The One Sandwich to Rule Them All
We’ve been waiting to do this review for a very long time and we are so stoked to finally be writing it. Roma Market holds such a special place in many people’s hearts which is evidenced by all the loving and admiring posts on Roma’s Yelp page. It is the quintessential example of a hidden gem — small, completely unassuming and situated in an old strip mall that you would probably just drive right by.
For those of you that don’t know, Roma Market is a small little Italian market on the corner of Lake and Mountain in Pasadena. It carries a lot of specialty Italian goods that you wouldn’t able to find in your typical grocery store. Next time you want to cook a dank Italian meal, stop by Roma to pick up your pasta, sauce and cheeses. You won’t be disappointed. Though the grocery part of Roma Market is a delight in and of itself, the major highlights for us are two things: Rosario and his sandwich.
We’ve never chatted extensively with Rosario who is presumably the owner; however, from the handful of interactions we’ve had with him, it is safe to say that he is a humble and kind soul with a passion for Italian food and cuisine. He’s been there every time we’ve paid a visit to Roma and has always been eager to help his customers find the perfect ingredients for whatever it is they’re cooking and/or drinking. He is extremely knowledgable and passionate about the products they carry and is always ready to share his knowledge.
The greatness doesn’t stop there. Usually where you’ll find Rosario is seated at his deli counter behind a pink pyramid of sandwiches. This sandwich is one our favorite sandwiches in the entire world and its magic comes from its simplicity.
It is a simple sandwich made with love and high quality ingredients. The Italian baguette is just the right amount of crispy, flaky and doughy and lightly dressed with a nice olive oil. It is baked to perfection and always fresh. Inside this delectable bread are three different kinds of Italian cured meats. We’re not sure what they all are, but one of them is definitely a delicious salami. And the third piece to complete the trifecta is thinly sliced provolone. Seriously cannot say enough good things about this sandwich. It really is simplicity at its best. If it had anything more on it, it wouldn’t be the magical sandwich that it is. And as if it couldn’t get any better, this sandwich is only about $6.
Roma Market
918 N Lake Ave
Pasadena, CA 91104
