Roast The Toast Of Melville
By Danny Schrafel./ dschrafel@longislandernews.com

Can a sandwich render a man speechless? After taking a bite of Roast Sandwich House’s out-of-this-world meatball hero, the answer is a resounding yes.

Brothers Paul and Matthew Doyle and childhood friend Joseph Cordaro, all of Hicksville, are the men behind Melville’s new gourmet sandwich spot. They have been considering going into business together since Joseph and Matthew were teenagers.
“We always wanted to open up a business together,” Paul, 31, said. “One day we got the opportunity to have a place on 110 and take a shot at it for our own place.”

Leading up to opening Roast in November, Matthew and Joseph, both 26, studied at the Culinary Academy in Syosset and gained experience at CoolFish, Ludlow Bistro, Blackstone Steakhouse and other Long Island restaurants. Most recently, they worked together at Westbury’s City Cellar. Paul continues to work in the financial field.
Their mission at Roast is to offer “fresh ingredients, put a twist on them and put them into a good sandwich,” Joseph said.

“We roast all of the meats – the pork loins, the turkey and chicken. That was our basis,” he added. “We didn’t want to buy Boars Head and be like every other deli – we wanted to be a little more homey.”

They carry their culinary efforts in a bright, modern storefront with rock music playing in the background. The menu includes soup, salads, sandwiches, paninis and wraps made with all-natural ingredients and fresh roasted whole meats. Sandwiches are served in small roasting pans, which make a very satisfying “clunk” as they hit your table.

“Matt came in with one, and we had to go with them,” Paul said of the pans.
I started with a selection of Roast’s innovative sides – none of which exceed $3. Roasted Brussels sprouts and carrots ($2.99) are addicting and tender with a hint of lemon; the bite-size morsels just call for popping them in your mouth by hand, one by one. Southwest Potato Salad ($2.95) kicks up the classic side a notch with bacon and spicy mayo. House French fries ($2.75) are cut fresh and served in sea salt and cracked pepper. Sweet Potato Tots ($2.99) make a great choice if you want something a little less salty.

While the sides are great, sandwiches are king at Roast. Southwestern Roast Chicken ($8.25), filled with Monterey Jack, fresh-roasted corn and tomato salsa, guacamole and blackened aioli has a smoky kick fitting for the name. The fresh corn in the sandwich is a standout, especially as the crisp, sweet kernels pop in your mouth. The Ciabatta bread, from Brick City Bakery in Ozone Park, is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Braised brisket grilled cheese ($7.89) – one of Joseph’s favorites – combines thick sourdough, tender, roasted meat and white cheddar, Swiss and havarti for an ooey-gooey, savory treat.

Now for the sandwich that left me gob-smacked and silent. The Sandwich House Meatballs ($8.29) continue in that flavorful trend, combining caramelized onions, oven-dried tomatoes, homemade mozzarella and a Parmesan cream sauce with beef, pork and veal meatballs on a garlic toasted Cuban hero. It’s a flavor explosion thanks to the rich sauces and cheeses that are punctuated by the tomatoes and onions, and the first melt-in-your-mouth meatball hero I’ve ever had, courtesy of the soft Cuban roll.

Paul’s favorites on the menu include the Herbed Pork Panini ($7.79), loaded with mozzarella, onions, cherry peppers, wilted spinach and garlic aioli. With such an emphasis on freshness, the salad list – including roasted veggies, barbecue chicken, roasted beet, grilled chicken Caesar and oriental sesame chicken, to name a few – looks promising as well.

The owners said they have big plans for Roast. Expect seasonal specials with a core group of sandwiches, panini and salads. Paul added he hopes a Roast franchise will be in their future. With such a strong start in Melville, who could count them out?

Roast Sandwich House
827 Walt Whitman Road, Melville
631-629-4869
www.roastsandwichhouse.com