Lucca Italian Sandwich Shop

**What makes this different:** While the Gaslamp's taco spots feed the late-night party crowd or early-morning hangover recovery, Lucca exists in a parallel universe—tucked into an office building foyer, closed before happy hour even starts, making gourmet Italian sandwiches for the suits who actually work downtown. No trompo spinning, no surf murals, no 2am crowds. Just fresh-baked focaccia, premium Italian cold cuts, and the kind of oil-dripping sandwich you eat leaning forward over the wrapper.

The setup is barebones: window counter outside a high-rise, limited seating in the building's lobby, zero atmosphere beyond fluorescent lights and office building acoustics. You order through the window, wait (longer than you'd like—pre-orders still take 45 minutes), then either grab a lobby table or take your sandwich back to your desk. It's counter service in the most literal sense, and the space feels exactly like what it is: a lunch spot for people who work nearby, not a destination.

The focaccia is the key—soft, oily, house-made, a rare thing in a city that defaults to Dutch Crunch or basic hoagie rolls. Sandwiches lean traditional Italian deli: mortadella, capicola, fresh mozzarella, quality stuff. Everything arrives aggressively oily, which is either the point or a dealbreaker depending on your tolerance for authenticity. No vegan proteins, minimal accommodations—this is old-school Italian sandwich logic, not the build-your-own downtown lunch bowl flexibility.

Practical notes: Hours skew early (they're done before dinner), so this is breakfast and lunch only. Pre-order if you're on a tight schedule, but build in buffer time—the app estimates are optimistic. A few outdoor tables exist, and they're pet-friendly if you're walking a dog between meetings. Parking is downtown Gaslamp parking, meaning paid lots or luck.

This is a spot for people who know what they want: a legitimately good Italian sandwich in a neighborhood that mostly does tacos, burgers, or whatever the bars are serving. No frills, no scene, just focaccia and cold cuts done right.