6 Postcards
This charming, old-world Italian takeaway in Windsor Terrace serves up mouthwatering sandwiches and hearty meals, perfect for cozy dining at home.
"Brancaccio’s is the kind of Italian deli where, if you pronounce one of their cured meats like someone in The Sopranos, they’ll tell you you’re wrong, and give you pointers on how not to embarrass yourself in the future. (It’s bre-sa-ola, not brazhole.) But once you get past that, and receive your sandwich from this very small Windsor Terrace shop, any lingering shame will melt away. Built on very crusty semolina bread, these sandwiches aren’t giant and saucy social media-bait, but simple, expertly crafted, and made with very high quality ingredients. They have great steak and egg sandwiches for breakfast, and if you live anywhere near here, you’d do well to make yourself a regular. The Order: A chicken special with sliced-up chicken cutlet, fontina cheese, prosciutto, and chopped artichokes. You’ll have garlic breath for up to three days, and be smiling wide enough for everyone to know it." - will hartman, willa moore, neha talreja, bryan kim, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick
"There’s no seating at this tiny takeaway spot on the border of Windsor Terrace, but that doesn’t mean Joe Brancaccio doesn’t make some of the best Italian food in Brooklyn. During breakfast and lunch, there’s often a line out the door for his sandwiches, which are served on chewy sesame seed bread and have a loyal local following. But the real move here is to pick up dinner to go: meatballs, orecchiette with broccoli rabe, and rotisserie porchetta are some of our favorites. Toss a white cloth on your kitchen table, light a candle in an old wine bottle, and lay out your Brancaccio’s bounty." - bryan kim, neha talreja, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, tiffany yannetta
"Brancaccio’s calls itself a “food shop” because it sells a little bit of everything—from red sauce pasta dishes and roast chickens to homemade pastries and some of Brooklyn’s best Italian sandwiches. When you don’t feel like cooking but want something that tastes homey, the prepared foods behind a small counter are the best option in Windsor Terrace. Have a look at the handwritten menu near the cash register, and note that this is not the kind of place where you ask for substitutions. " - carina finn koeppicus
"There’s no seating at this tiny takeaway spot on the border of Windsor Terrace, but that doesn’t mean Joe Brancaccio doesn’t make some of the best Italian food in the whole city. The move here is to pick up dinner to-go: meatballs, orecchiette with broccoli rabe, and rotisserie porchetta are some of our favorites. Toss a white cloth on your kitchen table, light a candle in an old wine bottle, and lay out your Brancaccio’s bounty for a private, charming meal in your house slippers." - Willa Moore, Sonal Shah, Neha Talreja, Bryan Kim, Carina Finn Koeppicus
"If you live anywhere near Brancaccio’s, you would do well to make yourself a regular here. It’s called a “food shop,” since this place sells a little bit of everything—from prepared foods like red sauce pasta dishes and roast chickens to homemade pastries and some of the best Italian sandwiches in Brooklyn. Have a look at the handwritten menu taped up near the cash register, and note that this is not the kind of place where you can (or should) ask for substitutions or swaps. Try the chicken special, a cheesy combination of chicken, artichokes, and prosciutto, or the deceptively simple meatloaf sandwich, garnished with gooey fontina and a homemade ketchup that serves as a reminder that tomato is a fruit. Breakfast here is great too, from the steak and egg sandwiches to the fluffy, sweet cheese-filled croissants. photo credit: Carina Finn photo credit: Carina Finn" - Carina Finn
