All’Antico Vinaio, a Florentine sandwich shop with 15 locations in Italy, recently opened its first Boston location right across from the Boston Public Library. Videos of the restaurant’s locations across the globe and their signature sandwiches have blown up on social media and have been praised for their authenticity and unique flavor. Curious to see if it lived up to the hype, I visited the new location along with Josie Go ’27. 

Upon arriving, we were shocked to see that there was a long line that wrapped around the block outside the restaurant. Despite the wait, the line moved fairly quickly, and the smell of freshly baked bread wafting from the door made the anticipation worthwhile. The inside of the restaurant is small, with seating for around 20 people. The left wall has rustic Italian pictures and maps, giving the restaurant a small-business, authentic feel. Behind the counter, the staff worked quickly and cheerfully, slicing prosciutto and layering ingredients with precision, adding to the sense of Italian craftsmanship. 

After much deliberation, we both ordered signature sandwiches: I ordered La Genovese, and Josie ordered La Caprese. La Genovese is made up of stracciatella (a fresh, creamy cheese), tomato, pesto, pistachio, and basil on fresh ciabatta bread. La Caprese is a traditional Caprese sandwich with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil on the same ciabatta bread. La Caprese was $13 and La Genovese was $16. Although pricey, I think that these sandwiches are worth the cost!

Both sandwiches were excellent! La Genovese balanced sweetness and savoriness beautifully. The stracciatella melted into the warm bread, creating a creamy texture that paired perfectly with the earthy basil pesto and crunchy pistachios. The tomatoes were rich and added extra flavor. Josie’s La Caprese, albeit simpler, was equally full of flavor. She described it as “the perfect combination of fresh and filling.”

Go remarked, “This restaurant is so unique because it is one of the only authentically Italian sandwich shops in the somewhat nearby area around Winsor.”

Overall, the restaurant was incredible, and I highly recommend visiting sometime soon. If you’re willing to brave the line, All’Antico Vinaio offers a delicious and genuine taste of Italy, right in the heart of Boston. For anyone looking for a quick yet memorable lunch, it’s well worth the wait!