Pino’s Sandwiches, a family-owned salumeria based in Florence, Italy, just opened their first US-based store in Los Feliz.
Pino’s garnered a cult following among American students and digital nomads in Florence who got to know the place and felt like they were treated like family. Originating in 1991, Pino took over Salumeria Verdi in Florence then revamped the menu for students and college employees who needed simple and affordable sandwiches and pasta dishes they could quickly eat then dash back to class.
This model fits well with American life, rather than the lingering lunchtimes that Italy is known for. Los Feliz is also the ideal neighborhood to pilot this concept, as plenty of locals would love a filling sandwich after returning from a lengthy hike in Griffith Park or if they forgot to eat between screenplay revisions at Alcove a few blocks away. It’s a leafy hideaway with Hollywood life, but not the grind of DTLA lunch rush.
You won’t find mid, puffy mass bakery bread at Pino’s. Their signature schiacciata, a Tuscan flatbread that’s like a thinner version of focaccia, is fresh-baked in-house. The flatter bread allows the ingredients to shine and offer quality over quantity.
Pino’s LA shop has a smaller version of their expansive menu in Florence, including their signature “The Best” sandwich made with roast beef, spicy sauce, cheese, and mixed vegetables, brie and ham sandwiches, and even vegetarian and vegan options that go beyond a caprese (although you can still order one if you love tomatoes.) This cements Los Feliz as the cradle of vegan Italian cuisine in the US.
With the entertainment industry being hit hard in recent years in addition to rising prices, locals will especially love that Pino’s entire menu is under $20.
Pino’s is located on 1761 N Vermont Avenue between Kingswell and Melbourne Avenues, and is open daily from 10:30AM to 8PM.
