Nov 9, 2026 - Food and Drink

Fork Around & Find Out: Taste-testing Alveo's "best sandwich" ranking

Kristen Swilley

Close-up of a crusty sandwich filled with fresh arugula, held by a person in a light gray sleeve. Greens spill from the bread as a blurry green outdoor background fills the scene. — You can taste the bread through the screen, can't you? Photo: Kristen Swilley/Axios

USA Today thinks Mariemont's Alveo makes one of America's best sandwiches. After waiting an hour to try one, I can confirm it's worth the dough.

The secret ingredient: Alveo's house-made schiacciata (pronounced "ski-ya-CHA-ta"), a thinner, crispier cousin of focaccia.

What I ordered: The La Rustica ($18), which layers salty prosciutto, peppery arugula and creamy ricotta with black truffle honey.

The honey steals the show, adding a sweetness that balances the savory ingredients without overpowering them.

🇮🇹 My take: La dolce vita, minus the airfare. They clearly use fresh ingredients and every bite tastes straight out of a Roman sandwich shop, which justifies the steep price.

📍 If you go: 6816 Wooster Pike, Mariemont. 10am-4pm Monday-Saturday.

🗓️ Pro tip: Try to make it on a weekday. That Saturday line is rough. I went back on a Tuesday and it took about 10 minutes.

Add Axios on Google

Fork Around & Find Out: Taste-testing Alveo's "best sandwich" ranking

More Cincinnati stories