Lorenzo California

Lunchtime sandwiches are often products of necessity. You have a set amount of minutes to find something smashed between bread and then another set amount of minutes to sit in a quiet corner of your office—or on the hood of your car—and eat. But every once in a while, the day calls for something more lavish. At this Beverly Hills counter, eating a sandwich isn’t about quickly throwing protein into your stomach, it’s about treating yourself to a moment of luxury. 

Extravagance may seem at odds with your idea of cheese and meats on bread, but Lorenzo proves otherwise. These massive Florentine-style sandwiches pack decadent ingredients on pillowy focaccia buns courtesy of Bianca Bakery. They'll make you briefly forget about the 3pm one-on-one on your work calendar. (And the one tomorrow, actually.) Take the Cotto, stuffed with imported prosciutto and brie cheese then lathered with truffle cream and lemon zest, or the Salamino stacked high with shaved-to-order salami, olive oil-soaked artichokes, and parmigiano paté—basically a fancy cheese spread. These descriptions may sound like over-the-top grocery lists, but the sandwiches themselves stand out as restrained. Bold aioli and funky cheeses go together seamlessly. Contrasting flavors feel considered rather than piled on, creating that rare kind of sandwich where you're thinking about the next bite before you're even finished chewing.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Saying that every single sandwich is worth ordering here feels annoying and unhelpful. Unfortunately, it’s the truth. To determine your order, you're just going to have to channel your mood that day (the food rundown below should help). We can tell you with certainty, however, you won't be hungry after lunch. Each sandwich measures about seven inches in width and these babies are tough to take down alone. The size—plus the high-end ingredients—more than justifies the $16-$20 price tag.

The space at Lorenzo is pretty small, with only a few tables inside as well as on the front sidewalk. You just ordered sandwiches filled with olive paté, white onion agrodolce, and grilled endives, though. Lean into the fantasy of it all by walking two blocks over to Beverly Gardens Park (the one with the big, famous “Beverly Hills” sign), throwing down a blanket and pretending it’s cashmere, and having yourself a little rich lady picnic. The idea here is luxury, remember? Sandwiches may typically be a product of necessity. Sometimes, so is treating yourself to something nice.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Lorenzo

We know we said that individual orders at Lorenzo depend on your mood, but we’re always in the mood for the namesake Lorenzo. Filled to the brim with light curls of mortadella, parmigiano sauce, toasted pistachio, and roasted bell pepper, it’s the perfect balance of sweet, savory, salty, and nutty.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Salamino

A sandwich piled with this much salami might feel like overkill, but the intense salty punch is offset by olive oil-lathered artichokes, a tangy parmigiano spread, and bitter grilled endives. If we’re not getting The Lorenzo, we’re probably getting this one.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Special Crudo

Oops, did we say the Salamino was our second favorite sandwich? It’s actually this one. And that proclamation has everything to do with the sweet, tangy salsa rosa smear. Combined with the saltiness of the prosciutto and mozzarella, this sandwich is, in a word, powerful.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Caponata

Any olive die-hards out there, this is your sandwich. Filled with olive paté and eggplant and zucchini caponata, there’s certainly an intense sourness in each bite, but it’s balanced by the sliced-up toasted almonds.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Cotto

On a menu full of lavish sandwiches, this is the most luxurious of the bunch. Imagine it now: salty prosciutto meets brie meets lemon zest. But what makes this one so unique is the hefty swipe of truffle cream. Truffle anything usually gives us pause—mainly because it usually becomes the dominating flavor—but that’s not the case here.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Capriccio

Stuffed with stracciatella, arugula and basil pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil, this is one of two vegetarian sandwiches on Lorenzo’s menu (the other is the Caponata). Order this regardless of whether or not you eat meat.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Pesto Fusilli

Everyone in line is obviously here to eat sandwiches, but in the event you want to go a different direction—or you’re in a particular mood for pasta—you won’t be disappointed. The noodles are made in-house, arrive piping hot al dente, and packed with the same high-end ingredients as the sandwiches. There’s also a potato gnocchi and braised beef maccheroncini on the menu, too.