A restaurant that specializes in American-style comfort food, Stuff’d serves up both classic and unique hot sandwiches. Having opened its doors just a few months ago, Stuff’d has the atmosphere and cuisine that will make you want to go back again and again.

One of the restaurant’s owners is Lukas Szydlowski, who also helps run the nearby Mexican restaurant, Las Catrinas. He explained that his team wanted to bring something special and welcoming to the neighborhood. “It’s a place for everybody to have a sandwich and a beer, cocktail, or sangria,” Szydlowski said.

Chef Luis Ramos obsesses over details that make all the difference, and that goes double for the Stuff’d signature cheesesteak sandwich. Szydlowski said, “For our cheesesteak, our bread has to be different than other breads, so it won’t get soggy. It’s thinly sliced ribeye and this amazing sharp American cheese with homemade Cheese Whiz. It’s another level experience.”

To achieve the taste experience Stuff’d is going for, Ramos decided to have the nearby bakery Parisi prepare four types of bread for the restaurant. There’s Italian bread for most of their signature sandwiches, brioche buns for burgers, challah bread for deliciously thick and gooey grilled cheese, and hot dog rolls, specially made to be 14 inches long for oversized gourmet hot dogs.

It’s almost unfair to describe what Stuff’d does as sandwiches and burgers. Nearly all of the delicious menu options come out piping hot and overflowing with the freshest ingredients. Must-try selections fill the menu at Stuff’d. Your biggest decision will be whether you want to stick with a classic (like a cheesesteak or a brisket-filled chopped cheese), or you want to spring for one of Ramos’ modern takes on a hot sandwich. For something you won’t find anywhere else in town, order up the ramen sandwich. Szydlowski explained, “It’s amazing. It’s roast pork and everything in a cup of ramen on a sandwich.” Another great choice is the penne alla vodka sandwich. “It’s exactly what you think it is,” Szydlowski said.

And absolutely be sure to check out the drink menu, which has unique choices created by the restaurant’s cocktail composer, Jennifer Szydlowski. The Influencer, a tasty pink concoction of grapefruit, rose, peach vodka, ramazzotti aperitivo rosato, lemon, and simple syrup, is served with cotton candy and its very own ring light that will make you feel like you’re about to go viral. The orange creamsicle is vodka, orange soda, and amaretto. It’s blended, frozen, and outrageously good. There’s also plenty of beer selections from local breweries that will come in handy when you want to watch the game in their backroom speakeasy-style bar.

When it comes to location, Szydlowski said he couldn’t imagine his team opening Stuff’d anywhere else. “We love Astorian diversity. We just want to bring cool things to Astoria.”

29-09 Broadway / Phone: 917.722.3512 / stuffd.nyc / Yelp 4.5