"At Defonte’s, a cash-only Italian sandwich shop in Red Hook that’s been around since the 1920s, it’s not just about the big fat sandwiches. It’s also about standing in line next to someone who drives in from Jersey weekly to feast on The Zio Vito, and the person behind the counter, who’s a little peeved you’re trying to order at 3:15pm, even though they close at 4pm. Order absolutely anything that has a layer of fried eggplant on it, but since that’s most sandwiches here, the Italian Stallion is a good place to start. It’s layered with fried eggplant, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and a half inch thick layer of prosciutto. A lot of places make Italian sandwiches these days. Defonte’s is still one of the best." - molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah, neha talreja
