When the guys behind Caffè Tucci set up their made-to-order Italian sandwich shop on Glossop Road, you always knew it was going to be a hit. Six months later, and their success is clear to see.
Having chosen to venture around Italy for my honeymoon just last summer for the food, I have always wanted to try Assaje - a Neapolitan slang word for "a lot". And boy was I impressed.
The cafe bills itself as the first build-your-own Italian. Mainly providing fresh focaccia sandwiches with a variety of ingredients, you can choose whatever you want in your sandwich. From the best Italian cheeses and meats to fresh vegetables and salads, you can have pretty much anything and everything.
Having spent some time on Honeymoon in Bologna - an Italian city renowned for its culinary background - I plumped for a classic: mortadella with burrata, mixed leaves, and a pistachio crumb, all in a fluffy and toasted focaccia.
I took my seat in the back of the cafe, which was decorated with nods to classic Italian culture, and duly waited. For a quick pitstop lunch, the food did not arrive immediately. But given there was a queue out the door for the 45 minutes I spent there, I think we can have some sympathy here.
After about 10 minutes, my focaccia arrived. I was immediately blown away by the portion size. Served with a side salad and balsamic glaze, the focaccia was the size of my forearm - and more than enough to power even the hungriest of workers through their afternoon.
Eager for a trip back to Italy, I dived in. The focaccia had a toasted crisp on the outside, but maintained a light and airy interior. Doused in olive oil, my fingers glistened as I tried to squeeze the stacked sandwich into my mouth. The fillings complemented each other beautifully. The delicate mortadella, just as it should be. A creamy burrata. The freshest of rocket and mixed leaves, and the slight crunch of a pistachio crumb. It was utterly delicious.
I devoured the sandwich, savouring each bite as if I was back in the same food market in Bologna. Transported back to Italy, with a dark and punchy double espresso to boot, this was a lunchtime treat not to be missed.
Focaccia is not the only offering either. You can create a salad bowls, your own canola, and they also have an alcohol license, which the team says they are looking into using and expanding into apertivo, an after-work Italian drinks and snack experience.
At £14.20, it is not the cheapest lunch. But given the build-your-own process, you can make each sandwich as cheap or as expensive as you like. And regardless, with tastes that transport you back to Italy, it is worth every penny and then some.
