I love Rossi's not only for the incredible food, but also for the authentic ingredients and groceries stocked on the shelves, and the true Italian family kitchen atmosphere. The first time I walked into Rossi's I felt as if I had walked back into my own house, which is everything a rositcceria should be. If you like fast food and receiving a half-assed sandwich in five minutes, do not show up at Rossi's during your lunch break. There is a bit of a wait, for good reason. Well worth every minute, for every bite!

I'd heard about Rossi for years, even before I got really hardcore into Italian food. This place is an absolute institution in Poughkeepsie; think Patsy's in East Harlem, where cars are allowed to double park in front without police trouble. It's located on a mostly nondescript corner right off the Mid-Hudson Bridge, in what still is to some degree an Italian area. Coming in, the place smelled great and there was a line for sandwiches from the door all the way to the back. After waiting about 20 minutes, I asked for two sandwiches: one for me and one for my dad to both eat the next day. After another 10 minutes waiting for the sandwich to be made and pressed, I paid about $10 per sandwich (they're big) and was on my way to check out some other Italian shops nearby. One sandwich was their rosemary grilled chicken with fresh mozzarella and pesto, and the other was their roast pork with herb mayo, fresh mozzarella, and roasted red peppers. The former I got based on the reviews here, and the latter the counterman recommended. The grilled chicken was a great sandwich. In particular I loved the bread; it was fresh, slightly salty, and fluffy and crisp at once. The chicken was a smaller portion, but it was tender and not overboard on the rosemary. The fresh mozzarella didn't keep great but was good otherwise, and the pesto was applied sparingly so that it contributed flavor but didn't dominate the other ingredients. Why only 3 stars, do you ask? The roasted pork was very disappointing. It was chunks of fatty pork, which were not tasty at all. Perhaps this is something that must be eaten fresh? Either way, the combo that the counterman recommended was pretty terrible. The mayo and peppers were a poor contrast, and the mozzarella was lost in the application. I wouldn't think these two sandwiches were from the same place, except for the bread. But even that couldn't save the sandwich; we ended up tossing it and splitting the chicken. I may come back for the chicken next time I'm around Poughkeepsie, but I don't think I'll be too adventurous otherwise.

This is the single greatest sandwich shop and salumaria on the east coast and how it doesn't have five solid stars I do not understand - must be Vassar people. #Marist

Great food, people are nice, but the service is awful. Half of the time I go my order is wrong. I waited 45 minutes today for a sandwich that wasn't what I ordered as people pass me in line that I was there before. NO priority to the line, service is a free for all

I ordered the Clam Cake Panini Special today and it was amazing. Even though it was a small it was filling and because of the cajun seasoning it had a little spicy kick. I would definitely recommend this place.