It was around lunchtime and my friend wanted to go to a sandwich shop two blocks away from where I live.
“I really can’t believe you’ve never been to Mama’s!” she said.
I felt slightly embarrassed.
“To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever even heard of it,” I replied back shyly.
My friend shook her head in disbelief. According to her, Leo’s Latticini, aka Mama’s, is THE legendary sandwich joint in Queens, serving up some of the freshest ingredients stuffed inside a foot-long hero.
It was opened by Frank and Irene Leo in the '30s. Their daughter, Nancy (Mama) DeBenedittis, took over the shop with her husband Frank in later years.
Although Mama passed away in 2009, her legend still lives on in Corona through Leo's. Today, it's a family-run business, which sits on the corner of 104th Street and 46th Avenue, less than a five-minute walk from my house.
Intrigued, I decided to accompany my friend on her lunch break to grab a bite.
The first thing I noticed was the blue and white Mets memorabilia decorating the store window, and the sign dangling on the green awning which stated, “Mamas of Corona on 85 Years.”
The second thing was the smell. An intense meat-and-cheese aroma began wafting towards me as I drew closer to the door, beckoning me to enter. When I did, I noticed the jars of olives lining the shelves of the small shop. Behind the counter, various framed photographs are also displayed, featuring actors, politicians and athletes who have visited the shop over the years.
Unsure of what to order, I decided to stick with the “Mama’s Special” of the day, a sub filled with prosciuttini, salami, fresh mozzarella, mushrooms and red peppers.
I then headed down the street to Mama’s Bakery, a small, accompanying café that features all sorts of Italian desserts and a hidden outdoor seating area with a fountain. There I purchased a plain cannoli and sat outside to enjoy my lunch that was fit for a queen.
BEHOLD:
Now, I am a fairly easy person to please when it comes to food, but boy was this sandwich good.
I immediately realized what I had missed out on after biting into the sub for the first time. The flavors from the meat, mozzarella and peppers just melted together in my mouth and the bread, a plain sesame seed, tied it all together.
Because everything was so fresh, the sandwich also didn't need any additional condiments or sauces.
After finishing my portion, I suddenly felt obligated to thank my friend for introducing me to my new go-to lunch spot. I knew had just come across a hidden gem in Corona. It just might be slightly disastrous to have it located so close to me.
