Maine Italian Sand. in SF?

[bojyra]

I am just wondering if it's possible to get a Maine Italian in San Francisco. I'm sorry, the Yellow Submarine is good and AK Subs rules...but it's just not a *Maine* Italian.

Any ideas?

[Scott M]

Places you can try
Lucca Delicatessen
http://luccadeli.com/

Molinari Delicatessen
373 Columbus Avenue

In the East Bay
Genova Delicatessen & Ravioli Factory
5095 Telegraph Avenue

[gracem]

I don't think you'll ever find a real Maine italian outside of Maine because you need those squishy rolls to be authentic!

[chaddict]

The nice thing about Lucca's is that they have such a wide variety of bread choices, including something called "soft sweet" so maybe it will be a close approximation...

[bojyra]

Thank you! Their website looks good. I will give this a try.

[bojyra]

Yeah, it's all about the roll, really! And the oil-cured olives... And the sour pickles.

Guess I'm going to have to make a trip back to Maine! I might as well be asking for a Whoopie Pie!

[Lori SF]

besure to have a lobster roll fo me.. oh i dream.....need a trip too.

[bojyra]

Have you ever tried the Lobster Shack in North Beach? I went in there once because I was curious and they've got the place covered in maps of the Maine coast. Kinda felt like home.

Didn't try the Lobster Rolls, though. We had just come from the pizza joint. Keep meaning to go back, though.

[Lori SF]

yes and I really really wanted to like that lobster roll.. but it was just ok. I would go back to try other things though.

[rworange]

Yeah, but IIRC, you are not an East Coast native and never tried a lobster roll before.

There' a place on 7th off Bryant ... it is right next door o McDonald ... forget the name .. but the reason I gave them a pass was because of the squishy rolls. You might tell them what you want.

As far as the Lobster Shack, they do seafood. I haven't seen that sandwich there. You could email them and ask. I wouldn't bother asking the on-site staff.

[Lori SF]

The point was the Maine Italian sandw will be hard to find here, I have had one of these sandwiches when I was just outside of Maine and the closest I have seen since was in LA at a hotdog cart. The OP knows that Lobster Shack is a seafood place.

Over the last 20 years I have quit a few great lobster rolls all of which were from the East Coast, it's only been in the last two years they have started making them on this coast.

It would be great if one place could start making all these sandwiches we long for from the east and south properly..subs, cuban, Maine Italian, po boys and so on..

[chocolatetartguy]

Genova will try to make a sandwich to your specifications with the ingredients they have on hand, but are unlikely to be able to duplicate your Maine Italian. When I first returned from Philadelphia obsessed with hoagies, they did their level best. It just wasn't the same even though I brought my own sharp provolone.

They do make a damn good, fresh sandwich. I get mortadella and galantina with muffaletta spread and lots of onions on a wheat roll. They aim to please and almost always hit the mark!

[chaddict]

Out of curiosity, what is a Maine Italian sandwich?

[Scott M]

From what I understand:

A soft hoagie roll with ham, american cheese, sliced sour dill pickles, sliced tomato, sliced Greek olives, sliced onion, sliced green pepper, red wine vinegar, olive oil
salt and pepper

[bojyra]

Scott is correct. Here is the best article I've found about Maine Italians: http://travel.mainetoday.com/fromaway...

I used to live two blocks from DiPietro's and I think I ate there at least three times a week, either for the olive pizza (oil cured black whole black olives - SALTY!) or for a "veggie Italian." (Italian without the ham.)