Semel Street Food

"Picture this: you’re hungry but don’t feel like sitting down for a full meal, you had a huge dinner at your favorite trattoria yesterday, and right now you just want something quick and easy. You’ve heard about that one sandwich shop with a jaw-dropping number of reviews online, but couldn’t be bothered with standing in such a long queue, and you’ve got a sense that, by now, it’s probably just hype anyway (you're correct!). You’ve also heard about the traditional lampredottai and trippai serving all sorts of cow offal panini, but don’t feel quite ready to stomach that. But have you ever heard about Semel? Semel is a tiny sandwich shop across the street from the Sant’Ambrogio food market, just big enough to fit a couple of stools, two clients at a time (three when it’s packed!), a small counter filled with all sorts of goodies, soft-spoken Niccolò assembling panini, plus Marco and his big personality, taking your orders and ordering you a little glass of red wine. A “semel” is a soft, round bun with a delightfully crunchy crust, a traditional Tuscan bread that was almost on the verge of being forgotten. The fillings are what make these panini so special. You’ll never find the repetitive “salumi + cheese” combo here, but instead their amazing, homey stews and exquisitely paired local artisanal products. The menu changes daily based on availability and on Marco’s mood, but some of my favorites are: - SNAILS 🐌; - mussel and mushroom stew; - roast pork, tomato and hot sauce; - anchovies with raw fennel and blood orange; - donkey stew (yes, I said “donkey”) on Thursdays and Fridays; - Canapone: sun-dried tomatoes, ricotta cheese, nutmeg and bacon that turns crispy and curly as Niccolò blasts it with his culinary butane torch with one hand, as he holds back his tie with the other. Had I mentioned that they wear a shirt and tie and a pretty silver pin? Pro-tip: grab a stool as soon as you find a free one and eat your panino in a corner, in silence, as you enjoy the flow of human beings coming and going through Semel’s door. Most of Semel’s clientele is locals, from bloggers to lawyers to people that work the stalls at the market, so it’s only open 11:30am-2:30pm, Monday-Saturday. Closed for Summer break July and August. Reopening September 9th. "

"A humble, hidden gem that caters to adventurous eaters. Semel often incorporates unusual ingredients like duck, truffle, or seasonal vegetables. The offerings change daily/with the season but some permanent fixtures are the truffle, pear and pecorino. It serves just panini and wine—and old-fashioned Italian sodas like Tassoni Cedrata and Chinotto. Unique experience near the Sant’Ambrogio Market."

"This place is excellent for great quality and particular panini. The menu changes daily based on availability and the creativity of Marco, the owner, but he creates some fantastic flavors that you would never imagine on a sandwich. Here, you will definitely find more locals, but that means the shop is only open for lunch, until 2pm, and closed on Sundays."