The Review
Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone's Torrisi is not primarily a sandwich restaurant — it's a full-service Italian-American restaurant in Nolita that draws on the red-sauce tradition with considerable technical sophistication. But it earns its place in any serious sandwich conversation through its meatball hero, which is served at lunch and which represents what Italian-American deli culture looks like when serious professional chefs take it seriously.
The meatball sub here is made with house-made bread, sauce cooked long enough to have depth, and meatballs that are properly seasoned and maintain their texture under the sauce. The cheese — a combination of fresh and aged Italian cheeses — is melted properly. Every component is correct.
The setting is handsome: marble, warm wood, Italian posters from the 1950s and 1960s. The service is professional. The lunch service is less crowded than dinner and the sandwich makes it worth the noon trip.
What to Order
Meatball hero at lunch. The cured meat and cheese plate before it if you're lingering. Espresso from the bar after.
Tips
Reservations are needed for dinner. Lunch is walk-in friendly and the hero is usually available. The Nolita location is well-placed for a walk through SoHo.
Our Rating
★★★★☆
Price Range
$$$