 173 New Dorp Lane

   • View the complete menus and photos of John’s on New Dorp

6. Not Just Bagels

   
   “Real New York Sandwiches” is the mantra of this hopping sandwich shop that clearly sends a message of being more than bagels.  Well known for Breakfast, their Lunch Heroes selection is a quick hit.  While the menu features Panini’s and Wraps selection with huge variety of everything lijke the Sophia made with Fried Eggplant, Fresh Spinach and riccotta to the Sante Fe made with Grilled Chicken, Sauteed Peppers, Onions, Jack Cheese and BBQ Sauce. It gets really good under the “HOT SPOT” section which are the restaurants top picked favorites – on this section you get options such as the Chicken Franchese Hero or the Monte Cristo made with grilled ham, swiss and bacon on a texas toast.  This ‘Deli/Restaurant’ has every time of sandwich you may be in the mood for.
   They are also one of the only spots to serve “FAT style” sandwiches like the ATTACK made with Chicken Fingers, French Fries, Onion Rings, Mozz Sticks, American Cheese and Gravy.

   • Located at 1910 Hylan Blvd (Dongan Hills)

   • View the complete listing for Not Just Bagels

7. Dominick’s Bakery

   
   It seems that bakeries just love making great sandwiches – I guess if you can make a great bread, baked fresh, one of the most important ingredients, you are set to go.  What make’s Dominick’s special is each sandwich is served with a unique dressing (for each sandwich) which simply adds to the experience of eating and dipping, instead of just eating.
   On the menu an item Buffalo Chicken made with Breaded chicken breast strips sauteed in homemade buffalo sauce topped with celery and finished with Blue Cheese Dressing is a great example.  The blackened Chicken is served with a Roasted Pepper Cream Sauce.  The Cajun Chicken Spinach is finished with Cucumber Dressing, the Chicken Sante Fe served with Basil Cream Sauce. Those sauces really do go a long way by turning a sandwich into a meal.

   • Located at 31 New Dorp Plaza

   • View the complete listing for Dominick’s Bakery and Cafe

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