Heroes, hoagies, subs and sandwiches. These Italian favorites can be found at newly opened Chubby Mary’s — the name doesn’t matter, but the product does. Artichoke Basille’s Pizza fans can rejoice because cousins and Artichoke co-owners Sal Basille and Francis Garcia are bringing their cultural flair to New York City once again with this new spot. Basille and Garcia’s new joint is only steps from their 14th Street
Artichoke location.
After closing their Italian sweets spot, Led Zeppole, this past September, the Italian duo realized they could reopen the space with a new and innovative idea in Italian fast food.
“Being born in Brooklyn and growing up in Staten Island, there were great hero shops everywhere,” Garcia said. “I couldn’t really find spots in the East Village or let alone in Manhattan that served these great traditional Italian-style heroes.”
Along with Basille, Garcia developed the idea for a “fast-food Italian sandwich concept,” and Chubby Mary’s was born.
The name comes from a Brooklyn restaurant of the same name owned by their grandparents during the ’60s.
Garcia describes the restaurant as being “designed for speed” and “made-to-order.”
The simple chalkboard menu hanging on the wall offers a choice of either small rolls or heroes. Customers can add meatballs, chicken cutlets, veal cutlets, sausage or eggplant. Stick to the classic gravy (marinara sauce) and melted provolone, or be bold and choose the sautéed peppers and onions or broccoli rabe for a unique and savory hero experience.
“Not many people think to add broccoli rabe as a topping to a sandwich,” Garcia said. “But it is delicious, and shouldn’t be forgotten. Also, you don’t see many places that offer meatballs and peppers on the same menu that often in New York City, either.”
Behind the bar, the entire kitchen is visible so the customer can observe the staff prepare his or her hero exactly as it was ordered. Everything is fried to order as well, so watch as your protein heads right into the oil and then onto the bread.
Next, the hero makes its way to the steam table, which is set up with all the savory toppings. Then comes the cheese. Unlike most joints in New York, which use mozzarella and melt the cheese in the oven first, Chubby Mary’s uses shredded provolone and lets the heat from the steaming hero alone melt the cheese.
First-time customer David Barnum was certainly pleased after trying his veal cutlet, broccoli rabe and provolone creation.
“The veal is actually delicious, not overly breaded at all, and the tasty bitterness of the broccoli rabe doesn’t interfere with the other flavors in the sandwich,” Barnum said. “I will definitely be back to try more.”
The not-so-small small rolls start at $3.35, and the two-meals portioned foot-long heroes start at $6.50.
Basille and Garcia have achieved Italian fast-food greatness once again and continue to offer low costs without sacrificing flavor and quality.
Chubby Mary’s is located at 328 E. 14th St.
A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, Dec. 4 print edition. Alyssa Noud is a staff writer. Email her at [email protected].
