The Italian Sub recommended by ChatGPT, originated in 1995. The place claims to provide the best Italian sub in Boston, and it truly was excellent. Italian Sub: $20 for a foot long, the meat was so plentiful it's almost overflowing, enough for two meals. The prisciutto was tender and juicy; the salami was firm and savory with a strong smokiness. Both are thinly sliced, so despite the thick stack, it was relatively easy for a bite. The provolone cheese was also generously portioned, with a robust yet not spicy flavor and a subtle nutty aroma, perfectly complementing the two meats. The olive oil and balsamic vinegar were particularly outstanding: mellow, tangy, and with a fruity aroma of grapes, key to the complex flavor profile. The lettuce, tomatoes, and onions were all fresh, especially the onions were refreshing and a little zingy, perfect for removing the greasiness. Unfortunately, I was worried about not being able to roll it back up properly and making it inconvenient to carry (which it actually happened), so I took it away and ate it at the office. After about 40 minutes, the bread had become somewhat dry and hard. read more

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Arguably the best sandwich in Boston I was not let down by Monica's. The line was long on a Sunday but very orderly and went smoothly. The sandwiches themselves are massive and freshly made. The bread is the right amount of soft to crust. All in all I wouldn't change a thing it's definitely a must go. read more

Monica's Mercato - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We stopped in before heading to TD Garden for a Hockey East championship game... I think my wife's comment was, "this is easily the best italian I've ever had". She was talking about the classic (cold cut) italian - I had to disagree because I thought that the steak italian in my hands was the best sandwich I'd ever had. From the soft bread, with loads of flavor, to the contents... it hit at a 10/10 level. Be prepared for a wait - they don't operate at lightspeed. But, in my opinion, the wait and the steep price is aboslutely worth it! read more

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Selected Monica's for late lunch on a Sunday. We saw reviews from Yelp and some segment on local TV news. Preordered an Italian sub and a chicken parm sub for three of us. Excellent fresh crisp bread, fresh ingredients, a little cup of spicy tomato for the italian sub. Would have liked the same for chicken parm. We shared and saved about half for later. Definitely nice subs! read more

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Delicious sub!!! I was here as part of a Anthony's Politically Incorrect Food Tour of the North End and I'm so glad he included this business as part of the tour. Wow...the meats were sliced so beautifully thin and all of the cheese and other ingredients just seemed to meld so beautifully together. I was afraid it was going to be just salty deli meat, it wasn't, it was such a great sandwich on fresh bread. The store has sooo much to offer, for a deli and small italian market, it's a great place to be. The crowds lined up at lunch time...were CRAZZZYYYYY, it goes to show how popular this place is with not just tour groups, but people working and living in the area. I highly recommend. I wished I lived closer, I would go at least once a month. Don't even ask me about parking...it's in the city. Enough said. read more

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This is hands down the BEST sandwich I have ever eaten. I ordered the Italian in a few weeks ago and I must say all the hype I'd heard over the years was confirmed. The meats and cheeses were so delicately sliced and by their sheer fragrance you could tell they were very fresh cuts. The bread was great, the sauces and veggies were the perfect amount, and the size of the sandwich was huge. It was definitely a two meal sandwich, which was worth the price. I'm already planning on taking my parents here when they come for graduation. read more

Monica's Mercato - The Italian - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Monica's Mercato might serve the best Italian sub! It's a towering tribute to cured meats, fresh veggies, and homemade bread that's so good! The bread is soft, golden, and baked in-house, it's the kind of roll that makes you rethink every sub you've ever had. It's sturdy enough to hold the mountain of fillings, but tender enough to melt into each bite. A deli-lover's fever dream. Prosciutto, mortadella, capicola, and more, stacked so high. I watched through the storefront window as they built several sandwiches, and I genuinely gasped at the sheer volume of meat going into one sandwich. It's not just generous, it's outrageous in the best way. The veggies were crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, sharp red onions that add freshness and crunch, balancing the richness of the meats. Every bite is a perfect storm of flavor and texture. Be prepared to wait. Lines can stretch past the half-hour mark, especially on weekends. But here's the pro move you can call ahead and pick up your order next door. You'll skip the line and still get the full Monica's experience. Between the bold claim on the window ("Best Italian Sub in Boston") and the floral-lined storefront, Monica's knows how to draw a crowd! It's worth the wait! read more

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A frustrating experience. The line for in-person orders was stagnant for at least 20 minutes before the manager(?) came over and started expediting things. After he placed my order, I had to wait another 20 minutes before my sandwich was ready. Also, I saw several people who ordered after me get their orders before mine within those 20 minutes. Incredibly disappointing! The only reason why I'm still giving 3 stars is because the sandwich was delicious, gigantic, and stacked with meat read more

Monica's Mercato - Menu as of 12/6/25 - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This is one of the best sandwich places we have tried while visiting New York! The staff is very kind, and very fast when it comes to prepping your sandwiches. The place is small, and there isn't any tables and chairs, so be prepared to take your sandwiches to go. I would recommend this place 100x's over ! read more

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Best Italian sub I have ever had! We walked by this place and saw the meats being sliced inside along with a sign saying "best Italian sub in Boston" and had to try it, thank god we did! For $20 I thought this was a great deal considering it fed both me and my boyfriend happily for dinner. The spicy pepper relish and the fresh picked veggies were a perfect addition to the perfectly thinly sliced meats. Recommending to everyone who visits Boston! read more

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Those sandwiches! It's everything that goes into the sandwich, starting with the amazing bread, the meat and cheese is yummy and the oil and vinegar are the perfect complement. We are back home on the west coast but I will have dreams about the sandwich I enjoyed from Monica's. read more

Ordered an Italian sub They put cucumbers instead of pickles on the sub? What is going on here?

This sandwich spot changed my life and my brain chemistry. Truly the best sandwich I have ever eaten in my entire life, worth every penny and ten times more. My friend and I came here for dinner and split the Italian sub and Philly Cheesesteak subs. We definitely could've eaten one between the two of us, but we wanted to try the two flavors. Holy guacamole. I was genuinely in shock. The photos will do their speaking. I have never tasted such a flavorful, juicy, and fresh sandwich in my whole life. I dream about it every night. read more

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Stopped in for quick drink while walking around the north end. Got an excellent espresso martini. Need to go back and try food. read more

Monica's Mercato - Espresso martini. Soo good - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

First time I came to Boston I tried the Italian sub here and thought it was the best sandwich I'd ever had. So when I came back to visit, stopping here was a must. However, it was much busier this time probably because it was a holiday weekend and unfortunately that seemed to affect the final product. It seemed like maybe they didn't put enough hots and onions or maybe not enough balsamic. Whatever it was, the ratio was off and it didn't hit the way it did the last time I had it. It was still very good, but has dropped from a must have to something I could do without. read more

Order the Italian sub and eat it immediately. You will enjoy the experience and flavors and texture. read more

Monica's Mercato - Italian sub - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

An excellent Italian deli. During my trip to Boston, my friend took us here as our last lunch before our flight out of Boston. There was a bit of a line on a Monday during lunchtime, but I didn't mind waiting at all. It seems like a well-loved spot. I ordered the Italian Steak Tip, which was HUGE! Definitely worth 2 meals, so it's a great deal :) I loved the warm sub with lots of steak, and the pickles and hots gave a nice tang to the sandwich. Would definitely return if I'm ever in Boston! read more

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Best Italian sub I have ever had! The $20 subs are a foot long and packed with meat. One sub can be split into two meals. I have to wait 5-10 minutes for them to make my sub, I watched them sliced the different types of meats into my sub. I did find the sub was a bit too salty as I felt like I had to drink a ton of water afterwards. I also ordered the Caprese Burrata special sub. I thought it was okay. It can use more balsamic vinegar, eevo and basil for flavor. I will definitely come back and would love to try their hot subs. read more

Monica's Mercato - Caprese Burrata Special - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Eggplant parm sandwich was fantastic! The price seems steep at nearly $20 but it was huge and easily enough for two people.

Good place for a quick lunch! The ingredients are incredibly fresh, and the meats were all sliced right behind the counter. The subs were massive and densely packed. There's no seating available, so it's more of a grab+go location. read more

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Old style Italian deli. Wow it's a must stop. Service is amazing and the food even better. The Italian sub is the best. It's a must stop. Wife got the salad. It was amazing too. read more

Monica's Mercato - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Loved the turkey sandwich. Everything was fresh and loaded. Truly authentic old school eatery. Being from New York, I enjoy a good deli. Will always come and visit. read more

Monica's Mercato - 19.00 dollars but so worth it. Footlong - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Not sure about all of the hype. Nice sub but not spectacular like people say. Bread is very average. The cold cuts are very nice but why cucumber pickles on an Italian sub?!? Again this wasn't bad but definitely no where near the best as they like to say. read more

Don't tell my family I said this, but this was one of two "food highlights" of our vacation in Boston this year. I'm not kidding when I say we stumbled onto this place, but what's that saying "God takes care of drunks and fools!" Monica's is the picture perfect provision store in all of Boston's North End! The sandwich I had, the Italian Sausage Special, was THE BEST SANDWICH EVAH! I'm not kidding. If you're in Boston, come here and buy lots of stuff, including sandwiches. If you're anywhere else in the whole wide world, get on a plane, train, automobile or boat and come here and buy stuff! The ambiance (I usually frown on such associations) is like something out of Godfather #1. This is a must-see North End Boston Italian treasure! read more

The service was abrupt. I said that I wanted a sub and I would tell him what I wanted on it. He said what kind of sub and I said I want a vegetarian sub. I said o wanted provolone e cheese and he said it come with all the veggies. I said I want mayo and no vinegar he said "what ever you want". The bread on the sub was very good. The sub was $18. The veggies were broccoli and carrots. Seriously. They needed sal or seasoning. I definitely would NoT recommend this place if you are a vegetarian. I cannot speak for the carnivores. read more

Great choice for lunch. Wow, the food is good and the portions are huge, enough for two days of lunch. Four of us each had different orders and we all thought it was delicious! The grilled veggie salad was my choice and it was fabulous. Others had the chicken parm and a Caprese. Two people could easily share an order and it is all to go, no seating. read more

They have very large and robust sub sandwiches. Two people can easily share one. Very quaint Italian deli where everything is sliced order. Although they are slow moving and the line may be out the door it is still worth it. Stick with the Italian sub. There list is long but go with what they do best. I go the chicken parm and it was just okay. read more

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While the service is a little weird here, it is worth it to wait in line and get a proper Boston Italian sub or meatball sub. The place has very nice workers who work very hard, but it is often inundated with lots of people in a small space. All of that aside, the sandwiches are quite delicious and definitely worth the weight (pun intended) and the trek from the south end. read more

I walked in opportunistically upon reading a sign that read "Best Italian Sub in Boston". I had to try it! At $20 a sandwich, the prices are reasonable considering the largeness and fullness of the subs. What's unique about this deli service is that they slice the meat right in front of you! A very cool experience. The Italian sub was very good, the onions, pepper paste and balsamic being the right amount of heat and sweet, which pair with the meats perfectly. Personally, I think the sandwich is a little too meat heavy - but that's just my personal preference. I find deli meats to be a little too salty and I woke up with very swollen eyelids the next morning from all the sodium. Regarding the space, it's not a sit down place. More like a pick up and go kind of vibe. Is it the best Italian sub in Boston? It's the only one I've tried so, by default, YES! read more

Monica's Mercato - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Earlier in the trip, we did the North End Food Tour. Monica's was highly recommended for their sandwiches. It did not disappoint. The Italian was large enough to split and the gal was nice enough to add condiments on one half as my husband doesn't like onions nor spicy. It was probably the best Italian sandwich that we have had. The way the gal thinly sliced the meats and cheeses and the mix of the veggies and special balsamic was made to perfection. We didn't have to wait and found a nearby spot to sit down and enjoy it. Way to go, hope we can come back someday but would definitely recommend to all of our family and friends. Thank you read more

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$18 for a ginormous and delicious sub! I wish I could have tried more of their sub combos, but they don't offer any half sized subs. Worth checking this place out in Little Italy read more

Monica's Mercato - Chicken Parmigiana Sub - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

$20, but a big sub, liberal with the meets. I'd go again and would recommend the Italian and Italian steak tips.

We loved the Italian sub sandwich. It has a very nice flavor combination. It seems like there's just a hint of sweetness in it. The bread is differnet than what I expected but very good. Single serve bottles of wine are $7.99. I'm not sure what I expected but that seems a little high. read more

Picked up some sandwiches from here during our honeymoon. My husband got the Italian, and I got the turkey. Absolutely delicious and just about the size of a small child. We also picked up some Italian rosemary crackers (DELICIOUS on top of homemade chicken noodle soup by the way). 10/10 recommend! read more

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Excellent Italian Store and Salumeria- Italian Sub ( Genoa, Prosciutto, and Mortadella) was amazing with fresh roll. Pizza was thick and delicious. Atmosphere is amazing and staff is great! read more

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Not great photos but this sub was delicious! I ordered the steak tip sub exactly as is and it was a huge size, definitely enough for 2 people or 2 meals! The bread was super fresh which is always good. Took longer than expected, about 15 minutes longer than I was told, which was originally 30 minutes so a very long wait. read more

Monica's Mercato - Itsl Italian Steak Tip Sub - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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So delicious! Tried the chicken cutlet sandwich and the steak tip sandwich. Quality thick pieces of steak, nice and crunchy chicken, will definitely be ordering again! read more

Monica's Mercato - Steak Tip Sub - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Full disclosure: I'm originally from NY so my Italian Sub standard is very high. I've been looking for a good Italian sub in MA for almost 30 years and Monica's came up as "Best" in numerous google searches. Pluses: The meat gets 5 stars. It was thinly sliced, thickly layered, and excellent quality. The Prosciutto was exceptionally good, very tender and flavorful. The Mortadella was also excellent. I would have preferred more Genoa salami flavor but I stand by my 5 star meat rating. The bread crust was perfectly crunchy and the crumb was just right for a sub. Minuses: The sub was dry, dry, dry. There was barely a drizzle of oil and vinegar on the bread . I like my sub wet and oily. The flavor of the oil was good, there simply was not enough of it. Mayo would have also been welcomed. BIG MINUS: The Provolone cheese was ridiculously skimpy. There were some Saran Wrap thin slices in there somewhere. A good Italian sub needs lots of layers of sharp provolone cheese. The veggies were barely noticeable. I like the hot peppers to bite back which they did not. I like a bit of crunch to the veggies, like from pickles or onions but there was no crunch. I think they were a little wilted. So in conclusion, the sub has the potential to be great thanks to the bread and meat, but was severely lacking in the flavorful oil and provolone cheese. I'm still looking for a 4 or 5 star Italian sub in MA. (The menu advertises the Italian as having Prosciutto, Mortadella, Salami, Provolone, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Oil, Balsamic, Hots, Pickles.) read more

Monica's Mercato - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

It is never too early for an Italian sandwich. Sub, panini, grinder, hero, whatever. Two pieces of bread, meat, and vegetables, with certain spreads to enhance the flavor. Apparently Monica's has the best in town. Each time I would pass by I would see a line out the door and beyond, going way down the street with customers. I guess that is saying something. Thankfully they open at 9 am and start preparing food as early as humanly possible. The sandwiches they have are not only about a foot and a half long, but are also piled about a foot and a half high. Four kinds of meat, olive oil, hot spread, and pickles (why, OH WHY?), along with the usual lettuce, tomato, and onion characters. As usual, no onion for me. This sandwich has so much potential to be much more than it is. Unfortunately, the bread is a bit too chewy (it does taste great though), and the pickles overtake the rest of the sandwich. Brine and brine from the hot spread ruin the taste and texture of the beautiful meats. The meats taste fresh and to get not one, not two, not three, but FOUR meats is impressive. I also like you get fresh tomatoes in the sandwich. They are red and do not have that day old taste and look from the supermarket. The sandwich also comes with layers of provolone cheese. This is a good choice. The sharpness of the cheese blends well with the savory meats. Bufala mozzarella or fresh mozzarella would work well with it as well, but they use provolone here and that is fine with me. Because it is in the North End, which has now become an enormous tourist trap, I can see why you have to come here early to get this. It is a sandwich that will leave you full for most of the day, leaving you quite satisfied. That being said, it is not as good as Parisi and Pisillo in New York, or J.P. Graziano in Chicago. It takes a bronze medal to those respective gold and silver beauties. read more

Monica's Mercato - Italian Sub - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Food: Italian sub. I could only eat half of the entire sub. Everything in the sandwich was fresh and tasty. Service: waited about 5-7 minutes for the sandwich to be made. Meanwhile, i started shopping around for chips and a drink. Ambiance: i loved the entrance. The place is small so expect a lot of people waiting! read more

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