Paninoteca Maggio

Appears closed. I passed by recently and made a note to come back to this cute café, but when I stopped by today they appeared closed. There was no note on the door and no furniture inside.

I ordered a pickup order the other day and by accident they made and charged me with 2 sandwiches, the Milano and the Chimi… BEST ACCIDENT EVER. The paninis here are on point! I save the 2^nd sandwich for dinner and reheated on my paini press and it still turned out as if I were eating it fresh in the shop. The bread is perfectly crusted and the flavors are very well balanced.
They also have amazing Italian coffee with beans imported from Italy. They use Segafredo beans and this is the only place in OC that I’ve seen these beans so far.
The staff at Paninoteca are very sweet and helpful, Sarah is a sweetheart and so is the suave young-​guy behind the counter (sorry I forgot your name).

Cute place. Great service.
The sandwiches are great. Haven’t had a bad one yet. Favorite one is the cold cut and like the crunch on the outside of the ciabatta. But recommend eating there if possible. They don’t travel or heat up great in my opinion. The red sauce with meatballs is very nice. We enjoyed our salad — had a nice sharp lemony dressing. Have yet to try the pasta but looks pretty good from the pics online.

Wow! What a cute little place with excellent panini sandwiches!
I wanted something delicious for lunch and let’s face it, it’s hard to screw up a panini so I figured this would be a safe bet. But this place was even better than I was expecting. I had to rush over because when I checked their hours online, I noticed they close at 2:30 (which I thought was a little weird and random) and the current time was 2:15. When I arrived, it was basically 2:30 but the door was still open, there was a group of people sitting at a table still hanging out, and a young guy at the counter smiling and seemingly ready to take my order. I apologized and asked if they would still let me place an order and he said «of course!» so that was that. He made a couple suggestions for me as I looked over the menu, and I took him up on one of them. I ordered the Amalfi panini, which had prosciutto, basil pesto, mozzarella, tomatoes, spinach, and balsamic on ciabatta bread. DELICIOUS. The amount of spread, toppings, and cheese was perfectly proportionate, and everything was super flavorful.
While I was waiting for the sandwich (which only took about 10 minutes), I checked in here on Unilocal and there was an offer for a free Italian soda, which I happily redeemed on my way out.
Great place, wish I lived nearby! Will certainly try to come back next time I’m in town.

After seeing the great reviews on Unilocal,I had to check this place out. I was a bit skeptical at first and thought, how good can a panini sandwich be? As it turns out, they can be pretty damn good. I had the Almafi sandwich and was impressed. The prosciutto was nice and salty, the ciabatta was crunchy but not hard, a feat which most other places can’t seem to get right, but the real winner here was the balsamic glaze. It really tied the sandwich together.
The service here was also amazing. The staff was incredibly nice and friendly. They really helped give the place a warm, cozy, mom and pop shop ambiance.
I am not a believer in paying $ 10 for a sandwich, but this is definitely a great place to check out if you’re into that sort of thing.

Awesome panini sandwiches! The sandwiches were just delicious and flavorful. It is not a fancy place with a lot of drinks or a lot of food, but what they specialize in is panini sandwiches and there is no complaint on how they taste. They do offer coffee and salads, pasta, and some sides as well. One bite of the sandwich felt like eating a sandwich made right from Italy and still warm after every bite.
I had the Toscana and the Amalfi as my sister order the Amalfi but we splitter half of each. I also got a soda for free with Unilocal Check-​In.
The Toscana was more meaty and was really delicious and awesome. The meat tasted flavorful not too much and not too less of any flavors. On the other hand however it was just a tad bit more of meat for me, but thats nothing to frown on as every bite I took from the bread and meat was so warm I can still feel the burn. Bread grilled just right, soft, crisp, not hard, just perfect.
The Amalfi was the same if not even better. The pesto sauce was so good, and it was not too heavy as Toscana because theres only a slice of meat which was even better. Very flavorful but not nothing overboard, bread was great as well. If had to choose I would prefer the Amalfi. Don’t worry you won’t go wrong with either choice as either way your tummy will be satisfied!
Around $ 9 – 10 for panini sandwiches.
Ambiance/​Service: Great little hip place and very clean. Enough seatings and comfortable. Service was awesome and staff took time to ask if we needed anything else. Service was fast and friendly.
Location: located around downtown Santa Ana. Parking can be found at public parking structure or meter parking around the building. I would suggest meter parking if your there for the food only, but public parking is fine as well.
Wonderful sandwiches and service, so I would definitely be back if I’m around the area. Delicious and unique panini and different from other panini sandwiches. So overall, you won’t go wrong with this place as your tummy will thank you for treating it with some delicious panini sandwiches!

The staff and the food each deserve their own five star rating.
The employees and owner were friendly and talkative. The Caesar salad was great! I liked that they grilled the romain and their buffalo cauliflower was better than most chicken wings I’ve had.
Nothing negative to say about this place. It’s worth a trip from anywhere in Orange County.

Cool place, friendly staff and all but the food was not 5 stars. I think the quality of the food was great, it was just very small for the price you pay. I would go back and try something else here though, just don’t go in you are expecting a big sandwich.

UNREAL FOOD!!!
Stop looking for a place to eat and just go here. The sandwiches are assembled and cooked with love. As if Julia Child were in the back making sandwiches from heaven. Have no fear if sandwiches or panini are not your thing. The Caesar salad would make the guy who invented it in Tijuana want to reconsider his recipe.
PS fun fact the Caesar salad was invented in Tijuana!
The sides are very good as well. I especially like the fried cheese risotto thing with marinara sauce.
I just hope they stay local here in Santa Ana as lines will start to form for this place once word spreads.

Oh cazzo! This was unexpected! One bite to my Amalfi and I was blown away. This is good!
The place is divi-​hip and very clean. I really liked it.
Parking is easy as there is a public parking lot right around the corner
The staff is extremely nice and the service is fast
Menu options are limited (which I love) and fresh made the moment you order them.
I loved my prosciutto panini, the flavors really mix well, and the bread was fresh and crisp. Would love to try more of this place and that is what defines the score I give them. There are some many places out there that are just ok, but inspire you more to see what else is out there rather that make you want to come back. THIS IS NOT THAT KID OF PLACE!
I can wait to try other options. Good work. Great concept!!!

This place is
. I’ve had this place bookmarked for some time and finally had an opportunity to try Paninoteca Maggio out. It’s a quaint restaurant with an attentive staff. As a first time customer — my drink was on the house. The latte espresso was fresh and full of flavor. As for the food, I had the Amalfi and Toscana. The prosciutto was DELICIOUS. Both sandwiches were awesome.
I can definitely tell that the people here care about their customers! Keep it up Paninoteca Maggio!

I never write Unilocal reviews, but this place was so good I couldn’t NOT write one.
I lived in Italy when I was in college and ever since I’ve moved back to the U.S., I’ve been on the hunt for real Italian food. And let me tell you, this place is the REAL DEAL. I’ve been to several panini shops and pasta bistros that didn’t even come close to the legit Italian food I had in Florence. But Paninoteca Maggio hit the nail on the head. I got the Toscana Panino and it brought me back to my Italian adventures eating paninis on the Ponte Vecchio between classes.
The service here is phenomenal as well. Since I travel a lot for work, I came in for lunch alone and the cashier was incredibly friendly and welcoming. I ordered a panini and drink and she struck up a conversation. I instantly felt at home with that Italian hospitality (even though I doubt she was Italian) and she even ended up giving me tiramisu and espresso on the house.
This place is AMAZING! I’m definitely coming back whenever I’m in the area

Omg. I found it again. My beloved sandwich shop that used to be in Orange now is in Santa Ana.
I used to work down the street and would go here every week for the Amalfi sandwich. The service here was always top notch and food was always mind blowing.
Still the same! My goodness, if you have the chance to come here, pls do. It is absolutely amazing.

I really enjoyed Paninoteca Maggio. The small shop seemed to be run by the owner himself and he is good about welcoming guests when they enter the doors. He was very helpful in recommending his special «Toscana» sandwich. This was delicious.
I think he has created some cool sandwich creations, mixing a variety of ingredients that go well together. The grilled paninis come out very nice and fresh. Also, if you check in you can get a free Italian soda or coffee.
There are other hot items you can order and I saw other groups of people with delicious looking food. It’s not the cheapest place for lunch, but I was happy with my order and want to come back and try other things.
Overall I felt very warm/​welcomed from the owner and the menu items look great. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this sandwich. The store décor and seating is nice, I think you would like your experience here.

Amalfi panini was super delicious. Fresh ciabatta, perfectly toasted. Just the right amount of prosciutto and fresh fluffy mozzarella. Also got the free iced latte as part of the Unilocal check in offer (I think it’s super cool that they do this — super generous). The service was great, décor was super cute and Italian/​funky, and the soundtrack (Janice Joplin, classic 60s rock) was good. I really enjoyed my time here and recommend! :)
Come here for bomb coffee, tasty Italian food, and cool atmosphere :) good for studying too!

The owner is probably one of the most sweetest person I have ever met. Walking in he showed me the menu, told me what was popular, and offered me a free soda since I was a new customer. What was even sweeter was how he greated returning customers; returning customers received the warmest welcome and a thanks for their return. I mean, I can see why they would come back. Besides the great service their sandwiches were great as well. The offer perfectly toasted paninis that are all well balanced in flavor.
I opted for the Milano Panini, which was a toasted chicken panini. The bread… was perfect! Nicely toasted and had that crunch (you know, where it doesn’t hurt your mouth but just makes such a satisfying sound. The chicken was nice, tender, juicy. The cheese was melted; there was i believe a tomato sauce? That’s what it seemed like. The sauce complemented it very well; it wasn’t too sour or overpowering. Everything balanced very well.
The place did offer wifi, so I sat there eating my yummy sandwich will working on some homework. Before I left, the owner continuously came over to ask how I was doing and even offered me free coffee. Seriously, he was so sweet. I would definitely come back if I was ever in the area!

I had to do a stint in the jury pool at OC Central Court several weeks ago. And by the time lunch came around I was starving. I had been studying my Unilocal bookmarks and remembered a joint that my Unilocal (and Vegas transplant) friend Priscilla Y raved about. However this was a new location as they had moved a couple months earlier to this spot on Main St.
Paninoteca Maggio sounds like an Italian BSDM home game involving leather and jello. However this joint puts out some tasty Panini sammy’s less the whips and chains and Cosby-​esk Jello shots. The menu is small
but has enough variety to fit almost any ones tastes.
I ordered me a combo lunch deal. Featuring the Bologna Panini … Mortadella, Capicola, Genoa Salami, Provolone, Tomatoes, Spinach, and Lemon Aioli, on a panini toasted Ciabatta roll. Toss in a bag of Jalapeño chips and a drink* an you got a tasty lunch. Http://​www​.yelp​.com/​b​i​z​_​p​h​o​t​o​s​/​p​a​n​i​n​o​t​e​c​a​-​m​a​g​g​i​o​-​s​a​n​t​a​-​a​n​a​-​6​?​s​e​l​e​c​t​=​-​e​G​I​W​1​V​Y​X​h​s​3​u​u​N​c​o​OIMLg 4****Stars for the Panini.
*Hated the few drink choices. How about a beer? The San Pellegrino stuff tasted like flavored Alka-​Seltzer. Yuck!
–1*star
Dig the small Italiano café vibe.
Its very clean and the staff was super nice. The owner was on hand and even checked up on me. All is good in the land of Panini.
I’ll be back for more Sammy’s but will make it a BYOB affair next time.

Upon walking in the owner introduced himself and explained the menu real quick to me and my boyfriend. As we sat down to look at the menu he came over with free drinks for first time customers, and I found it extremely considerate and kind of him to interact with each customer! Not many places do this and I really appreciated the simple gesture.
We ordered the Milano, Firenze, and their bufali cauliflower. All of the food was pretty good I love how their bread is perfectly crunchy and not too thick. Next time I hope to try the Almafi.

I’m happy that I got to visit this nice place again. There are only two places I would order paninis, one is here and another is in SD.
Walked in and welcomed by Sharron warmly. Ordered latte and enjoyed the deco and long conversation with Sharron. Nothing better than having this welcoming environment and meeting new people :)
I had panini the first one on the menu (u really bad at names). I couldn’t wait to go home and eat it. I finished half in my car while driving.
Good quality of coffee and panini. Fresh n fresh.
Located next to the parking structure. Easy access.
Def recommend this coffee shop.
It’s a good place to start your morning through out ur day :)

Amazing food, amazing customer service! I’ve been coming here since they started by mothers market and Sharron is probably the nicest person you will ever run into in Santa Ana. He is always giving people free drinks and samples while you wait as well. Food is always delicious and on point. They recently rolled out their pasta menu and it’s just as incredible as the panini’s
Sharron you sir are a genius.

It’s still amazing!!! I was really bummed when their original location closed down about maybe 2 years ago and I have been waiting very patiently for their new location to open up. The place is much bigger and its located in downtown Santa Ana.
I am a huge fan of their delicious fresh sandwiches but I was craving a salad so I decided on their Casa salad. OMG! The salad was incredible, it was very huge and filling. It came with all kinds of goodies such as garbanzo beans, kale, fresh cheese and the balsamic house dressing was to die for. I can’t wait to become a regular again.
They also serve dinner at this location so I am really excited to try it out!!! I am almost positive it will also be an amazing experience!!!

Chef Sharron loves Segafredo coffee and is the only restaurant on the West Coast to serve it. Macchiato is espresso with foam. It tastes just like it would in Italy. The espresso is thick, creamy, and powerful. The foam is luxurious and blankets the espresso lovingly. Rating: ⁵⁄₅
Arancini are deep-​fried mozzarella risotto balls served with marinara and pecorino. The arancini are huge! The serving is ample to share. The outside is crispy and golden brown. Break them open and steam begins to rise from the hot, creamy risotto inside. The mozzarella in the middle is hot and gooey. The marinara is sweet and herbaceous with slight acidity. It would be great on pasta (order Spaghetti Pomodoro if you want more). Rating: 4.8÷5
Toscana Panini is porchetta, roasted potatoes, arugula, and lemon aioli layered on ciabatta. The outside of the bread is perfectly grilled by the press — making it crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. The porchetta is so tender and juicy, it just melts like «pork» butter in your mouth. The potatoes taste like they have been roasted in the pork juices and are soft and buttery. The portion is huge and ample to share or take home for another meal. The layered flavors work really well together for the perfect sandwich. Rating: ⁵⁄₅
Fusilli Bolognese is slow cooked red wine meat ragu, marinara, arugula, and topped with shaved parmesan. The slow cooking of the ragu is rich with flavor from the wine, carrot, celery, herbs and meat. Fusilli is an excellent vehicle to capture the symphony of flavors in each bite. It has a little bit of heat to it, but nothing uncomfortable. Rating: ⁵⁄₅

I recently had an Italian Porchetta Panini at Stefano’s in Yorba Linda. They make some great panini sandwiches and it’s my GO TO place for lunch. Until recently, the Porchetta was a complete unknown in my dictionary. It’s a savory and moist cut of boneless pork roast. I’m talking about layers of salty swine that’s stuffed with meat, fat, and skin, which is then rolled and cooked over wood.
Want to know my other venue of choice for panini sandwiches? You guessed it — Paninoteca Maggio. It’s back at a new DTSA location and better than ever. For a Wednesday night, it was awfully quiet, probably because all the hipsters are checking out the nearby 4^th Street Market. Word of advice my friends. I’d gladly spend my dough here than over there.
TOSCANA
It’s their signature item. Porchetta, roasted potatoes, arugula, lemon aioli, and ciabatta. Usually, the porchetta sandwich I’ve tasted are more oily and fatty, but this has really good texture. Has to be the best sandwich that I’ve had this year. I know I’m going to have quite a few during the Year of the Sheep, but I’d bet my money on this one for sure. If you’re a newbie here, you have to get this first. Scout’s honor.
Brother Qster H had the AMALFI, which has this incredible flavor. It’s prosciutto, basil pesto, mozzarella, tomatoes, arugula, balsamic glaze, and ciabatta. With both sammies under 10 bucks, I recommend bringing a friend and sharing a piece together. Like two peas in a pod.
I’m smiling at the art work inside this place, as I check in and realize that you get a FREE beverage when you do. I’m talking about San Pellegrino flavored mineral water. Ever try the Clementina? F’ing awesome homie. Sweet with a slightly tart citrus finish, with just the right amount of light fizz which allows the natural aroma to mingle on your palate.
If that doesn’t work for you, then opt for the Acqua Panna water. IMO, this is THE best natural spring water on the planet. This stuff isn’t cheap, so be glad that Paninoteca Maggio gives you a bottle on the house.