Roma is an Italian market on the corner of Lake and Mountain in Pasadena, north of the freeway. There is a small parking lot as well as unmetered street parking.
People from the area would’ve already recognized the pink paper wrapping. Roma is iconic for this simple, seven dollar sandwich but until today, I had never tried it myself. It could not be easier to order because they're all pre-made and stacked in a big basket next to the cashier.
It’s a relatively basic sandwich: Provolone, a couple of different cold cuts, on a roll that I would charitably describe as “semi soft“ but it’s not soft–soft. It’s also reasonably sized; it’s not one of those “gutbuster”-sized sandwiches. If you're really hungry, at $7/each, just get two!
If I were inclined to be nitpicky, I would say that the filling to bread ratio favors the bread but for a seven dollar sandwich, I’m not inclined to be this nitpicky. Besides, every bite I enjoyed was flavorful.
I totally get why this became a neighborhood favorite but do I think people from outside of Pasadena would want to drive across town for the sandwich? Probably not. That’s no disrespect but this is not a spectacular sandwich. It is, however, an exceptionally affordable and decently tasty sandwich. If you were going to a game at the Rose Bowl, for example, I'd 100% suggest stopping off here and scoring a bunch of these. But it's ultimately a neighborhood institution, above all else, and that's good enough.
by soulsides
Dining and Cooking