Manhattan

Tips for Dining, Eating, and Food Shopping in Manhattan

1. Brooklyn: Tempo Presto on 5th Ave in Park Slope and Stan's Place on Atlantic Ave (next to Bacchus Restaurant).

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   Steve R. Aug 10, 2005 06:16PM

   1. re: Steve R.

      financier makes a great muffaletta sandwich every wednesday. be forewarned: it does not resemble the type you would get at central market in new orleans AT ALL. it is on focaccia with all the same meats but is not nearly as big as the original.

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      jon Aug 10, 2005 09:38PM

      1. re: jon

         I agree, the Financier one is excellent.

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         RR Aug 11, 2005 11:34AM

2. Try the Delta Grill on 9th at 48th. They do a decent job at it, it's the best one that I have found in the city.
   
   Todaro Bros on 2nd btw 30/31 makes a muffaletta sandwich that has all of the right ingredients, but just isn't quite right. It'll do if you are desperate

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   Etcetera Aug 11, 2005 08:34AM

   1. re: Etcetera

      I just tried the one at Delta for lunch today and was disappointed. The bread's not right and, while it is as large as the ones at Central Grocery, it didn't have much flavor. Sigh. I hear there's a place in Forest Hills that has a decent one. Guess I'll have to head out there...

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      melissakay May 31, 2007 03:09PM

3. Maybe Jacques-I-Mo's as the original is in New Orleans.

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   bwdirector Aug 11, 2005 11:17AM

   1. re: bwdirector

      You should try the one at the new Tempo Presto in Park Slope, it would make any one from New Orleans proud.

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      Natalie Dowds Aug 11, 2005 03:06PM

4. Have you tried Gumbo Cafe on upper Columbus?
   My Louisiana native friend said their muffaletta was even better than the one he ate at Central Grocery.
   It's too bad they don't use Muffaletta loaf, but I heard they make olive salad in house now.
   It's definitely worth trying!

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   NovGal Aug 12, 2005 02:33AM

   1. re: NovGal

      You can't get "Muffaletta loaf" in NYC, because it's unique consistency is apparently due to the NO water. Essentially, since NO water is so dirty, it's loaded with chemicals, which causes the yeast to react in a strange way. I can't say I like it much on it's own, but in a muffalatta it's just right.

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      Dan in LIC Aug 12, 2005 11:29AM

      1. re: Dan in LIC

         You can order Muffuletta loaves and olive salad directly from Progress Grocery in NO. I've done it and it rocks.

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         David B Aug 12, 2005 01:53PM

5. dive bar, on 96th and amsterdam, does a pretty decent one - actually
   better than decent. i am from new orleans, and i remember when central
   grocery used to make them to order.

   alas...

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   skinny cook May 31, 2007 06:13PM

   1. re: skinny cook

      As a native Brooklynite from Bushwick a Sicilian neighborhood I lived there in the 50's and 60's I often bought a loaf of muffaletta from the local bakerys,maybe try Ridgewood Queens where some(bakery's) moved to or call Circos on Knickerbocker ave.The sandwich became popular in N.O. but was common in Brooklyn

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      scunge May 31, 2007 08:39PM

      1. re: scunge

         perhaps you can tell me, but i think muffaletta is a sicilian word for a special kind of round loaf. yes? no? in either case, new orleans has had a vibrant italian (and sicilian) population. central grocery is credited with creating the muffaletta in 1906...by a sicilian owner.

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         skinny cook May 31, 2007 08:58PM

         1. re: skinny cook

            Yes............... Muffan (muffaletta is the name of the loaf) ...yes so did Bushwick,as well as some other N.Y.C. neighborhoods.

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            scunge Jun 01, 2007 06:45AM