LONGMEADOW – The challenge facing any restaurant offering a fairly standard menu item is how they make it their own.

There are literally endless grinder and pizza shops offering a meatball grinder. The ingredients for the sandwich are pretty basic: meatballs, sauce, cheese served in a grinder roll.

In fact, I’ve always seen sampling universal menu offerings as a good test for a restaurant.

The difference between any meatball sandwich or grinder is in the little touches a chef adds to it.

Posto, the new Italian restaurant in the Longmeadow Shops, describes itself as  “a new take on old school Italian cooking from the family behind the award-winning Federal Restaurant & Bar and Vinted Wine Bar & Kitchen.”

The Reminder Publishing east office staff has been writing about Posto’s sandwich choices for the past several weeks and the verdict has been all positive.  I’m joining the trend, as the meatball sandwich I had was very good.

The style and ambiance of Posto makes a visit special. The wait staff is knowledgeable and friendly, but the food is the test.

The ingredients noted in the menu for my sandwich are deceptively simple: “veal meatballs, ricotta, basil, parmesean.” The star of the sandwich – the meatballs – are clearly made from scratch, propelling this sandwich above its rivals. There are enough meatballs to give you a taste with every bite – something that other such sandwiches don’t necessarily offer.

I’m sure you’ve had a meatball grinder that is more sauce than meatball. That is not the case here.

The addition of ricotta cheese is a plus here adding another level of cheesy goodness. There is enough sauce to moisten the sandwich and the presence of basil gives it another flavor kick.

All in all the sandwich is a solid, enjoyable lunch experience.  Posto is located at 674 Bliss Rd. in Longmeadow.