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| - Pasto di Forno is an largely-successful American imitation of an Italian sandwich shop. In an informal surrounding you are offered a menu board of about a dozen cold or grilled sandwiches, as well as a few pastas and salads. A small standup cooler has a few sodas and bottled water. Unlike its Italian counterparts, Pasto has free lemon water as well. You order at the counter and they bring the food to your table - if you can find one open.
The key to authentic Italian sandwiches is the bread, which should be crisp on the outside, flavorful, and not too heavy. Pasto's is. The filling should be fresh and of high quality. Pasto's is, but in this respect Pasto differs in that they use much more meat then you usually find in Rome. Pasto also gives you a side dish (salad, soup, or chips - the minestrone is special here). In summary, the sandwiches are terrific.
The only drawback to Pasto is the price. A typical sandwich is $10 or even a bit more. Whereas sandwich shops in Italy tend to be inexpensive, Pasto goes in the other direction. You can sometimes get a discount deal, such as at Local Flavor, otherwise you may resent the bill just a bit. It won't stop me from coming back, however.
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