Crossposted from downeastkitchen.wordpress.com
Severino's Variety
300 Cumberland St
Westbrook, ME 04092
Phone: (207) 854-9675
I realize there are several things I take for granted having grown up here Maine. I just assume that everybody gets to experience delicacies such as fresh seafood, red hot dogs, pier fries, or the simple joy that comes with eating a well-made Maine italian sandwich.
As a little girl I remember visiting my Aunt Pat in Kennedy Park in Portland and as a treat we would wander up the hill to DiPietrio's store to pickup italian sandwiches for lunch. If I was a good girl I would get to pick some candy out of the nickel box they kept under the counter. I have many great memories of eating italian sandwiches with family and perhaps this is why I am so passionate of the subject of who makes the best.
The italian sandwich is often incorrectly referred to by out-of-staters as a "grinder", a "hoagie", or a ham and cheese sandwich. These are similar inventions however they lack the specific combination of ingredients and vegetable cuts that are required to make a true Maine italian sandwich.
A lot of locals will argue that Amato's sandwich shop makes the best one in the state. I have to wholeheartedly disagree. While Amato's does have decent food, they are a chain sandwich shop in Maine and for me this takes away from the authenticity of the sandwich. Their sandwiches lack that mom-and-pop flair and are very imbalanced when it comes to texture and flavor. There are just too many gosh darn tomatoes and the pickles overwhelming the overall flavor of the sandwich.
Well I am going to let you in on a little secret folks. I know who makes the best Italian sandwich in the state. They are located in Westbrook, on the corner of Bridge St. and Cumberland St.
Severino's Variety is a tiny little mom and pop store that has been a fixture in Westbrook as long as I can remember. Back in the day, local kids would head to Severino's and pay a quarter for a bag of sour pickle skins to snack on. Yum! This store is a little bit out of the way, but once you bite into your first sandwich from these people you'll be glad you made the trip.
I believe Severino's Variety makes one of the best Italian sandwiches in the state of Maine for a number of reasons. Their sandwich has the right combination of boiled ham, American cheese, and properly cut fresh vegetables including tomatoes, green peppers, onions and pickles. The pickles are great and don't overwhelm the rest of the sandwich. All of this perfection is loaded into a soft,bulky and fresh submarine roll at an affordable price. A double ham and cheese italian is under $6 and could easily feed two people at lunch time.
Severino's also has a couple of special shelves filled with homemade goodies. These are made by a woman named Donna. Donna is also the lady who usually makes the sandwiches behind the counter. My favorite treat is hands down the chocolate chip cookie whoopies. They are huge, but are perfect for splitting in half to share with a friend (or eat later).
As a local Mainer, I really appreciate places like Severino's that keep the authentic Maine italian alive. This is why I will drive 15 minutes out of the way for a great sandwich from these people. I think you should too. read more