Pacific Park Social is a paninoteca and cafe serving grilled sandwiches with real Italian ingredients, gelato, and pastries.

Scanning the old school black menu with plastic white letters rouses my appetite, words like capicola, pepperoncini and tangelo leaping out at me. Another marquee-style menu advertises equally tantalizing salads.

All sandwich-making takes place at the front window decorated with Pacific Park’s regal logo.

Seating is beyond that at the back, and the entire place has been outfitted with fun and rustic salvage items from Smash.

A bike from Mojo Cycles hangs on the wall, inspired by owner Joe Gallo’s father’s stint as bread delivery man.

Lattes ($4) are made with Hale coffee and come in custom-designed Burgeon mugs that are also available for sale ($35).

There are also coasters ($13) and teapots ($40) among other tea and coffee ware.

Free cannoli are a great bonus with your purchase. You could also work something out should you want to purchase a bulk amount or order a certain number for a special occasion. The filling which is also used for their ricotta sandwich is made by hand in house, and the shells are imported from Italy.

Plain Blackbird focaccia baked daily is used for panini, and whole sourdough baguettes are also available for sale.

The n’duja sausage ($12) is a melty sandwich of sausage imported from Calabria creamed with roasted red peppers and chilis to create a sort of sausage paste with mozzarella, rapini, tangy house pepperoncini and pine nuts.

The roasted beet ($10) is a cheaper option and vegetarian with brightening tangelo, mint, a blend of mascarpone and gorgonzola, and crunchy pistachio.

Every sandwich comes garnished with a pickled pepperoncini, French gherkin, and served with a side of Moroccan olives chilled in cold pressed extra virgin olive oil.

A salad ($8, $12 for a large) of potatoes grilled on a panini press ringing a pile of arugula dressed with lemon and garlic dressing and topped with a tender poached and braised octopus tentacle, dill, capers, pine nuts and meaty olives.

Desserts include house tiramisu and rotating gelato flavours like chocolate, olive, and neapolitan, which of course means you can get affogato.

A dairy free lemon ($4) is creamy and light at the same time.

More space in the back beyond a custom tiled hallway is planned for use for an extended seating area.