Ah, Italian sandwiches. I imagine you want them with pickles or tomatoes, perhaps like Amato’s? Disregard the non-vegan sandwiches. Let’s find out if Amato’s has something for vegans like you.
Pizza, pasta, and sandwiches. These are Amato’s specialty in its over 40 locations in the U.S. Its founder of Italian origin named its sandwiches “Italians” after his native country. The sandwiches are known for having pickles, onions, tomatoes, olives, and green peppers. However, most of its dishes are served with meat and dairy products, although we see veggie options.
So, if you’re someone who likes Italian dishes, this page is perfect for you. We’ll find out more about Amato’s if you’d be rubbing shoulders with one of its locations in the U.S.
Table of Contents
Amato’s, Your Original Italian Sandwich
Naples, Italy native Giovanni Amato and his wife Michelina started Amato’s in 1902, offering sandwiches, pasta, and pizza to customers throughout the New England region in the United States. Their first store was opened at India Street in Portland, Maine. He invented the famous sandwich that he called “The Original Real Italian” and named all of his sandwiches “Italians” to pay homage to his native country.
Unlike any other sandwiches in the U.S., Giovanni made his own sandwiches with green peppers, onions, olives, tomatoes, and pickles with Amato’s fresh baked roll. Its first sandwiches involved fresh vegetables, American cheese, and ham which reportedly became a favorite of Italian immigrants. However, because of its ingredients, particularly American cheese, some people argued that these were not original Italian sandwiches.
Dominic Reali, an employee of Amato’s, purchased the shop in 1972 and has grown the store to 47 locations with some of its recent expansions through franchising under Amato’s Xpress. It was also the time when he added sour pickles and Greek olives, as well as his own oil, which is a mixture of olive and vegetable oil, to the already famous “The Original Real Italian”.
Does Amato’s Have Vegan Options?
Unfortunately, there are not many vegan options that Amato’s offers, although they do have veggie alternatives that seem to be deliciously prepared. The only wrinkle to its preparation is the involvement of American cheese, which is unsuitable for vegans.
But the good news is they have vegan pizza, salads, pasta, and a veggie sub. You can also ask or request a vegan cheese, which is Christmas!
Nonetheless, let’s dig into Amato’s menu to see what option we can get. Its menu and price vary by location, but these, in general, are offered.
- Italian Sandwiches. It’s available in small and large sizes.
- Veggie Italian. On the menu, it involves American cheese, but you can ask the staff for vegan cheese instead. Amato’s fresh-baked roll is served with tomatoes, pickles, onions, green peppers, olives, salt, pepper, and oil. You can also add extra veggies if you need to.
- Eggplant Italian. This is one of Amato’s frequent visitors. It’s prepared with fried eggplant, American cheese, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, pickles, and olives. Of course, ask for vegan cheese replacement instead.
- Hot Sandwiches. This is also available in small and large sizes.
- Eggplant Parmigiana. Here’s another original Italian recipe with amazing flavors, including cheese, that you can ask for as a vegan option. It’s oven-baked with provolone and mozzarella, which are not vegan-friendly. However, you can always ask for a vegan cheese alternative.
- Specialty Pizza. It’s available in 9″, 14″, and 16″ sizes. Amato’s pizza crust is also gluten-free.
- White Pizza. This is served with three kinds of cheese, which you can request to make vegan it with onions, tomatoes, garlic, broccoli, spinach, eggplant, mushrooms, peppers, and Greek olives.
- Veggie Pizza. Delicious all veggie pizza served with mushrooms, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and olives.
- Build Your Own Pizza. This is also available in 9″, 14″, and 16″ sizes served with cheese, which you can ask for a vegan alternative. For the toppings, you can choose broccoli, green peppers, pineapple, hot peppers, olives, onions, roasted red peppers, mushrooms, and spinach.
- Calzone. This is prepared with mozzarella, provolone, and chopped tomatoes alongside meat options. But of course, meat isn’t for us. But they offer one item for Calzone that we can ask to make it vegan.
- Veggie Calzone. It’s served with fresh tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, green peppers, and olives.
- Fresh Wraps. Enjoy Amato’s fresh wraps dishes with its fresh vegetables that we are grateful for. Rejoice, vegan!
- Veggie Wrap. It’s one of my favorite items on Amato’s menu. This is prepared with American cheese, pickles, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers in your choice of wrap. You can scratch the American cheese off and ask for a vegan one.
- Eggplant Wrap. This is served with lettuce and tomato. Get a vegan cheese too!
- Specialty Pasta Dinners. We’re not too lucky when it comes to Amato’s pasta dishes, as most of them are prepared with dairy and meat. But there’s one item on the menu that we can possibly ask to make vegan.
- Eggplant Parmigiana Dinner. I personally love vegan parmigiana, and this is what I like the most at Amato’s. Just ask the staff if they can make it vegan for you. Well, at least the cheese.
- Fresh Salads. When it comes to salads, there’s always something for vegans. After all, veggies are its main ingredients, and Amato’s doesn’t disappoint.
- Garden Salad. We love Amato’s garden salad served with green peppers, olives, onions, and cherry tomatoes. It’s handmade, and we can assure it’s freshness.
- Dinner Salad. Here’s another handmade fresh salad that you can request to prepare vegan for you.
- Pazzo And Stuffers.
- Cheese Pazzo Bread. This is prepared with freshly-baked dough and seasoned with herbs, garlic, and cheeses with a delicious dipping sauce. Always ask for a vegan option.
- Stuffers. They also offer veggies stuffers, an excellent option for us vegans.
- Chips Menu. If you want some starters, Amato’s also has chips for you to get ready for a delicious main course.
- Humpty Dumpty Salt and Vinegar
- Plain Lays
- Doritos Cool Ranch
- Lays Salt and Vinegar
- Lays Sour Cream
- Doritos Nacho Cheese
- Humpty Dumpty All Season
- Humpty Dumpty BBQ
- Desserts Menu. Always ask Amato’s how these desserts were prepared to ensure they’re vegan-friendly. Otherwise, you can ditch these and enjoy some of their beverages instead.
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Peanut Butter Whoopie
- Plain Whoopie
- Walnut Brownie
- Beverages.
- Dasani
- Sprite
- Sunkist
- Coke
- Diet Coke
- Fanta
- Vitamin Water
- Powerade
Pro Tip: Always ask Amato’s about your diet restrictions, especially since it’s not a vegan restaurant but only makes vegan options by request.
Amato’s Locations
If you’re somewhere in New England region and are craving something Italian, Amato’s got you. You just have to ask them to make your dish vegan-friendly. Amato’s currently operates over 40 locations, with headquarters in Portland, Maine. Check out some of its locations below.
- Portland (St. John Street) 312 St.
- Portland (India Street) 71 India Street
- South Portland. 1108 Broadway
- Amato’s @ The Maine Mall. 364 Maine Mall Road
- Portland (Washington Ave) 1379 Washington Avenue
- Westbrook. 120 Main Street
- Falmouth. 264 US Route 1
- Scarborough. 234 US Route 1 (Oak Hill)
Best Vegan Sandwiches And Wraps You Can Grab And Go
If you are a person who’s always on the road and have no time to prepare breakfast, lunch, or snacks, we picked some of the best on-the-go meals that you can grab and go. These are vegan connoisseurs and PETA-approved, and also our personal favorite vegan brands.
- Amy’s Veggie Sausage Breakfast Sandwich
- Spiral Diner’s Mitch Tofu Club
- Amy’s Gluten-Free Tofu Scramble Breakfast Wrap
- Gardein Eggless Scramble Breakfast Pockets
- Seabirds Kitchen’s Porque Maria Sourdough Bread with Homemade Strawberry Jam
- Snackrilege’s The Mayhem Plant-based Ham and Bacon Sandwiches
- The Herbivorous Butcher’s Italian Cold Cut Sandwich
- Cornbread Cafe’s Eugenewich Southern-fried Tofu Sandwich
- Freesoul Caffe’s Panini Portobello Sandwich
- Whole Foods Market’s Tempeh Bacon Sandwich
- Knead’s Sweet Potato Sandwich
- Kindred’s Fried Seitan-based Chicken Sandwich
- The Southern V’s Hot Chick’n Sandwich
- Atlas Monroe’s Extra Crispy Chick’n Sandwich
- Wayward Vegan Cafe’s The Breakfast Club Grilled Ham and Tempeh Bacon Sandwich
- Chef Tanya’s Kitchen’s Modern Hippie Veggie Sandwich
- Native Foods Café’s Buffalo Chicken Run Ranch Seitan-based Chicken Sandwich
- Slutty Vegan’s Hawaiian Bun
- Breads on Oak’s Muffanada Vegan Italian Ham Muffuletta Sandwich
- Souley Vegan’s Ain’t Gator Po’Boy
- The Lion Dance Cafe’s Shaobing Sandwich
- Ike’s Love & Sandwiches’ Meatless Mike
- Flore Vegan’s Tofu ‘Egg’ Salad Sandwich
- Love Life Cafe’s Egg and Cheese Croissandwich
The Bottom Line
Amato’s offers some of the best Italian sandwiches, pasta, and pizzas in the United States, but it’s not a vegan spot. However, with the vegan options that customers can have on request, it’s still a good spot if you’re around the New England region.
Amato’s fresh salads and wraps are also to die for. You just have to ask for a vegan cheese option instead. The comprehensive list we provided above will be your best guide on what to order at this restaurant. Enjoy Amato’s!
