So many friends wanted to be sure we tried an Italian sandwich when in Maine. So we made sure to have it on our list! We found out that while you can get them many places now, Amato’s claims to be the original. We saw one on the way to our Airbnb as soon as we arrived in Maine, so we were excited to be able to easily check them out. Turns out we liked this place so much that we practically became regulars.
The Food:
Our first time there, we went for their classic sandwich. The Amato’s Original Real Italian sandwich is sliced ham, sliced american cheese, onions, pickles, tomatoes, green pepper rings, olives, salt, pepper, and oil. The ham reminds us of the style you would find packaged in grocery stores called Danish ham slices or boiled ham in thin rectangle slices. We grabbed a bag of local chips there too.
This is not to be confused with a sub sandwich when you are in this area. They pronounce it as “EYE-talian” here, but feel free to use the normal pronunciation. They will just assume you are “not from around here” and still know what you mean. I can see why people who grew up eating these sandwiches miss them when they’ve moved out of the area, it’s oddly addictive. Want to read more about the origin of this sandwich? I found this article really fun to read.
Amato’s menu is complete with lots of sandwiches and wraps, pizza, calzones, and our favorite, pasta. We ordered their pasta buckets several times for quick dinners at home. They serve 4 easily and while this is not gourmet grub, we became rather addicted. Huge meatballs, sausage links, and 3 types of pasta to choose from. In a hotel room, sitting on the edges of the beds, this would not be too appealing, but in our “home away from home” Airbnb we could gather around the table as soon as it was delivered. A quick, easy, and affordable dinner option.
Pazzo bread and little stuffers can be addicting, too. Fresh baked rolled dough with garlic, herbs, cheeses, and a dipping sauce. Options include adding ham/pepperoni, spinach/broccoli, or extra cheese filling. Carb lovers, this is your place.
Locations & Accessibility:
There are lots of locations but the ones closest to us were all in strip centers and wheelchair accessible. They were carryout or delivery only, with no indoor seating area. For more locations, check out their website. We used the Westbrook location the most and I’m sure we will miss this place when we head off to our next adventure.
