Arrusti e mangia is a sandwich shop in Favara, in the province of Agrigento. On the surface, it might seem like a typical sandwich shop serving delicious sandwiches filled with grilled meat and served with chips. Yet this unsuspecting establishment hides a jealously guarded secret... a spectacular dessert recipe that's revolutionizing a small Sicilian business. The witty owner, Antonino Borrello, tells us about it.
What kind of customers come to Arrusti e Mangia?
Most of our customers are young, but what makes us happiest is seeing familiar faces. Many of our customers are loyal and never miss an opportunity to visit us, even at outdoor events and festivals.
What is your greatest satisfaction?
It's always nice to hear that our customers are satisfied, but the most satisfying thing is knowing they enjoyed their meal so much that they want to return, perhaps with friends or family. We care deeply about creating a welcoming atmosphere and want everyone to feel at home when they dine with us.
How did you get started working in this field?
Passion was what drove me to open this business. Even though I started out as an ice cream maker, I've always had a passion for grilled food, so four years ago I decided to expand my business by opening a sandwich shop. Since then, we've always tried to introduce new ideas to surprise our customers, and I believe this has helped us grow tremendously over the years.
What are your specialties?
Our specialties are grilled meats and specialty sandwiches, but we also make grilled vegetables, French fries, arrosticini, and crepes for dessert. Recently, however, we added a new product that we make exclusively: crepe spaghetti with Ice N Roll.
Why did you decide to include Ice N Roll on your menu?
I chose to buy Ice N Roll after watching a video on TikTok. It was an original product and I was intrigued. I thought it was a great way to attract customers with a dessert they'd never seen before, thus setting me apart from all the other businesses.
Has your business changed since you introduced Ice N Roll? If so, how?
Ever since I've had it, I've been thrilled. Seeing Ice N Roll in action is like a magic show... it piques customers' curiosity. Some stop because they see something unusual happening, and then the others follow. Other than that, our business hasn't changed much since we introduced it to the menu; the only big difference is that the desserts are now selling like hotcakes. Typically, out of 200 people who order the sandwich, at least 10 complete their order with ice cream.
What would you say to someone thinking about introducing Ice N Roll to their menu? Would you recommend it? And why?
No, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone because they'd become my competition. I like having exclusivity, so I absolutely wouldn't want anyone else in my country to have it. For now, we're the only ones offering this product, and we hope to remain so for a long time! 😉
