Sanwits Brings Unapologetic Filipino Sandwiches to the East Village

Unapologetic Foods, the restaurant group behind Adda, Dhamaka, and Semma, has opened Sanwits, a Filipino sandwich shop in the East Village, New York. The group, known for its bold Indian cuisine, previously ran Rowdy Rooster, a fried-chicken spot that closed earlier this year. Sanwits is overseen by Eric Valdez, former chef de cuisine of Dhamaka and chef-partner of Naks, the group's other non-Indian outpost. The menu features inventive sandwiches like a lechón French dip with Vienna-sausage mayonnaise, a caldereta-inspired cheesesteak with Eden cheese, and a house-made spam sandwich with banana ketchup secret sauce. Sides include vinegar fries tossed with malt-vinegar powder and MSG, lumpiang shanghai, and mac and cheese with Filipino spaghetti sauce. Valdez plans to slim the lineup to four sandwiches. The restaurant has already dropped some items, including fried mackerel and mushroom adobo. The space seats four, encouraging takeout to nearby Tompkins Square Park.