601142 Wed Mar 04 13:14:46 -0800 2009 19 15 Pennsylvania 0 4473542 OMG I just went to Girard Avenue between 2nd and Front in Phila and had the most amazing sandwich of my life. It was the "artista" (roast suckling pig, broccoli rabe, long hots and sharp provolone) at Paesano's ,the luncheonette opened by the people at Modo Mio the terrific tuscan restaurant across the street. There are about 6 counter seats so if you are going to eat there you need to be patient ,but it seemed as though they were doing a brisk take-out business. I have had the roast pork at Tony Lukes, DiNics and Johns and this blew them all away. You can also get a side of roasted potatoes cooked in Duck fat for $2. Your doctor might not be to happy about it ,but the flavor was incredible. There are 4 or 5 other sandwiches on the menu and they all look fantastic. Web site is attached to Modo Mio's . Please don't go to often as it was hard enough to get a seat as is. Wed Mar 04 13:14:46 -0800 2009 213030 ChefRich 1 4477924 hahaha great report. this little spot has been consistently great since opening and PACKED recently! i really wish they had more vegetarian items, and i wish they'd do a pizza to show some of the joints in the area how it's done - but til then, i enjoy my lil chickpea sandwich. i had roofers working at my place last weekend and i triiiiied to treat them to paesano's but they respectfully declined... boy they don't know what they missed! :) Thu Mar 05 17:53:35 -0800 2009 4473542 13386 rabidog 2 4483683 The pork sandwich there is really good as is the veal sausage too. The roasted potatoes are the best. They also have two small tables outside bringing the seating capacity to the double digits... A great addition to the area! Sat Mar 07 21:14:14 -0800 2009 4477924 12572 bluehensfan 1 4485949 Comparing the Paesano's sandwich to those from DiNic's et al is like comparing DiNic's roast beef sandwich to DiNic's brisket sandwich. Or like comparing DiNic's roast pork sandwich to DiNic's pulled pork sandwich... They're completely different sandwiches, and both best in class Sun Mar 08 20:30:09 -0700 2009 4473542 45490 coolgeek 1 4524534 got to return to this thread to give some props to the specials of the day... an eggplant parm grinder and a tuscan bread soup. i'll admit... i got some paesanos takeout today on my way home after a couple beers at the world cafe live free @ noon show... i took half the sandwich out of the bag on my walk home down girard, just for a lil taste... and damned if i didn't have the whole thing polished off by the time i hit 4th st. oops. Fri Mar 20 23:46:02 -0700 2009 4473542 13386 rabidog 1 4766866 Just have to add to this thread. I went to Paesano's for the first time today (What took me so long?) luckily I work with food people so I had half a pork sandwich and half a chick pea sandwich. Both were INCREDIBLE! and coolgeek is right - can't compare that pig to John's or DiNic's - the texture of the meat alone is enough to send me over the edge. Call ahead for pickup! Fri Jun 12 10:15:39 -0700 2009 4473542 76938 Bigley9 1 4768704 the pork on that sandwich is incredible. Amazing. Although, now that I've had the lamb sausage Gustaino? Gustavo? sandwich, it may take me a while to get back to the arista. Also had the Paesano sandwich, which is also great. I live approximately 26 blocks from this place and have gone there for lunch 3 saturdays in a row. And I don't have a car. Now THAT means something! Fri Jun 12 20:52:46 -0700 2009 4473542 157661 hollyd 2 4772006 FWIW, Paesano's won the best italian hoagie in the WIP hoagie hunt, besting the likes of Salumeria, Primo's, Shank and Evelyn's, and Sarcone's. They definitely must be doing something right! Sun Jun 14 12:33:40 -0700 2009 4768704 64452 cwdonald 3 4772162 My boyfriend, an expert Salumeria and Sarcones Italian hoagie appreciator, had the Italian hoagie at paesano's yesterday, and this is is his summary: bread was good, meat and cheeses: great, but while Sarcones has the fabulous cheese and bread to push it over the top, and Salumeria has the amazing house dressing and hot pepper relish, there was nothing really stellar to put the paesano's Italian above the other two. Also, he says, Paesano's Arista and Paesano sandwiches are so amazingly good that they set an impossibly high standard, and NOT ordering them is already difficult enough. Sun Jun 14 14:01:43 -0700 2009 4772006 157661 hollyd 2 4772856 Gustaio. Glad to hear it's good; that's the next one on my list! Sun Jun 14 19:32:05 -0700 2009 4768704 208053 berbadeerface 3 4774429 it's smaller, so you may want potatoes, but OH. MY. is it good. Mon Jun 15 10:51:41 -0700 2009 4772856 157661 hollyd 4 4777323 I always get the potatoes anyway;) But usually I leave wayyy too stuffed, so this will be good. I'm salivating; Maybe I will go today for lunch! Tue Jun 16 07:59:47 -0700 2009 4774429 208053 berbadeerface 5 4777367 bring me one to the museum? nah. I'm kidding. Saturdays only for that calorie fest. Tue Jun 16 08:08:39 -0700 2009 4777323 157661 hollyd 6 4778322 Haha, I ended up not going there; I tried Smokin' Betty's instead, which was pretty good too. Next time... What museum? Tue Jun 16 11:46:04 -0700 2009 4777367 208053 berbadeerface 7 4779739 art museum. And free admission for anyone who brings me Gustaio or Arista sandwiches from Paesano's. :) Tue Jun 16 19:09:21 -0700 2009 4778322 157661 hollyd 4 4777366 Also Holly, I just had a browse around your blog and it's really good. I look forward to reading more! Tue Jun 16 08:08:39 -0700 2009 4774429 208053 berbadeerface 5 4779736 ha! awesome. On the Paesano's post too! Tue Jun 16 19:08:49 -0700 2009 4777366 157661 hollyd 6 4792976 Finally tried the gustaio yesterday, and it was every bit as good as you said! We shared one of those, an arista and an order of potatoes. Then we shared a crispelle, and waddled home sated and stuffed. I love this place! Sun Jun 21 16:42:05 -0700 2009 4779736 208053 berbadeerface 7 4968746 just had the Gustaio today and it f**king rocks. Easily one of the top 5 sandwiches I've ever had. The only caveat is that you should eat it pretty soon after its made. I had it about 20 minutes later and it was a bit of a mess. But it was still ridiculously awesome. Sat Aug 22 16:44:17 -0700 2009 4792976 282621 jaba 1 4973164 if you pour the excess jus from the arista over the potatoes.... you are in for a serious treat. Mon Aug 24 11:37:05 -0700 2009 4473542 10634 pinstripeprincess