DiRienzo Foods
1121 Meadowlands Dr. (at Fisher)
613-723-2602
Hours: Mon – Sat 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sun 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Rating: *** 1/2
Price range: $
Quick solo lunch: Yes (take-out only)
A simple sandwich. It’s something you grow up with as a kid, packed in your brown paper lunch bag. Kinda boring. But DiRienzo’s sandwiches are anything but.
They start with fresh bread with a chewy crust and they offer any cold cut you can think of. One of their more popular options is the roast beef with spicy havarti ($4.99). Not stingy with the meat, your mouth is filled with a well-rounded bite of cheese, meat, lettuce and tomato with a hint of heat from the spiced Havarti.
The location on Meadowlands is related by marriage to the original DiRienzo’s in Little Italy. However, come spring, it’s branching out and changing its name to Amo Italiano Foods. They’ll still be offering the same sandwiches, but will introduce a place to sit and an olive bar.
For now, they’re popular with the sandwich-loving crowd seeking a quick but filling lunch.
