Let me start off by saying that Dalla Zita is not a secret spot. While it feels like a secret spot, as it may be a touch difficult to find (mostly due to the lack of signage out front), the spot seems to be extremely well known by all the students at the University of Padova, and for good reason.
When I was in University (years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth), I would have loved to a spot like Dalla Zita in town. Why? Because for €3.50-€4.20 for a classic size and €5.00-€5.80 for the “Maxi” size, you get a gorgeous panino. [1 sandwich is a “panino”, 2 sandwiches are “panini”.]
The room is small, maybe 100 square feet, which causes the line-up to spill onto the street while people patiently wait to order or for their panini. There are no tables, just one long high topped ledge against a wall and about 4 stools. This place (“By Zita“) has been a local favourite spot to grab a porchetta panino and a glass of wine for over 150 years!
The menu consists of about 165+ different panini, their names and ingredients written on colourful squares on the wall. I have to admit that it’s a little overwhelming the first time. There are so many choices, so many ingredients and a line-up! (Luckily we managed to go two days in a row, so we felt like veterans the second day.)
Once you decide from the 165+ offerings which one you want, you wait in line to step up to the counter. You order your panino – either classic size or Maxi size – and what you would like to drink. As this is Italy, they offer wine by the glass (€2.50), beer, sodas, and water. You pay up front, collect your drinks and your scontrino (the very important receipt) and patiently wait and listen for your order to come up. You try not to eyeball the other panini being consumed around you. You do end up looking at the board, a lot, and thinking, “oh this one looks good” or “next time I’m getting this one”.
Finally, your order is called. The panini are grilled and are wrapped simply in a paper napkin. The bread is crispy, but not too hard; the cheese is melted and everything is nicely toasted. These are definitely worth the wait!
The place is owned and operated by a mother and daughter team. Laura does more of the front of the house and takes the orders while her mother Roberta handcrafts the sandwiches. The porchetta was what got people in the door 150 years ago; one bite and you know why! It is still a flagship item and shows up in many of the 165+ sandwiches that they serve.
With all those options, what to choose? We decide to try two different sandwiches and share. We have to pick one of their famous porchetta based sandwiches, so the first day, I go for the BOBO – porchetta, mushrooms, mayo, tabasco, peppers and fontina cheese.
Pete has the CONDOR – herbed chicken, mayo and fontina cheese.
The sandwiches were great! Crusty (but not hard) bread and great filling combinations. Even better? The bill for two sandwiches (classic size) and two glasses of white wine? €12.50!
The sandwiches were so good that we just “happened” to find ourselves nearby the next day for a late lunch. Pete decides to give in to his love for anchovies and orders the ZENO – porchetta, anchovies, and black olives tapenade. Clearly, he doesn’t want to share!
I do share and order the MANUEL – roast beef (nicely rare), grilled onions and fontina cheese.
I asked Laura and Roberta what their favourite sandwiches are. Roberta favours the Giovanni which stacks up porchetta with anchovies, peppers, radicchio and brie; while Laura favours the ATOS which has baccala (salted cod, an Italian speciality) meeting anchovies, oranges and peppers!
The sandwiches cover a wide variety of tastes. I’m not sure if they are named after friends, family or regulars, but when you go in, you can try some of the ones we saw on the board:
- CHIARA – wurstel, ketchup and mayo
- STEVE – porchetta, lardo and peppers
- GIGI LOTTE – lardo, walnuts and honey
- BABU (not to be confused with BOBO) – prosciutto crudo, stracchino cheese and porcini mushrooms
- LIGURE – tuna, fresh tomato and black olive tapenade
- ATLANTIS – salmon, pink sauce, boiled egg and cognac
- TOKIO – hamburger, fontina, tomato and barbecue sauce
The unsigned store is just around the corner from Piazza della Frutta. When walking from Palazzo della Ragione, through Piazza della Frutta, if you hit the lions by the Caffe Pedrocchi, you have gone too far! Turn around and find the best panini in Padova!
Where: Via Gorizia, 12, 35122 Padova PD, Italy; When: Monday – Saturday: 9 am – 8 pm (closed Sunday)
