Paninoteca S.p.A

Coburg institution Paninoteca S.p.A has generated a fanatical following due to its Italian-styled paninis, generous portions of chips, great coffee and a welcoming, friendly atmosphere. Located in the heartland of 3058, this paninoteca kicks goals when it comes to a delicious and filling breakfast and lunch.

At the helm of Paninoteca are brothers Rob and Dave Scodella. Their concept comes from their Sicilian heritage and harkens back to the paninotecas (sandwich shop in Italian), using fresh produce and authentic Italian delicacies to fill tasty ciabatta bread rolls. Much of the menu is inspired by their mum’s recipes, and reflect meals that were shared around the dining table and their trips to Italy. For cheese lovers, expect to come across a variety of Italian cheeses: ricotta, pecorino, caciocavallo, buffalo mozzarella, scamorza. Delicious! 

Milk Bar checked out the eatery one Saturday lunchtime and was pleased to see how jamming the place was. Rob was on hand to greet patrons and deliver an extremely attentive service, while navigating a welcomed influx of orders. Leagues of staff were busy working in the kitchen in an orderly fashion. 

After navigating the menu, three clear winners stood out. The Chicken Cotoletta – a signature dish in an Italian household – filled with lettuce, tomato, red onion and mayo; the Scotch Fillet with grilled onions, caciocavallo cheese, rocket and balsamic vinegar; and the Polpette (meatballs) served with grilled cheese and basil. The Scotch Fillet was tender, juicy and delicious. A serving of chips topped with Paninoteca seasoning and grated pecorino cheese, rounds out the perfect lunchtime meal. 

It is easy to see why Paninoteca is a crowd favourite. 

‘Our customers keep coming back because we’re original. We offer a variety of Italian fillings that covers breakfast, deli cuts and kitchen classics, but what sets Paninoteca apart from other sandwich shops is our grilled meats. Every single panino is made to order and the majority of ingredients are made in house by us,’ comments co-owner Rob. 

We can’t emphasise it enough – Paninoteca is one of the best sandwich shops in Melbourne. Cancel your lunch plans and head on over ASAP. 

Paninoteca S.p.A
130 Gaffney Street, Coburg, 3058
Open Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 3 pm
eatpaninoteca.com.au