Si Roma

The inspiration

He booked a one-way ticket to Sicily, spent months along the Tyrrhenian Sea coast eating panini and studying techniques, and returned with a concept for a fast-food shop built on real Italian flavors¹ . He launched it from a converted school bus in Glendale, and it grew from there into brick-and-mortar locations^1,2 .

Who's behind it

Johnny Coppola is the founder, with a background in restaurant marketing and real estate before he went all in on sandwiches² .

What to order

• Turkey Allora: herbed turkey with homemade pesto, provolettine, stracciatella and a tomato mix on toasted baguette³
• Va Bene: a pepperoni and salami combination that the shop itself counts among its favorites⁴
• The Hungry Terrone: another house favorite, a pistachio mortadella option on the menu⁴
• Cannoli or the tiramisu: the menu rounds out with Italian desserts if you want something sweet

What people are saying

Local coverage highlights the fresh breads, meats and cheeses, with one customer pointing to the herby bread with its crisp crust and soft middle³ . The Infatuation describes the lineup as traditional and creative Italian cold-cut sandwiches, citing a stacked mortadella and provolone with pesto⁵ .

Why you should try it

If you are staying near La Verne, this is a casual spot on Foothill Blvd for Sicilian-inspired street sandwiches, with light blue walls and a sandwich bar where you can watch your order being made^3,6 .