Torrisi Italian Specialties
I recently moved to a new neighborhood. It's like in between Morningside Heights and Harlem. It doesn't have a cool mashup name like Billywick or anything like that. I discovered something in my new hood. Some people like their music from cars, and really loud. As someone who's self-aware enough (for the most part), I understand that sounds really racist, but yo can someone just explain to me the appeal? While we're on the subject on inexplicable things, I went and got another $10 dollar sandwich. No. 7 Sub was tasty but it should have stopped me. Damn me for wanting to be a busybody and know why people hype Torrisi Italian Specialty (website) They're now known for dinner which features a prix fixe menu, but during the day they're mostly a sandwich shop and that's why I went.
When I think deeply about it, I don't really know why I keep falling for expensive sandwiches. I mean, a man can live an entire life on Popeyes so why even mess with those places that offer "high quality ingredients"? Crazy, right? I just always wonder what the fuss is all about.
With just a few options to choose from at Torrisi Italian Specialties, it's very easy to make a decision. You have chicken parm, turkey, potato-egg-provolone, or combo. I picked chicken parm because... just look at that thing. Why wouldn't you want to eat that? I saw them make some turkey sandwiches and they seem to pile on some thick slices of turkey so that probably would have been a good call as well. But for $10, this sandwich has to be really special to stand out in my mind.
It's a juicy enough piece of chicken parm, although there's pretty much no textural contrast. To find crunch, you have to bite the very tip of the edge of the chicken, otherwise it's just like any other chicken parm sandwich - mushy. This is not to say that it's not delicious. It's actually a very satisfying sandwich. The tomato sauce they use is bright and bursting with tomato flavor. They also throw in huge basil leaves on top of the mozzarella which was a nice surprise.
I'm not sure Torrisi Italian Specialties is as intriguing as No. 7 Sub, but the chicken parm hero is way more filling than the interesting sandwiches. As always, it's up to you to determine whether it's worth it to experience the inexplicable...
Torrisi Italian Specialties
250 Mulberry Street.
New York, NY 10012
212-965-0955
Check out Torrisi's new lunch time special / former boss call-out http://www.ediblehumor.com/?p=326
Brooke
July 19, 2010 10:36 pm
@Mai,
yea i feel you, yo.
@rb,
It's sorta that but I'm not even sure... haha
@Janice,
Is potato egg sandwiches like egg salad and potato salad combined? Hmm... there's a new truck by 37th and 7th ave that's supposed to be decent...
@Steve,
Word. See you in a year bro
@Tia,
Yea, 311 has failed me many times before. I actually don't dream about egging people's cars b/c I'm scared. haha. In my last apartment, it always felt like people were moving huge appliances everyday. Ugh.
Danny
May 20, 2010 11:29 am
nono, it's like eggs and home fries combined. No mayonnaise or anything like that included.
Janice
May 20, 2010 10:16 pm
On the subject of trying inexplicable things, maybe you could try having really music in the car too, see how the other people in the hood like it?
Mai
May 18, 2010 2:37 am
This neighborhood, you mean?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattanville,_Manhattan
rb
May 18, 2010 8:09 am
haha, he didn't move to manhattanville. Columbia forbids any good development there unless it's theirs.
I LOVE potato and egg sandwiches, but goddamn I'm not paying 10 bucks for one. I need to find a good spanish lunch place to make one for me (none near my office do).
Janice
May 18, 2010 9:02 am
dude ... YUM! =P
Steve
May 19, 2010 11:13 pm
My last apartment I had that problem. You can call 311 to complain, but the cops don't do much. I always dreamed of one day egging their cars. In my new apt I have a different problem. Upstairs neighbors like to play the piano and invite people to come over and sing. OMFG, kill me now!
As for Torrisi, I've been for dinner and it's good in a very Italian-American way. I liked it. Rainbow cookies there are awesome.
bionicgrrrl
May 20, 2010 10:54 am