JULIET ATE HERE | receipt no. 8 — stefanino panino e vino

Stefanino Panino e Vino, Collingwood
(An ode to cotoletta, deli fridges, and the dinner evolution)

Receipt No. 8
Stefanino Panino e Vino, Collingwood Yards
Adventure Friday
Friday 25 July 2025
Total: $184.88
With: Sam

We booked for 8pm, but in truth, I was already sold the moment they added “E Vino” to the name.

For years, I’d been loyal to Stefanino in its sandwich shop form, first at their original Brunswick East location, then at Collingwood Yards. My favourite thing was my first interaction with Steph, the boss. It was only my second time there. After I posted about the sandwich on @thesandwichreport, I heard him say my name. Then he asked, “Are you Juliet the sandwich expert?” I laughed and said no. He replied, “You’re the only Juliet that comes here.” I’ve never forgotten it.

So when I saw they’d started doing dinner, I knew we had to go. The photos Steph posted of the chicken cotoletta sealed it, we’d just returned from Milan, where cotoletta was our go-to. This was a full-circle Friday.

We had the “Carne” feed-me menu, which essentially gives you everything. Sam insisted we add the porchetta special too. For research.

The food? Exceptional. Every dish hit. The arancini. The roast beef. The mushroom ragu. The polenta. The cotoletta, better than Milan’s. That sounds dramatic. But it’s true. More flavour, more love, more comfort. We kept looking at each other and nodding. The kind of nod that says, we’re coming back.

The wine was served in Duralex latte glasses, classic nonna energy, and now my future dinner-party standard. I loved that. Just as I loved seeing the same deli fridge from their Brunswick East days, now humming softly in this new room.

We were served by Ben and Harry, two of the kindest front-of-house hosts I’ve come across in a long time. Both have roots at the original sandwich shop, and you can feel that history in the way they carry the room.

Halfway through the night, they offered us complimentary pickleback shots. The kind of gesture that makes you feel not just welcome, but known.

We drank them together, Sam, me, and the three staff, gathered around the deli fridge like it was the bar.

We were looked after beautifully. Fed, welcomed, and made to feel like we already belonged.

Sam’s already decided. Next time someone asks where to go for dinner, he won’t hesitate.“The answer,” he said, “is Stefanino Panino e Vino.”

We finished with affogato and cannoli. Then walked through the courtyard under the dark Collingwood sky, full and glowing.

I left wanting to tell everyone I know. And also… keep it to myself.

Server(s): Ben & Harry (plus the chef from the original sandwich shop)
Quote of the night: “Let’s add the special. For research.”
Line we’ll remember: “Where should we go for dinner? Stefanino.”
Vibe: Generous, nostalgic, and full of care