All'Antico Vinaio — Restaurant in New York

I stopped by All’Antico Vinaio’s Upper East Side location for the first—and definitely last—time. Right away, the energy was off. No greeting. No system. No hospitality. Just me and another customer standing there while the staff stared at us like we were inconveniencing them. It was awkward, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable—especially for a place trying to pass itself off as “premium.”

I ordered the La Paradiso sandwich and asked if I could add prosciutto. I was willing to pay extra—obviously. But I was told “no, only one meat allowed,” and the way it was said? Dry, flat, not even remotely courteous. For the prices they charge, the fact that you can’t customize your order is a joke.

I asked if they could add ’nduja instead, and the gentleman making my sandwich added it with no issue. When I got to the register, I mentioned it—purely to be transparent in case it needed to be charged. That’s when the cashier laughed in my face and turned to his coworker, mocking me loudly, repeating “’nduja” over and over again in another language while cracking up like I was a joke. It was disgusting.

I don’t care what language you’re speaking—disrespect is universal. And I don’t care where you’re from—you’re in New York City. A place where hospitality matters. Where service matters. Where customers have standards and choices. And if you’re going to charge over $16 for a sandwich, the bare minimum is treating people with decency.

Here’s what they didn’t know: I work in luxury hospitality. I interact with high-profile guests and residents daily. People trust me when I recommend food and service in this city. And after what I experienced here? I will do everything in my power to make sure this location is no longer recommended to any of them. Not on my watch. Not after this.

You never know who you’re serving—and clearly, you don’t care. But the thing is, I do. And I don’t let things like this slide.

So go ahead and keep laughing. But just know this: you laughed at the wrong one—and it just cost you more...

AMMENDED REVIEW: SO I gave this place a 2nd chance today (UES) June 16th, they've been open a while now, ordered the same sandwich and told the guy about my 1st experience here, and this time they put more meat in it BUT the bread is still dry and stale and it's the thing people rave about?! I just think their bread has a shelf life of 2 minutes after it comes out of the oven and if you don't get ur piece within that time the bread degrades to dry and stale. This time i wont throw the sandwich out like last time but sadly, I won't be back. I just don't see the hype

I've been dying to try this place for over a year, now there's one on the east side so I went this Saturday...not gonna lie, I'm devastatingly disappointed 😭 I ordered LaSchiacciata del Boss (prosciutto Toscano, pecorino & truffle) a lot of pecorino and a thin layer of prosciutto which I could hardly taste in the sandwich, the truffle spread was not discernible, pecorino the only flavor coming through, but the most disappointing part of the sandwich was the bread, all 7" x 7" of it, IT WAS DRY!! Was I given old bread that was sitting out a while? Not enough olive oil on the bread when baking? The sandwich needed olive oil and vinegar on the top bread to moisten up the dry bread. I've gotten a better hero at North Shore Farms supermarket on Long Island than this $20 sandwich! My only advice is to order a sandwich with some form of tomato because the truffle paste adds zero moisture to the dry bread. Many reviews raved about the bread, it was dry and flavorless, my italian coworker, Mauro, makes a tastier bread. I wanted to LOVE this place, but sadly, I don't think I'll be...

All’Antico Vinaio is absolutely worth the hype. If you’re looking for a sandwich that’ll change your life, this is the spot. I’m not kidding—these sandwiches are next-level. The bread is that perfect mix of crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and it holds up to the insane amount of delicious fillings without falling apart.

I tried the La Favolosa, and wow. The combination of creamy pecorino, artichoke spread, and perfectly thin-sliced meats was unreal. Every bite was a flavor explosion, and the portions? Massive. You’ll leave full and happy. It’s honestly one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had, and I don’t say that lightly.

The vibe is casual but fun. It’s definitely a grab-and-go kind of place, but the line moves fast, and the staff is super friendly even when it’s packed. Pro tip: get there early or expect to wait, but trust me, it’s so worth it.

All’Antico Vinaio is one of those places where you can taste the quality and care in every ingredient. It’s not just a sandwich—it’s an experience. 5 stars all day. I’m already planning...