The Place: Around the corner, lines form for frozen yogurt, bagels, and espresso. And while I imagine some of that hype may at times spill over to Casa Piada, my visit was mostly crowd-free and pleasant. My sandwich took just a few minutes and I had it in hand and was walking down the street before the line for Myka moved an inch.
Casa Piada is a charming corner spot that might feel like a café, sandwich shop, bar, or neighborhood hangout depending upon your mood. The one thing it always is is Italian. You’d be forgiven to feel like you were transported to the Italian Riveria.
The Dish: The namesake specialty, of course, are piadas. These are Italian street food comprised of a flatbread like bread that is closer to a flaky pita or buttery naan than a focaccia.
My expectations were in check, but I was totally blown away. The Casa Tua (house specialty) sounded as typical as it comes for Italian sandwich ingredients: prosciutto di Parma, burrata, arugula, balsamic, and olive oil. I know this combination of salty, meaty, and sweet work perfectly together. This was a juicy sandwich with lots of fresh ingredients and a generous portion in each bite.
I would much rather wait in line for a hearty unique sandwich like this than a serving of overpriced fro-yo any day of the week. Price: $18
| CASA PIADA |
| 55 Greenwich Avenue (at Perry Street), West Village (424) 289-6217 |
| casapiada.com |
