Modigliani Cafe

Excellent food, excellent customer service. The veggie panini was full of perfectly cooked, flavorful veggies like eggplant & zucchini. Pesto is delicious. My partner loved his meatball sandwich, and the owner brought him generous tastes of pulled pork and bacon. Can’t believe it took us so long to try this spot. We’ll be back soon!

Can't recommend this place enough!! Can't go wrong with any menu item

A vibe. Great food. Beyond friendly staff. Neighborhood classic. A must

Phuong Luong

Truly truly special place. The other reviews should have already convinced you to come here, I love everything about this place and every single element of the sandwich. The owner gave me meatball, tuna, and bacon samples and they were all great but the bacon is a little more lean than I'd prefer (which is probably better for you anyways). Definitey on the more pricey side ($17 for steak panini) but I'd come back here again and again.

Melissa

​⭐ Stellar Service at Modigliani Cafe ​While the food at Modigliani Cafe is undoubtedly 5-star quality, the customer service truly elevates the entire experience to another level. ​The staff is nothing short of amazing—warm, attentive, and genuinely enthusiastic about what they do. They create such an inviting and comfortable atmosphere that you feel welcomed the moment you step through the door. ​Their dedication to service makes this place a destination. It’s the kind of place where you want to come back just to enjoy the friendly faces. The quality of the service alone makes Modigliani a must-visit!

K R

Came in wanting the steak panini which they were out of steak and ended up getting the meatball sandwich. The sandwich is delicious and the tomato sauce has a slight sweetness to it that makes me want more. The stuff here is known to be fresh! Also, I appreciated receiving a bag of chips with this order. This was a good $15 well spent.

Libby

This absolute gem of a cafe reaffirmed my faith in the point of eating out, having new shared experiences, connecting with people and their labors of love. As other reviews have amply stated, they make EVERYTHING in-house here, down to the mustard. What stays with me is the pride they take in this making; the way everything has a little story and there’s just joy in being able to share it. I haven’t encountered hospitality like this in a long time-- no-frills, treating everyone like family. Complimentary coffee, free chips for first-timers, generous samples, checking in that you have everything you need, deriving joy just from seeing us enjoy the food. Regulars dropped by just to chat and I could totally see why. Someone who used to work in the kitchen came in and the owner knew it was his birthday. Dogs got a little meatball treat. “Service” doesn’t even cut it. It really felt like a space to just love food and be in community. The food was fantastic in every way, thoughtful and hearty and balanced in wonderful flavor. Everything had me thinking, ad nauseam: “this is the best ___ I’ve ever had.” The best cuban sandwich (crispy perfect panini, delightful pulled pork and tender turkey/ham); the best greek salad (so light and tart and juicy and fresh!); the best meatball (such savory, homey textures!); the best pesto. I am always on the lookout for good pickled things and would literally buy their house-cured peppers in bulk if I could. But also, I think I’d prefer coming back as often as possible :) “Our goal is that you leave happier than when you came in!”

Andrew Schneider

Gerry is an absolute homie. Quality, freshly made food and he makes sure to remind you to grab chips and a piece of chocolate with your sandwich. The turkey panini with the Brie and house made pepper jam was exactly what was needed for lunch, and the crispy fresh Greek salad complemented it nicely.

Tiffany Ku

What a gem, this place truly feels like Oakland and Gerry is the best/most welcoming. Had some specials including a pastrami sandwich which were delicious.

Chirag Jain

My sister came here and couldn't stop raving about it. She dragged the whole family back and introduced us to Jerry. The sandwiches here are (put simply) amazing. We had 5 different sandwiches and each one was definitely best in class. He gives fresh pesto and horseradish and in-house hot sauce that only adds to the flavor. His sandwich bread is awesome - crunchy but firm. All the meat is made in-house and surprisingly his veggie pannini is his favorite. Do yourself a favor and go for lunch and spend a bunch of money.

Philip Hatchett

Incredible, this is the BEST sandwich shop I have ever been to! Delicious house hot sauce was perfectly balanced, the 26hour slow roasted pulled pork simply melted in my mouth, and the Cuban Sandwich really demonstrated the love in this food! Truly amazing, thank you Modigliani Cafe!

hsin-fei tu

I ordered their veggie sandwich and also a steak sandwich. Both of them are really really good. I think the best part is the service. Although I only get a to-go order, the owner and the staff were extremely friendly and nice. This place is a gem! Highly recommended. Parking is street parking. There is a parking lot nearby, so it was not a problem on a Friday noon.

Nikhil Shankar

Excellent sandwiches and friendly customer service. The pulled pork, cuban, and meatball sandwiches were all great. Notes for new customers - the restaurant is cash-only, has a very bare-bones (though charming) atmosphere, and sandwiches run about $15-16. Would recommend a visit!

Ashley Thompson

Excellent food, excellent customer service. The veggie panini was full of perfectly cooked, flavorful veggies like eggplant & zucchini. Pesto is delicious. My partner loved his meatball sandwich, and the owner brought him generous tastes of pulled pork and bacon. Can’t believe it took us so long to try this spot. We’ll be back soon!

Samantha Carr

Can't recommend this place enough!! Can't go wrong with any menu item

This place is amazing! The food, the environment, the people. The food was so delicious. There is free coffee and tea while you wait for the food, which is fabulous. We got the veggie panini and Reuben and both were delicious and perfectly cooked. The ambience is wonderful, I love the art on the walls and the inviting atmosphere. The owner is so friendly and welcoming. One of the best sandwich places I’ve ever been to!

You know the food is going to be good when the man himself says the food “kicks ass” I found myself hungry one Sunday, without a clue of where to go or what to eat. I saw a Reddit post that says “where should I eat dinner? First comment is where I will go” and thought that was a great idea so I went to Bay Area on Reddit and got to posting. The first reply as stated, “ Modigliani on Grand in Oakland—it’s an old east coast guy who runs the place as a labor of love and makes his own sausage and cured meat. Their sandwiches are dense, amazing works of art. The Cuban is probably my favorite but the Tuna Melt is great too. Don’t expect to need dinner after…or breakfast, even.” Not a single lie was told. I arrived Sunday to a “sold out” sign and to my disappointment my eyes did not fool me. I come back Tuesday as it is my next day off and the owner asks if I have ever been there and I explained my case. He assured me I would be taken care of. My sausage sandwich - spectacular. House made sausage on the perfect bun. A few moments later while I’m devouring this beast of a sandwich, he comes back to me with samples of each meat on the menu and explains the process of curing the meat and I have never had anything like it. As the Reddit comment stated, I absolutely will not be needing dinner tonight. The hospitality and generosity of the stage is unmatched and the best I have ever experienced. God is great, beer is good and Modigliani has the best sandwich and service in town

I walked by and it smelled amazing, so we went in and it was the best decision! This place redefines the sandwich shop category. We got the ham sandwich special with grilled zucchini which was just perfect: crunchy outside, decadent melty inside. It’s also a fantastic place to spend time, thanks to the welcoming owner and the crowd which make it seem like a community gathering spot. I’ll definitely be back to try all the other sandwiches on the menu!

These are hands down the best sandwiches I've ever had! The Cuban comes with a special recommendation. What makes this place unique is the owner, you can see how much love and passion he puts into preparing each sandwich. The phenomenal taste and a one of a kind atmosphere make this place a must visit.

Funky, barebones sandwich shop featuring panini--Italian style grilled sandwiches. The food is delicious, the vibe is very friendly, the portions are generous. It's decidedly unglamorous! It's all about the food.

Absolutely recommended. They make everything in-house (turkey, pulled pork, bacon…) except the bread. Free coffee/tea, hot sauce. Service is above and beyond. Can’t wait to go back.

MinnesotaPizzaLover

You know the food is going to be good when the man himself says the food “kicks ass” I found myself hungry one Sunday, without a clue of where to go or what to eat. I saw a Reddit post that says “where should I eat dinner? First comment is where I will go” and thought that was a great idea so I went to Bay Area on Reddit and got to posting. The first reply as stated, “ Modigliani on Grand in Oakland—it’s an old east coast guy who runs the place as a labor of love and makes his own sausage and cured meat. Their sandwiches are dense, amazing works of art. The Cuban is probably my favorite but the Tuna Melt is great too. Don’t expect to need dinner after…or breakfast, even.” Not a single lie was told. I arrived Sunday to a “sold out” sign and to my disappointment my eyes did not fool me. I come back Tuesday as it is my next day off and the owner asks if I have ever been there and I explained my case. He assured me I would be taken care of. My sausage sandwich - spectacular. House made sausage on the perfect bun. A few moments later while I’m devouring this beast of a sandwich, he comes back to me with samples of each meat on the menu and explains the process of curing the meat and I have never had anything like it. As the Reddit comment stated, I absolutely will not be needing dinner tonight. The hospitality and generosity of the stage is unmatched and the best I have ever experienced. God is great, beer is good and Modigliani has the best sandwich and service in town

Jina Park

Absolutely recommended. They make everything in-house (turkey, pulled pork, bacon…) except the bread. Free coffee/tea, hot sauce. Service is above and beyond. Can’t wait to go back.

M R

Funky, barebones sandwich shop featuring panini--Italian style grilled sandwiches. The food is delicious, the vibe is very friendly, the portions are generous. It's decidedly unglamorous! It's all about the food.

Massimo Costetti

I walked by and it smelled amazing, so we went in and it was the best decision! This place redefines the sandwich shop category. We got the ham sandwich special with grilled zucchini which was just perfect: crunchy outside, decadent melty inside. It’s also a fantastic place to spend time, thanks to the welcoming owner and the crowd which make it seem like a community gathering spot. I’ll definitely be back to try all the other sandwiches on the menu!

Jessica Espinoza

Sausage Breakfast burrito was delicious. Definitely coming back to try the rest of the menu. The lady working there was really nice. Good food and Good vibes.

Erin Johnson

These are hands down the best sandwiches I've ever had! The Cuban comes with a special recommendation. What makes this place unique is the owner, you can see how much love and passion he puts into preparing each sandwich. The phenomenal taste and a one of a kind atmosphere make this place a must visit.

Marlene Maeusli

Casual little sandwich shop with the friendliest staff! As first time visitors, we received a bag of chips with our sandwiches. They offer complimentary coffee and chocolate too. Dogs are regulars here and receive special treats! Love this place and plan to come back.

Awesome service. Such a friendly owner. Free coffee and home made hot sauce. Great location, walkable and near the lake and other business. Very little seating but we were able to sit at the one table outside. The sandwiches were delicious with a generous portion of ingredients. I would like to see more vegetarian options, and it would have been nice to have more veggies in the meat sandwich we got to lighten the heaviness of the oil, bread and meat. I’d definitely come back to try more sandwiches though!

A Ng

Awesome service. Such a friendly owner. Free coffee and home made hot sauce. Great location, walkable and near the lake and other business. Very little seating but we were able to sit at the one table outside. The sandwiches were delicious with a generous portion of ingredients. I would like to see more vegetarian options, and it would have been nice to have more veggies in the meat sandwich we got to lighten the heaviness of the oil, bread and meat. I’d definitely come back to try more sandwiches though!