I finally made it here to try any one of their legendary subs and sandwiches! The deli is super old Skool Italian, cash only in a street not easy to get to without a car or taking the bus. But boy it is super worth it if you make the effort! The counter service is excellent and you place your order and wait for deliciousness! There are not many seats except for a few tables out back and a stand up counter to eat your sandwich so fyi! I ordered the Golden Boy Special ( Chicken Cutlet , Vodka Sauce , peppers , mozzarella and prosciutto) it was absolutely superb and the bread it was just incredible! My son and I shared a large plenty of Sandwich for two - and we got homemade meatballs to go ( 4 to be exact) - total bill $30 cash ! I wlll definitely be back to try a different sandwich but until then will remember how delicious this one was ! read more

Defonte's - Chicken Cutlet Fresh Mozzarella Meatball Marinara - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I had such high expectations of this place but sadly I was pretty disappointed with the food. I first heard of this place featured on Diners Drive ins and Dives, the place looked super old school and a classic sandwich shop, more recently I heard of this place from George Motz talking about the roast pork sandwich. I went with two friends so were able to try three different sandwiches and to be honest, they were all just alright. The food: Roast Pork Special- Fried Eggplant, Provolone, Broccoli Rob- The texture of the pork came off a bit dry, the eggplant was good but kinda gets lost in the sandwich so if I literally had it on it's own I would have appreciated it more but who eats fried eggplant by itself? The rob was nice it added a nice crunch but didn't offer that much flavor. Giuseppe Special- Eggplant parm, meatballs, melted mozzarella. I couldn't get over how soggy the bread was. It was like wet paper towel to me. Soggy bread and everything kinda tasting the same made it underwhelming. Nicky Special- It just tasted like salad in between bread. There was so much veg, that was the main thing I remember in that sandwich. read more

A no nonsense italian sandwich shop. Great bread, delicious meats, quality cheeses and lots of toppings, but wait. Decor is what you'd think a 100 year old sandwich shop in NYC would look like. Long lines, cold case, simple menu. I'd hoped they were more Italian specific seeing the name (but at least also no arugula) When you see a Cuban at the top left corner of the menu, a "Health" sandwich (who are we kidding here), pastrami and swiss, roast beef (this aint NE). You get the vibe it's a little less Italian than you'd think. It's really more just sandwiches regardless of where they come from. What are they known for. Slow roast pork, bitter and sweet brocoli rabe, provolone (sliced, and not sharp). And fried eggplant. Technically it works, but when half the menu has fried eggplant it sort of becomes and Eggplant sandwich shop. As good as the crunch is, it doesn't really elevate every sandwich, just the way a chicken cutlet doesn't. Enzo with the hot salad is essentiall giard, needs cheese to blend it all together. They have a dozen good sandwiches, but each could use a tweak to make them great. The cuban needs the pork to be marinated. The enzo needs cheese, The pastrami doesn't need the cherry peppers, roast beef doesn't need eggplant, nor the ham. The golden boy is my favorite tbh becuase it's perfect the way it is, not addition, no subtraction and we already know they know how to fry things (eggplant) Sorry NYC the Roast Pork did not originate here, Philadelphia created it 20+ years before in the 30's. Service is good, high paced and the line moves quick. Prices are good even for NY and the portions are worth most any detractor. They are a good sandwich shop, but after having come here a few times I can say besides trying the Philadelphia Roast Pork with the fried eggplant and the Golden Boy Special, every item on here can be found better elsewhere. read more

I've been wanting to try this place for a really long time now and it was pretty busy when I went despite being located in Red Hook. I got the Chenzo and they are super generous with the fillings and everything tasted really fresh. I loved the peppers and the broccoli rape and I thought all the ingredients went really well together. The main thing that I didn't love was how thick the prosciutto was cut. Maybe it's just a personal taste preference but it was kind of hard to chew and always got stuck in my teeth. I've always preferred paper thin prosciutto layered together and I think that would have improved the taste of the sandwich a lot. read more

Defonte's - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Get anything with Fried Eggplant, it's THE BEST! Hubs, the little one, and I were on our way to Ikea and suddenly remembered that Defonte's is close by! We must go! Defonte's Italian sandwiches are perfect! There are so many choices for sandwich but we went with the 1/2 Prosciutto, Fresh Mozzarella, Red Peppers, and Fried Eggplant Sandwich - this sandwich was perfectly delicious! The sesame hero bread is so soft inside. The ingredients were everything we loved and the combination of all of them worked so well together! The sandwiches come in 1/3 or 1/2 hero. The 1/2 hero was perfect for Hubs, my little one, and I. We came on a Saturday afternoon just after peak lunch and there was no wait! The menu is also huge so definitely take your time to decide before going! Note that Defonte's is closed on Sundays. read more

Defonte's - Prosciutto, Mozzarella, Red Peppers, and Eggplant Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Get the shrimp parm! I crave it, unfortunately they only serve it on Fridays but it will knock your socks off. The service is very good, they pump out sandwiches quick. read more

A FAT sandwich. Cash only. Got the Nicky's special which hit the spot - it was very pickle forward (pickled celery, carrots, etc) with generous fillings. Also included artichokes, fried eggplant read more

Defonte's - Nicky Special - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The iconic and "old school" Defonte's in Red Hook Brooklyn. Once upon a time I along with some colleagues would stop in and get the breakfast hero's here back in the day. The sandwiches are huge here and they come in 1/3, & 1/2 sizes. Take my word on this, 1/3 is definitely enough sandwich for just about anyone. On the Saturday I went, at approximately 2:00pm, the line was out the door. But the wait wasn't long. The staff is quick with order taking and sandwich production. Like any iconic NYC place these days, there were a fair number of selfie snapping social media influencers. I went with the Red Hook Special which is chicken cutlets, melted American cheese, turkey, lettuce, tomato and bacon. It was delish! There are several tables outside and I ate it there. These sandwiches will set you back $13 - $18 bucks. Oh and it's cash only. There is an ATM onsite. read more

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The food and sandwich was amazing the Giuseppe was very delicious. I definitely recommend trying

Came here on a Saturday and the wait wasn't too bad. It was about 15 mins from in and then out the door, which wasn't bad as a lot of popular NYC delis have huge lines. I ordered the Golden Boy Special. It's definitely a big sandwich and serving size of the breaded chicken cutlet is a good size. However, I didn't really taste much of the breading itself even with the vodka sauce. read more

Defonte's - Golden Boy Special - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

These people are quite the literally the best. Came in 10 minutes till closing and they made me the most delicious Sammy EVER! Best staff, best sandwich. read more

Defonte's - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Do you like gigantic, delectable sandwiches? Me too. They have them here. I've been eating them for over a decade, and I think this place just gets better every year. It may just be the best sandwich shop in Brooklyn, which puts it in the running for the best worldwide. Defonte's is a simple place. Walk in and figure out what you want. Meatball parm, roast beef, pastrami, roast pork, chicken cutlet, turkey...they do it all right. Any specialty sandwich with the thin slice of fried eggplant is a good call. The Golden Boy (basically a chicken parm with vodka sauce and prosciutto) is phenomenal. The Steak Pizzaiolo is legendary for a reason. There will probably be an amorphous line made up of mostly large groups of construction workers or truckers, firemen or cops, and some other folk wearing various NY sports gear. This means you're in the right place. When you know what you want, step up and wait for someone behind the counter to ask who's next. There are two sandwich sizes, "1/3" and "1/2." Really, these are "large" and "colossal." It's only $2 extra to get a colossal, so you want the colossal. I don't care if you aren't that hungry. Bring it to me, and I'll give you $10 for it. I don't even care which sandwich you ordered. And when you have your sandwich only a minute or two later, go eat it and rejoice. If you don't live nearby, they do have a few picnic tables outside; not great in winter and the view is nothing special, but a little sunshine goes a long way once spring hits. The only regret I have regarding Defonte's is that I can't eat all the sandwiches at once. The Golden Boy is my favorite, but I have to branch out occasionally. Last time I opted for the Italian Stallion, and the guy next to me was eating The Golden Boy. And of course he was so happy it was making me happy. And yet sad, at the very same time. But I dried my tears on my incredible, stacked sandwich, and all was right in the world. read more

This place has an amazing list of sandwiches. I tried a few things on the menu and made sure to get the small portions (1/3), which were still incredibly large!!! Staff were super friendly, the meats and veggies were delicious and fresh. It is a little in the pricey side, but considering how much food you get, it is well worth it. Their eggplant is perfection. I tried the Golden Boy, the Roast Pork Special, and the Princess. Their broccoli rabe is so garlicky, and the pork is nice and tender and flavorful. read more

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It took some effort hiking through Red Hook, but we made it to Defonte's. This may be the quintessential sandwich shop representing all of NYC. It sure felt like we had discovered the "real" NYC. I ordered a roast beef, eggplant, & mozzarella sandwich. They sell them in 1/2 & 1/3 rolls. I got a 1/3 which was enough for 2 people. It was loaded with a ton of lean, soft, & moist roast beef in a jus. The mozzarella was super fresh & the eggplant was thin & tasty. Like I said, it was hard to get to, but so worth the trip. read more

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3-5-25. I've eaten sandwiches from here before with former co-workers. We would place a large order and someone would go to pick it up. Today was actually the first time I've been inside. It's an "old school" deli that's CASH ONLY. So hit the ATM prior to walking in. Today I ordered a potato, egg and ham hero with fresh mutz (with a little salt, pepper and ketchup added). I would definitely ask for a little extra ketchup the next time. Regardless though, the sandwich was fantastic. I've had quite a a few different sandwiches over the years.....whether it was Roast Beef and mutz, eggplant parm, Italian or even shrimp, they were all excellent. Although it may feel like your going back in time when stepping into this place, their prices have caught up with the modern era. Not saying they're bad, because they are on par with everyone else these days. One thing is for sure ....... you're definitely not going to be hungry after eating ANY of their sandwiches because the portions are more than fair. Their Italian bread is always fresh and delicious......crunchy exterior with a soft interior providing the exact chew you want in any good sandwich. The staff was working hard and they were friendly. There's no seating inside, but when the weather is agreeable, they have a few tables set up outside to dine at if you wish. Today, I just devoured my "sang-weech" in the car. In my opinion, I wouldn't say they are 5 stars.......but are very close to perfect and deserving of 4.5 stars. read more

Defonte's - 3-5-25. Potato and eggs hero with "mutz" and ham. A little salt, pepper and ketchup added. (Ask for a little extra ketchup). Fabulous! - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My go to sandwich/hero shop in Brooklyn. I had my favorite roast beef, mozzarella and fried eggplant. As usual, it was delicious and left me completely satisfied . The service is always fast and friendly. read more

Got beef sandwich pretty good also the eggplant I think ivarones is better but Defonte's is good

Was in Brooklyn so stopped for lunch. This place has some of the best bread which can make or break a sandwich. Went with roast beef and mozzarella. The roast beef is made fresh daily. $17 for the large sandwich but you will be filled for the day. Today was a little too rare for my taste but that's just me because as I get older my body can't handle rare. Fresh made mozzarella which was pretty good. This is cash only but there is an atm on site read more

Defonte's - Roast beef and mozzarella - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Consistently great. Has the Italian Combo and my brother the Red Hook. Awesome as usual.

Love this spot, so much quality and tradition. There are so many good sandwich spots in Brooklyn, so it's not easy to differentiate. Defonte's is a legendary spot in a tough category here. That should tell you they are doing things exceptionally. Forgot to mention we are talking about a business over 100 years old. They of course gave specialty sandwich combos, but they put together whatever you crave. My suggestions are anything including their ridiculous chicken cutlets, roast beef with fresh moootz, Italian cold cuts, and of course their wonderful meatballs. Honestly you cant lose with anything you order. Just remember you're getting a quality stuffed sangweech so they aren't cheap, but a sub can feed two easily. Enjoy, don't miss this spot. Thanks read more

Extremely disappointed! I've had this place bookmarked for years. I've had multiple people tell me how great the sandwiches were and I knew eventually I would have to venture here. I knew they closed at 4PM and got here around 3:45PM. There was no line and I got to place my order right away. This is a no frills joint and it was straight to the point. I want honey glazed turkey, but I was told they didn't have it just regular turkey, which was a little surprising, but that was fine. I just went with the "regular" turkey, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, black pepper and honey mustard. I get to the counter and the gentlemen says "$17" I'm a little confused because that's pretty high for a deli sandwich, but whatever, I paid it and left. I get back in the car and think let me get a bite of this sandwhich before leaving because I want to know why the cost was so high and wanted to see if the price and taste matched. The sandwhich looked and tasted like a regular deli hero that you could get for half the rate at a bodega. I'm glad I had the experience but failed to see what the big deal is about this place nor why the price is so high. read more

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I was able to try this place while at work and I ordered the fried shrimp and calamari. They were kind enough to allow me to taste a shrimp before buying as well as providing me with dipping sauce and some bread also! Food: 3.5/5 Fried Shrimp and Fried Calamari it was pretty good and flavorful. The shrimp could have been seasoned a bit more. Very fresh though. Service: 4/5 The customer service was really nice. They were very welcoming and had high energy. Being that it was my first time in the establishment the guy I spoke to was very helpful and vibrant with a smile. Ambiance: 3/5 Basic sandwich shop , kinda gave ma and pop vibes but it pretty spacious for standing waiting and ordering. There is no seating inside but it's high paced and you can tell it gets very busy in there. I stopped in on a Friday mid day and it was getting pretty crowded quickly. read more

Defonte's - Fried shrimp calamari - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Love this place. It's been here forever and, if you like Italian deli food this is the place for you. I love fried eggplant, prosciutto, fresh mozz. The staff is very accommodating if you want changes to the existing menu. I love everything I've had - but anything with fried eggplant is my go to. This is an old-school deli - it isn't upscale, and I like it that way. read more

Blows away anything remotely similar in Los Angeles. Go here if you don't want to wait in line at Red Hook Tavern, this is probably better overall anyway. read more

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This is one of the best spots for classic Italian sandwiches. I been coming here for the past 10 years and each sandwich i had taste amazing. Bread is fresh and so are the ingredients. The golden boy with the chicken cutlets was one of my favorites. The meatballs sandwich is also fantastic. They cost around 16-20 dollars and its two meals for me. Service is straight to the point and its very busy in there. read more

Top 3 Italian deli in NY without a doubt. Everything on the menu is fresh daily but I just can't stay away from their signature and most well known "Golden Boy" Hero Bit out of the way in Red Hook Brooklyn but it's all worth it when you take that first bite. read more

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One of the best sandwiches I've ever had. The place itself is tiny, and you're likely to have to wait in line, but it's worth it. read more

Defonte's - Chicken cutlet, mozzarella, prosciutto, and vodka sauce - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My go to and most favorite sandwich shop in the city. They use to have a east 22nd st location in manhattan but now the original in Red Hook remains and continues to be the best sandwich shop. I never tire of it. Great service, wonderful atmophere. Any sandwich here is great but my go to are the meatball sandwich, Italian sandwich, or the roast pork and broccolli rabe with added fried eggplant. All are deliscious, fresh ingredients, and made on the spot. Can't say enough good things about Defonte's. A must. read more

Stopped in for breakfast, always on point. Potato and eggs hero with mozzarella, but the small this time, lol. Never had a bad sandwich! Always great! read more

Defonte's - Potatoes & Eggs w/ mozzarella - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

What can you say about this Brooklyn staple? Amazing sandwiches. I usually get the roast beef eggplant mutz sandwich. W gravy in the side. Sooo good. Always busy, be ready to wait. But worth it. It's cash only. Si bring yr cha ching! read more

Defonte's - Inside - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I came to defonte's with my co-worker after work while in brooklyn. He asked if I had ever been. And recommend that i go and try the steak pizzaiola or the potato and egg sandwich with mozzarella. He obviously has been coming here for a while. That steak pizzaiola sandwich was so good. The bread, the meat, everything. Fresh hot and covered with mozzarella. Very enjoyable experience. There are so many kinds of sandwiches to choose from. I would love to go back and get my hands on another. I also had the stuffed hot peppers. I honestly am not sure what they were stuffed with, but it was really good! I recommend stopping at defonte's. When in brooklyn. read more

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Amazing sandwich shop with lots of vegetarian options! Prices are a bit high but you get a pretty big sandwich that can last 2 meals. I got their version of the caprese and it was really good! All the ingredients tasted super fresh, including the house pesto sauce. Overall 10/10 and I will be back! read more

Defonte's - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Unique Italian deli/sandwich shop, huge sandwiches very fresh. Not sure we ordered the right sandwiches. Coleslaw and cucumber salad were excellent in red Hook area of Brooklyn pretty close to the water Worth taking a walk all at all unique experience. read more

my husband and I have been enjoying sandwiches from defontes since we were kids and they are still one of our favorites! my husbands go to is always always always potato and egg. he says it's the perfect sandwich. the fresh "mutz" is clearly a plus i am sure. for me it's always something with fried eggplant - you cannot go wrong with it. on its own it's delicious and with some fun additions whether it is roast beef or chicken cutlets or prosciutto the eggplant is always so good and the star of the show. even with their recent social media fame they haven't let it go to their heads. still a gem of a mom&pop shop you can't find too much these days. and for people complaining about the prices - have you seen the size of the sandwiches!? well worth the price considering how much everything in this city has shot up lately. read more

Defonte's - Fried Eggplant, Prosciutto, Fresh "Mutz" and Peppers (Stallion?) - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Awesome sandwich!! Potatoes and eggs and on Friday the shrimp hero and the server were great and the service was fast and very good!! I lived in Brooklyn but I now live in Atlanta and I recommend to all my friends and family to visit Defontes and keep the car running read more

Best hero place ever!!! The roast beef special with fried eggplant and mozzarella never disappoints. Let's not forget Fish Fridays too. Try the shrimp parmigiana on crisp Italian bread. It's definitely worth the trip. read more

I was working near by with my work partner and we decided to stop by and try some sandwiches for lunch. Let me tell you they did not disappoint. We got the steak sandwiches with fresh mozzarella. 10/10 read more

Sandwich are great but this place needs 3 dollar signs now. They rose their prices way too much. Each sandwich now is 20 dollars or more. Come on guys this is Brooklyn not Manhattan. read more

You know when you find something that hits all of your tastebuds so perfectly and although you'd like to try something else on the menu, you just can't? The textures, the flavors! THAT PAPER THIN, FRIED EGGPLANT CRUNCH. Defontes is a Brooklyn staple - its engrained into the neighborhood and into those who know what's up. Addicted to Nicky's Special and it's becoming more of a monthly, Saturday breakfast treat for me. Yes, I've been known to arrive at 8:30am after the gym and grocery shopping. This could either be viewed as quite pathetic or an absolute power move. Kind of happy Defontes isn't open on Sunday's. The only other thing you should note is, have your order picked out and well rehearsed. Walk in like you've done this a hundred and three times before, place your order and you'll be out of there in 3 minutes, ready to enjoy the heck out of that sandwich. Tips 1. Defontes is cash only 2. There is an ATM conveniently inside if you're short on cash 3. Within walking distance to the waterfront 4. Closed on Sunday's 5. Street parking only. Parking can sometimes be tough to find read more

Defonte's - Nicky's Special - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I love Defontes, and it's probably better for my health's sake that the old-school storefront is located on a relatively quiet, almost desolate, street way out in Red Hook. Stopping by is always an absolute treat, not only because you're going to get a colossal sandwich that will fill you up for two meals, but also because of its inconvenient location, the fact that they close early at 2/3pm, and that it's a cash-only joint. Somehow, all these obstacles just make the 101-year old sandwich shop even more charming. On my last visit, I ordered the Nicky's special ($14) which came with ham, capicola, salami, provolone, fried eggplant, giardiniera, marinated mushrooms, lettuce, and tomato. It sounds like a lot because it was a lot but it was incredible. Their giardiniera is sublime, just spicy and tart enough to keep you coming back for more. There are a million different sandwich combinations and any one of them would be a terrific choice. Just make sure to make your order a large for an extra $1 and you will have SO much food (for yourself or to share, I'm not judging). read more

Defonte's - Nicky Special - Sandwiches Near Me - Brooklyn, New York