Ggiata, My New Favorite LA Sandwich
Ggiata, My New Favorite LA Sandwich
The Eggplant Parm (pictured)
Hollywood’s Ggiata Delicatessan makes my mouth water: the perfection of sesame-crusted, chewy-crispy baguette, oozing with mozzarella, marinara and basil with breaded, deep fried eggplant parmesan! There is no going back.
Their website proclaims: they serve authentic Italian-style deli food that draws inspiration from the traditional East Coast neighborhood delis. Definitely an under statement. The Ggiata sandwich captures the New-York, Italian and heartiness without losing any of its soul. It’s all flavor, no compromise.
Their menu currently features 14 drool-worthy sandwiches and a mix of sides (chopped salads, bitter green salads, etc) including the unforgettable, cheesy, fried risotto balls the Arancini.
Greasy and worth it - the fried risotto balls, the Aracini with spicy vodka sauce (more creamy than spicy)
Their most popular sandwich, the Spicy P has a chicken cutlet, spicy vodka sauce, mozzarella, romano, basil pesto, on their quintessential charred seeded baguette! I slurped their creamy spicy vodka sauce - which to my taste - was tomato sauce, and fully of creaminess and spices (so creamy it was a light pink hue) — with the Arancini. It was the highlight of those fried balls. Hoarding the two sauce containers like they were liquid goals. To my taste, it didn’t taste a lick of spicy - but whoa it was flavorful and creamy.
I ordered ours delivery (UberEats!) - and warmed it up again in our air-fryer (perfection). It made it extra crispy with the mozzarella sizzling with crispy edges. Don’t microwave these precious babys!
The Eggplant Parm by Ggiata
One Yelper complained the bread was hard to chew. True. Was it worth it? A resounding YES! It was chewy on the inside, crispy on the outside and flavorful and full of and the sesame seed crust with every bite. Their breads are custom-made, ciabatta from Bread Lounge. I’ve never had such an intensely sesame-seedy bread before; so if they sell it individually sign me up! As perhaps some Californias can be - I am selective which carbs I eat. If I had to “splurge” on my carbs - I would spend it on a Ggiata sandwich every time with no regrets.
I recommend ordering one of their hot sandwiches - as that’s where the flavors shine:
The Spicy P (chicken and vodka sauce)
The Chicken Parm
The Eggplant Parm (for you vegetarians!)
The Masterpiece (Prosciutto)
They excel when the sandwiches are hot, sizzling and have breaded, fried and cheese attached to the name :)
For sides, I ordered the Bitter Green Salad (large) - and was not disappointed by the lovely chopped broccolini, endive, and radicchio bowl that was neatly delivered. Helped me get a bit of green into my diet before chowing down on the piece de resistance. The balsamic vinegar was the most syrupy-sweet dressing I’ve had in a while - so I added my own raisins in to compliment their sweet flavors (to much success). I highly recommend their salad as a great side and to break up the carb fest!
The fried risotto balls, the Aracini - didn’t last long. I had no reservations about gobbling all of them down with a generous serving of the creamy vodka sauce. Much my partner’s disappointment, as he asked with sad puppy dog eyes - where are his risotto balls (it was already in my stomach!). Alas, next time will order two to share :)
The fried risotto balls, the Aracini
We enjoyed Ggiata from the comfort of our home via UberEats - so hoping to one day swing by their standing room, Western and Melrose storefront.
Ggiata is definitely winning a place in my heart and stomach as LA’s local deli, Italian sandwich stronghold. This is a sandwich that will linger on my mind and keep me up at night. Highly recommend!
Let me know what you think if you eat there! I’m always curious what you like/dislike :) linhdy@outlook.com