April 12, 2018 By Nathaly Pesantez
A sandwich shop offering signature gourmet sandwiches and more will be opening its doors soon in Long Island City.
“The Sandwich King”, the name of the upcoming locale, is setting up at 47-31 Vernon Blvd., the former site of New City Kitchen Express.
The sandwich shop will offer a mix of hefty signature traditional and “new age” sandwiches, made with everything one would find in a deli. The signature sandwich, however, will be the pastrami on rye with mustard, according to Nick Giovanniello, the 29-year-old owner.
Pastrami on rye with mustard (Photo: Nick Giovanniello)
The Sandwich King will also offer an all-day breakfast menu, with a variety of bagels freshly-baked on site and typical platters like pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Other foods include wings, fries, and typical deli fare.
Sandwiches at the 20-seat site will cost between $9 to $15 on average.
Giovanniello, who moved to the Long Island City area one year ago, said the idea for a sandwich shop came from wanting more food options on Vernon Boulevard.
“I’m a big foodie,” he told the LIC Post. “Every corner has something, but Long Island City doesn’t.”
Giovanniello said his friends, not too keen on Vernon Boulevard’s stretch of restaurants, often bring food from their respective neighborhoods when they visit him in Long Island City.
“We’re trying to do a menu that everyone wants,” he said. “I’m bringing something to the area that everyone’s going to enjoy.”
The Sandwich King is not to be confused with the longstanding Sal, Kris, & Charlie’s Deli in Astoria, which dubs itself the “Sandwich King of Astoria”.
“I just wanted people to recognize what we do and what we specialize in,” Giovanniello said. “I got no beef, I’m not trying to outdo them. They’ve been in business for years and I can only hope to be as successful as them.”
Giovanniello’s shop is his first personal venture into the food business after helping his family run their bar in Glendale, which they’ve since closed, and after working as a truck driver. He enlisted the help of Angelo Mugnolo of Howard Beach’s Sapienza restaurant for his new site.
The Sandwich King is looking at a late April or early May opening.
The Sandwich King at 47-31 Vernon Blvd.
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21 Comments
is this place ever going to open or what
They were open sat… And the pastrami is bomb… But then they were closed Sunday. Sounded positive though, so looking forward to trying more stuff from the menu!
I’ve been trying to find an update on this since the store as been sitting with a “Coming Soon” sign since April. Does anyone know what the issue is causing the delay in opening? I was really looking forward to checking this place out but now I have a feeling it’s never going to open…
“I’m a big foodie,” he told the LIC Post. “Every corner has something, but Long Island City doesn’t.”
What is wrong with this guy…the food in my neighborhood is amazing! Michelin starred Mexican, amazing Greek at two different price points, cheap but delicious Thai, ramen made by a chef from Per Se, two fantastic French bistros, three old school red sauce Italian joints, several solid gastropubs, super fresh omakase sushi, a great izakaya, solid Peruvian, Vietnamese and Cuban restaurants, and several farm to table places…not to mention a great old school diner, Korean Mediterranean barbecue, Mexican Indian Fusion fast food, several burger joints, and Nu Look deli already does awesome sandwiches and dukbokki…and Bricktown has pretty good NY bagels…and 51st Street Cafe makes delicious sandwiches with bread from Balthazar…just what kind of foodie is this guy??? And what kind of food are his friends bringing from other neighborhoods???
I’M THE SANDWICH KING
The Howard beach spot is good and we are all happy you are coming here. Just please use real NY seeded rye bread at this location.
Two are Michelin starred… while the handful in mind are all phenomenal. Friends and strangers all speak volumes about them as well.
I hope your sandwiches are kick ass and put the average deli sandwich to shame man. It’s just a bad look to be putting down these quality establishments when it sounds like you just have a narrower/ different taste in food.
I cannot wait for this to open. LIC is in desperate need of GOOD food!
man, i was really hoping Sal, Kris and Charlie’s was coming to LIC – their sandwiches are incredible, and worth traveling for. Will check this spot out, hope they bring something new and delicious to the area!
Yes, 2 guys from those famous culinary regions Glendale and Howard Beach can certainly raise the food game on Vernon.
There’s only one King in Astoria/LIC and it’s the Original KING OF SOUVLAKI he has been here for a very long time. Now everyone wants to have the title KING And the best sandwich you can buy is at Sal, Chris and Charlie’s Deli the best sandwiches. Im a long time Astoria resident and i know all the great spots you can eat
There’s only one King in Astoria/Lic and that’s the King of Souvlaki. He has been here for many years he’s The original KING
looking foward to this, pastrami has always been a favorite of mine
Calls himself a “foodie”, but thinks a sandwich shop will bring something better to an area that already has awesome Greek, Peruvian, Thai, Viet, Japanese, Mexican, Italian, etc.
Just because there is a variety of different ethnic foods , does NOT mean there good at what they do, they can have every type of food, but ill show you the BEST at what we do, hope to see you soon
There’s certainly room for a good old New York City sandwich, one of the best things humankind has ever created. Just what the hell are you talking about?
Lol LIC has mediocre food in every ethnic category you just posted. Astoria has much better food overall
I am excited for a good old fashioned sandwich. That pastrami looks great! Look at how much meat is in there and all day breakfast sounds good to me, especially if they are open in the morning. The real morning. Like 8:00 or earlier.
One word of advice. Keep it strictly old school Jewish delicatessen style and drop the “new age” BS…and you just might stand a chance.
and please use the right bread. It is going to make all the difference!
Please, no “new age” sandwiches. No one wants that s$$t. But the other stuff sounds fine.