It can be tricky to find a new place to eat around Algonquin. You may have passed somewhere before and thought that it looked good, but decided to stick with your usual, choosing comfort over change. However, there are so many hidden gems in Northborough that you may not have tried before that you certainly need to give a go.

Located in the heart of Northborough center at 5 W Main Street is Tazza Caffe. They serve up traditional Italian-inspired paninos, salads, coffee and more. Just a five-minute drive from Algonquin, it’s a convenient spot to pick up lunch after school or on the weekend. They are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday-Saturday, and offer both online and in-person orders. 

Upon entering, you’ll immediately see the wall plastered with posters and maps of Italy, adding to the cafe’s atmosphere and roots. I appreciated that the place felt like I was walking into somebody’s home, with a warm greeting from the owner, and all of the decorations. Unfortunately, seating is limited, with just a handful of tables and chairs; however, the place itself is quite small, so I understand. 

What sets Tazza apart from other sandwich shops is the freshness of everything it serves. They use a meat slicer to freshly slice each piece of meat for orders. Additionally, they offer the option to have sandwiches cold or grilled. You can tell the owners put a lot of passion and effort into ensuring each of their sandwiches comes out perfect, and that what they’re serving is quality. 

The menu is large, offering many different types of paninos and an option to create your own. I eventually decided on the La Gemma, which came with roast beef, lettuce, tomato, charred onion and garlic-herbed cheese. However, I opted to add Italian aioli to my sandwich. Although their sandwiches are expensive, the portions are large, and I was able to get two meals out of my sandwich. The total, including tax, came to $18.19, so you absolutely get your money’s worth. 

Their paninos are large and absolutely delicious. My sandwich had a generous portion of both bread and meat. The Italian roll was phenomenal, and the roast beef was fresh and flavorful. The garlic-herbed cheese, along with the Italian aioli I added, complemented the sandwich well. I would highly recommend Tazza Caffe, and I do believe they have some of the best sandwiches around. I would give the overall atmosphere a 7.5/10, and the food a 9/10. 

The surrounding towns around Algonquin offer plenty of local options for food, but I’m sure that once you try Tazza Caffe, you might just want to come back for another sandwich. Whether you find yourself craving a large sandwich, coffee, tea or salad, they have it all.