Defontes Brooklyn Menu 2026: Overstuffed Heroes & Italian Sandwiches

Defontes of Brooklyn is famous for its massively overstuffed Italian-American hero sandwiches on Columbia Street in Brooklyn's Red Hook / Waterfront District. Founded in 1922, the shop is celebrated for generous portions of Italian cold cuts — capicola, salami, prosciutto, sopressata — layered with house-made fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers, and proprietary sauces on crusty hero rolls. It has been featured in national food media as one of the best sandwich shops in New York City.

Defontes is at 379 Columbia Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231, in the Columbia Street Waterfront District (often called Red Hook). The neighborhood is accessible by car or a short walk from the F/G Smith-9th Sts subway stop. Street parking is generally available on Columbia Street. Check the official site at defontessandwichshop.com for current hours.

The most frequently cited favorites at Defontes include the Original Defontes (Italian cold cuts, fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers), Meatball Parmigiana, Prosciutto and Fresh Mozzarella, and Broccoli Rabe and Sausage. The shop's fresh mozzarella — made in-house — is a distinguishing feature that sets these heroes apart from most delis.

Yes. Several heroes are naturally vegetarian, including the Eggplant Parmigiana, Roasted Peppers and Fresh Mozzarella, and Grilled Vegetables and Fresh Mozzarella. The house-made fresh mozzarella is a key component in all of these. Confirm specific preparations with the shop if you have a strict dietary requirement.

Defontes of Brooklyn was founded in 1922 — over 100 years of operation on Columbia Street. The shop has remained a neighborhood institution through multiple generations, surviving urban change in Red Hook and Brooklyn's waterfront district. Its century-plus run makes it one of the longest-continuously-operating sandwich shops in New York City.

Yes. The shop at 379 Columbia Street is the original and only Defontes location — there are no franchises or spin-offs. The family-owned business has operated at or near the same Columbia Street address since 1922. Defontes is not affiliated with any chain or other restaurant using a similar name.

Defontes does not publish a full priced menu on its official website, and pricing is not widely documented in verifiable secondary sources. Prices are not shown on this page to avoid publishing unverified figures. For current pricing, call the shop directly or check their official site at defontessandwichshop.com or their social media pages.

Defontes uses crusty Italian hero rolls — the long, seeded or plain rolls traditional to New York-style Italian deli sandwiches. The roll is a structural part of the sandwich: it needs to hold an unusually heavy load of fillings. Specific bakery sourcing has not been publicly confirmed by the shop.