NYC hidden dining gems: Caputo’s Fine Foods may have the best sandwich in NY
In a city as vast as New York, calling something the best is guaranteed to invite disagreement. When my friend texted me that Brooklyn’s Caputo’s Fine Foods has the “best Italian sandwich in New York,” the words of the late Anthony Bourdain rang in my head: “Those are fighting words.”
Located in the once heavily-Italian populated Carroll Gardens, Caputo’s Fine Foods occupies a typical-sized New York eatery. The establishment’s green awning is so subtle that I almost missed it entirely.
Upon entering, I was immediately greeted with hanging cured meats, a large glass display of imported cheeses and prepared foods and, to my surprise, a wide selection of Italian specialty items. Not just a sandwich shop, the way my friend had described, Caputo’s is an oasis for Italians living in New York to find staples they’d typically find back home: San Carlo chips, seasonal treats like cartellate (a traditional fried dough from Puglia), and even Plasmon biscotti, a special cookie for babies.
Opened in 1973 by Bari-born Giuseppe Caputo, Caputo’s Fine Foods has been passed down through the generations and is now run by his grandsons, Franco and Joseph. I had the pleasure of Joseph himself making my sandwiches. In what felt like a large dilemma, I decided to get two. I left the decisions entirely up to him: “One best-seller and one of your favorites,” I shouted as I got lost in the shapes of Caputo’s house-made pasta varieties.
The first sandwich he made me was The Road Trip: a prosciutto, mozzarella, roasted red pepper, and olive oil sandwich on a baguette, a subtle nod to the growing French population in Carroll Gardens.
Caputo’s Fine Foods didn’t used to have a menu. Last year, Joseph and Franco created one to give guidance to indecisive customers like myself. My second sandwich was Joseph’s sworn favorite: chicken cutlet, mozzarella, house-made marinara and grilled eggplant, piled high with oiled-up arugula.
Sandwiches aside, a favorite at Caputo’s is the grilled artichoke, a surprise aphrodisiac snack commonly found on menus in Italy. If you prefer something on the sweeter side, Caputo’s offers house-made tiramisu, which typically goes on sale every Thursday. But get there quickly — it tends to sell out within a day or two.
At Caputo’s, everything is taken to go. Impatient to try either of these concoctions, I unwrapped the parchment-wrapped Road Trip as soon as I stepped out and took a massive bite.
Immediately, I understand why it was a best-seller. It may seem hard to mess up an Italian sandwich: meat, cheese, some type of dressing. Yet the strength of Caputo’s sandwiches lies in using simple ingredients of the best quality, stuffed heartily between crusty bread.
As I enjoyed a bite of prosciutto, so rich it was almost creamy, those fighting words rang back in my ears. But it turns out my friend was onto something. I won’t say Caputo’s Fine Foods has the best sandwich in New York. Instead, I encourage you to find out for yourself.
Address: 460 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Price range: Sandwiches range from $14 to $16
Hours: Tues-Fri 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m to 6 p.m.; Sun 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (closed Mon)
Takeout only; no dine-in or delivery
Kaitlyn Rosati is a New York City-based food and travel journalist. She is constantly on the hunt to find the city’s best hidden gems, allowing New Yorkers to travel far without ever leaving the boroughs. Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to Kaitlyn with your recommendations at nomannomad.net@gmail.com.
