RED HOOK, BROOKLYN
Defonte's
Heroes the size of a forearm, made on Columbia Street since 1922 for the dockworkers — and everyone since.
Nick Defonte opened a bodega-style store on Columbia Street in 1922, and the longshoremen working the Red Hook piers soon wanted sandwiches. A century later his grandson Nicky runs the counter, the docks have changed beyond recognition, and the heroes are the same size they always were — that is to say, enormous. In 2023 the block was co-named Daniel Defonte's Way.
Order the classic: an Italian hero of ham, salami, provolone, roast beef, mozzarella and fried eggplant, built on a long roll. The hot roast beef is the most-ordered sandwich, the steak pizzaiola has its loyalists, and the potato-and-egg hero is the longshoreman's breakfast that never left. There are a few tables out back; most people take theirs to go.
Editor’s tip
Split an Italian combo with fried eggplant, or go early for a potato-and-egg hero.
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Editorial draft — core details last reviewed October 13, 2026. Confirm practical details with the official site before you go.