I’ve been eagerly awaiting this one and I’m guardedly hopeful at the moment. I’ve been to the original in Florence, which was great, albeit partly because we were there during the winter and there was virtually no line. I’ve also visited one of the NYC locations (60th) twice: Once when it first opened, and I had a really good experience; and then again a few months later and it seemed significantly diminished. On a recent trip to NYC I passed at least three other newer locations, including one in a mall, which really worries me. But still very much looking forward to trying the Boston one! Fingers crossed…
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I haven’t been motivated to try it yet – which sandwich(es) would you order?
In Florence I had La Paradiso (mortadella, pistachio cream, stracciatella). I think that’s their signature one. It was really good, well balanced. Very big. The ones in NYC are both pricier and a bit smaller, the latter of which is probably a good thing. First time in NYC I’m pretty sure I had La Calvino (bresaola, stracciatella, caramelized onion cream, arugula). That was delicious but a little bit drippy/messy due to both the stracciatella and onion cream being pretty wet. Second visit my co-worker and I split L’Inferno (porchetta, nduja, spicy eggplant, spicy zucchini, arugula) and La Toscana (salame toscana, pecorino, truffle honey). L’Inferno was a much better choice between the two, but it didn’t measure up to the other two I’d had previously. And neither of us, as I recall, felt like finishing more than half of our half of the Toscana, which was a kind of dry meat/cheese sandwich without nearly enough of the honey…
So in conclusion, which isn’t much of one: Wet is better and tastier than dry? I think their signature/famous sandwiches are based on the various “creams,” so those are probably the best choices.
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I was a bit skeptical when our daugther who was living in Florence for a bit insisted on dragging us to All’Antico Vinaio, but I have to admit the sandwiches are awesome and unlike anything I ever encountered in the US. The La Schiacciata del Boss was my favorite. Are there “off-hours” at the Boston location where the line is manageable? In Florence it seems if they were open, there was a line.
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Tuesday, 3:00p.m..? 
what i’d like to do is go with a friend and split these two:
THE NEW YORKER
Roast Beef,* Porcini Cream, Tomato, Arugula
LA NUMERO 1
Porchetta, Gorgonzola Cream, Pistachio Cream
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I ate a version of this in Hong Kong last year (which started a little chain reaction, as tends to happen 
) and it was lovely. Kept thinking it would be so easy to recreate at home, but I still haven’t!
All their various creams (eg porcini) sound so lovely, and a great way to turn an ingredient into a more evenly spread flavor across the sandwich.
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I’ve had two sandwiches from the 8th Ave location in NYC and found both disappointing. For these sandwiches to work the bread must be very fresh. The bread on the ones I had had been sitting around for a while and was very dry. I also think their pre-ordained combos overly elaborate and fussy. Alidoro in NYC has a similar product but has more customizability and, I think, better meat.
ETA:
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Sounds about right. Here’s a photo I shot just after 8:00p Friday night a few weeks ago, when walking by the NOMAD location. I was impressed by the huge rack of bread but I didn’t think about the fact that it’s just sitting there getting stale.
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ALIDORO! I couldn’t for the life of me remember where I got a spectacular sammich for a drive home from the city in 02/2021.
Thx for the reminder.
I had a fantastic mortadella, stracciatella & pistachio pesto sandwich on some of the best bread (fluffy & kronchy with sesame seeds) in Ortigia this summer. The bread is molto importante.
Bummed that there is only 1 non-meat option. Oh well.
Lots of options have various vegetarian things with a cured meat added, so I wonder how customizable they are – eg leave off the salami in La Favolosa and add tomato and mozzarella. Or something like that
I thought that as well and was mentally writing the spot off, but it seems that there are few other non-meat options down at the bottom of the menu. La Broadway sounds enticing…
Looks like four.
LA GENOVESE
Stracciatella, Tomato, Pesto, Pistachio, Basil
LA BROADWAY
Pistachio cream, stracciatella, sun dried tomato, spicy zucchini, arugula
LA CAPRESE
Mozzarella, tomato, basil
THE VEGGIE
Gorgonzola Cream, Spicy Zucchini, Spicy Eggplant, Sun-Dried Tomato, Arugula
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Our daughter was living in Florence in 2022. She didnt drag us there but the location of our hotel meant passing by the All’Antico Vinaio street many times. I dont think I’ve ever seen a business take an entire block as such.
Which one to order is one of life’s biggest mysteries. Ive had them in NYC a few times. I think I liked the La Paradiso
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Its really all, or mostly about the bread. Tuscan Schiacciata, like a Focaccia. Not sure if it will rock your world, but its a pretty good sandwich.
Oooh. The Veggie sounds excellent, as does the Broadway.
Sorry, “LA Broadway” 
Interesting.
When I had the focaccia with mortadella, straciatella (which autocorrect wants to turn into “racist Ella”), and pistachios elsewhere, it was more the textures and flavors of the fillings & spread that appealed (the bread was fine, but not what made it memorable).
(Re “stale” bread - I wouldn’t be expecting that they’d bake it fresh constantly: only Subway does that to my knowledge, and that can’t even legally be called “bread” in some places these days 
)
Gah—I don’t know why my pea-sized brain registered stracciatella as a meat product, when I know full well it isn’t. I’m not running on all cylinders lately (work, but also hosting three 10-11 year olds for Halloween tonight and I still have to get my outdoor display set up…it’s just been one of those months).
So, I’ll amend my reponse to say no/few vegan options.
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Happy Halloween! As our neighborhood greys we get fewer trick-or-treaters. May also be due to the fact that Prince Street in Newton famously goes all out, and people travel for miles. A live band, horror flicks projected on one house, popcorn machines. It is fun but I still fondly remember the adult beverages served in one East Cambridge neighborhood on Halloween.
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