One of the most amazing sandwich stores ive ever visited, absolutely phenomenally authentic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John House
The Servais the food is always remarkable ever single time I give there
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Erik lazo de la vega
The perfect sandwich doesn’t exi…..
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Brogan Foley-Kerr
Italian hero is delicious, can’t recommend enough, that or Nicky’s special 😋
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Edwin Davila
Definitely a spot you want to go to if you want a good sandwich. Nice heavily loaded sandwich the brooklyn way. Nice to still have these old school mom and pops sandwich spots in Brooklyn. My favorite, roast beef, eggplant and fresh mozzarella.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
HeyyItsCJ
Best sandwiches I’ve ever had, I go back on a weekly basis, always worth it
Ryan Tammaro
The Golden Boy is worth the trip! A fresh loaf loaded up with thinly sliced cuts of breaded chicken, vodka sauce and salty prosciutto. It’s a highlight reel of the best Italian deli flavors and is delicious. The full sandwich is $17 but honestly it’s two meals so worth the price (cash only though which is always a bit annoying)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
J J
I’ve been coming to Defonte’s for almost twenty years. I’ve tried a lot of their sandwiches, but the Nicky Special is still the one I go back to the most. Ham, provolone, salami, ham capicola, fried eggplant, hot salad, mushrooms, lettuce and tomato — everything fits together nicely and it’s always satisfying.
It’s a solid sandwich shop. Nothing fancy, just dependable and good. The reason it’s not five stars for me is simply that I’ve had a few sandwiches elsewhere that impressed me a bit more, but Defonte’s is still a place I keep returning to.
If you’re not sure what to order, go with the Nicky Special. It’s been my favorite here for a long time.
Old school New York sandwich shop, cool atmosphere and a wide menu of great sandwiches. Especially enjoyed the buffalo chicken with mozzarella
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Adam Braver
Got the special roast beef sandwich. The quality of the beef and cheese was very good, but I was honestly disappointed otherwise. It was cold and the bread was soggy. The flavors felt bland too. Could really use some vinegar or mustard at the least for being a special. I honestly felt sad because of the price I paid for it. Still, it was only one sandwich, their others might be better balanced.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Casey P
Saw this recommended in a reddit thread. Yep, they were right. This is the spot if youre looking for a world class sandwich.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nomadicus
DeFontes is one of those Brooklyn institutions that instantly reminds you why some places never need a refresh.
I went straight for the Signature Hot Roast Beef and, in a moment of well justified indulgence, added the Steak Pizzaiola. Zero regrets. These sandwiches are unapologetically stuffed. Meat, cheese, sauce, seasoning, all layered with confidence and generosity that feels almost defiant in today’s portion-controlled world.
And the bread matters here. It’s fresh, warm, and crisp in all the right places, sturdy enough to carry the weight of the fillings without stealing the spotlight. It’s the perfect vehicle for the kind of sandwich that requires both hands and lots of napkins.
Ordering at the counter may look intimidating at first, like there’s a secret rhythm you’re supposed to know and have rehearsed. Don’t stress it. The service is quick, efficient, and genuinely friendly. The staff are happy to guide you through it, even if it’s your first time staring at the menu trying to decide how hungry you actually are.
Just keep in mind that there’s no seating beyond a stand-up counter along the wall, so plan accordingly. This is very much a grab-and-go or eat-it-immediately experience.
DeFontes isn’t chasing trends. It doesn’t have to. This is classic, expertly executed deli cooking that delivers exactly what you want and then some.
All hype not worth $20 for a sandwich
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
This place is the BEST! Old school!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of the most amazing sandwich stores ive ever visited, absolutely phenomenally authentic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Servais the food is always remarkable ever single time I give there
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The perfect sandwich doesn’t exi…..
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Italian hero is delicious, can’t recommend enough, that or Nicky’s special 😋
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Definitely a spot you want to go to if you want a good sandwich. Nice heavily loaded sandwich the brooklyn way. Nice to still have these old school mom and pops sandwich spots in Brooklyn. My favorite, roast beef, eggplant and fresh mozzarella.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best sandwiches I’ve ever had, I go back on a weekly basis, always worth it
The Golden Boy is worth the trip! A fresh loaf loaded up with thinly sliced cuts of breaded chicken, vodka sauce and salty prosciutto. It’s a highlight reel of the best Italian deli flavors and is delicious. The full sandwich is $17 but honestly it’s two meals so worth the price (cash only though which is always a bit annoying)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’ve been coming to Defonte’s for almost twenty years. I’ve tried a lot of their sandwiches, but the Nicky Special is still the one I go back to the most. Ham, provolone, salami, ham capicola, fried eggplant, hot salad, mushrooms, lettuce and tomato — everything fits together nicely and it’s always satisfying.
It’s a solid sandwich shop. Nothing fancy, just dependable and good. The reason it’s not five stars for me is simply that I’ve had a few sandwiches elsewhere that impressed me a bit more, but Defonte’s is still a place I keep returning to.
If you’re not sure what to order, go with the Nicky Special. It’s been my favorite here for a long time.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
omg it like the band deftones
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Old school New York sandwich shop, cool atmosphere and a wide menu of great sandwiches. Especially enjoyed the buffalo chicken with mozzarella
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Got the special roast beef sandwich. The quality of the beef and cheese was very good, but I was honestly disappointed otherwise. It was cold and the bread was soggy. The flavors felt bland too. Could really use some vinegar or mustard at the least for being a special. I honestly felt sad because of the price I paid for it. Still, it was only one sandwich, their others might be better balanced.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Saw this recommended in a reddit thread. Yep, they were right. This is the spot if youre looking for a world class sandwich.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
DeFontes is one of those Brooklyn institutions that instantly reminds you why some places never need a refresh.
I went straight for the Signature Hot Roast Beef and, in a moment of well justified indulgence, added the Steak Pizzaiola. Zero regrets. These sandwiches are unapologetically stuffed. Meat, cheese, sauce, seasoning, all layered with confidence and generosity that feels almost defiant in today’s portion-controlled world.
And the bread matters here. It’s fresh, warm, and crisp in all the right places, sturdy enough to carry the weight of the fillings without stealing the spotlight. It’s the perfect vehicle for the kind of sandwich that requires both hands and lots of napkins.
Ordering at the counter may look intimidating at first, like there’s a secret rhythm you’re supposed to know and have rehearsed. Don’t stress it. The service is quick, efficient, and genuinely friendly. The staff are happy to guide you through it, even if it’s your first time staring at the menu trying to decide how hungry you actually are.
Just keep in mind that there’s no seating beyond a stand-up counter along the wall, so plan accordingly. This is very much a grab-and-go or eat-it-immediately experience.
DeFontes isn’t chasing trends. It doesn’t have to. This is classic, expertly executed deli cooking that delivers exactly what you want and then some.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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