Last Updated: 1 day ago
Phone: (718) 625-8052
Address: 379 COLUMBIA STREET 11231
A beloved, century-old Italian deli serving legendary, overstuffed sandwiches; must-tries include the 'Steak Pizzaiola' and fried eggplant.
Willa Moore reviews Defonte's, a century-old Italian sandwich shop in Brooklyn, praising its overstuffed sandwiches and classic charm. The article highlights the 'hot salad' and the popular fried eggplant.
Defonte's is a century-old Italian sandwich shop in Red Hook, Brooklyn, celebrated for its overstuffed and classic sandwiches. The shop maintains a traditional charm, famously being cash-only, and offers unique accompaniments like their signature 'hot salad' – a crunchy pickled vegetable mix that perfectly complements the rich sandwiches. Standout dishes include the fried eggplant, the 'Steak Pizzaiola,' and various other Italian-American deli staples.
Defonte's is renowned for its classic Italian-American deli sandwiches, with a particular emphasis on generous portions and high-quality ingredients like fried eggplant and fresh mozzarella. Highly recommended items include the 'Steak Pizzaiola,' 'Eggplant Parm,' 'Prosciutto Special,' and the 'Guiseppe Special' meatball. One reviewer noted a less positive experience with the 'steak pizzaiola' being dry and tasteless, but this appears to be an outlier.
"Highly recommended dishes include the 'Steak Pizzaiola', 'Eggplant Parm', 'Prosciutto Special', 'Guiseppe Special' meatball, and the 'broccoli rabe, pork, and provolone sandwich'. The 'hot salad' topping is also frequently mentioned as a unique and delicious addition."
Customers generally have a very positive sentiment towards Defonte's, often praising the quality and size of their sandwiches, with many considering it a top-tier establishment for Italian-American deli fare.
Important Note
The location in Red Hook is noted as being a bit of a hike, and the establishment is cash-only.
"deFontes is mentioned as a place for a potato, egg, and cheese sandwich."
Positive"The hot turkey sandwich at Defontes, featuring turkey gravy and fresh mozzarella, is recommended, with the option to add broccoli rabe."
Positive"This user expresses an interest in trying Defontes for a turkey sandwich."
Neutral"The user mentioned Defontes during a previous visit to New York and described the experience as incredible."
Positive"This user mentioned that the roast beef special at Defontes is still priced at $17, highlighting it as a more affordable option."
Positive"Defonte’s is included in a list of sandwich places."
Neutral"DeFontes is suggested as a place to stop before heading to Prospect Park, located in the Carroll Gardens/Red Hook area."
Neutral"Defonte's is mentioned as a place that might have good Italian deli options."
Positive"The user mentioned Defonte's when discussing Italian sandwich spots."
Neutral"The user recommended Defontes as a sandwich spot in NYC."
Neutral"Defonte's offers an Italian-American pepper & eggs sandwich for $7.90, which is large enough to feed two people for half a day and is considered an excellent eat in the outer boroughs."
Positive"A loyal customer of 30 years highly recommends adding 'Hot Salad' (without cheese) as an amazing topping to Defonte's sandwiches."
Positive"The user admits forgetting to add toppings to their Defonte's order due to excitement and intends to remember them on a future visit."
Neutral"The user generally explains that steak pizzaiola sauce has a distinct richer and tangier flavor compared to typical pizza or pomodoro sauces due to its ingredients, without directly reviewing Defonte's specific version."
Neutral"The user suggests enhancing Defonte's sandwiches by adding broccoli rabe for its amazing bitter and crunchy texture."
Positive"The user expresses frustration and disappointment regarding the difficult accessibility of Defonte's location."
Negative"The user confirms that Defonte's does sell the steak pizzaiola in deconstructed form, having personally purchased a tray."
Neutral"The user expresses confidence that Defonte's, being a deli, would likely sell any of their ingredients in containers if requested."
Neutral"The user observed some 'eggy things' behind the counter at Defonte's that sparked their interest."
Neutral"The user enthusiastically recommends Defonte's 'egg and potato' sandwich, praising its simplicity and deliciousness."
Positive
