The Brooklyn Paper / Juliana Bunim

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Before brothers Chris and David Russell could build a hoagie at My Hero, their new sandwich shop in Windsor Terrace, they had to build the restaurant itself.

“We gutted the whole thing with the help of family and friends,” said David. “Now it’s great, like walking into your own home.” And he means it, the brothers Russell don’t just rent the space, they own the whole building.

Russell is just as proud of chef (and, of course, “family friend”) Joseph Alvich’s breakfast dishes, daily soups and sandwiches. “Whatever Joe cooks, everyone loves,” he said. That includes the three super-sized neighborhood favorites: “My Hero” honey-glazed turkey, mozzarella, bacon, romaine and honey mustard; “The Belt,” a chicken cutlet with melted American cheese, bacon and brown gravy; and the “Double Dave,” roasted pork, smoked mozzarella and roasted peppers named for the brothers’ father.

In addition to sandwiches, Alvich, who worked in the kitchen at Serendipity 3 in Manhattan, serves up hot heroes like sausage and peppers and veal Parmesan. Also on the menu are sliders: tiny, plump hamburgers that come four to an order and are topped with ketchup and cheese (and don’t skip the side of fries). On the more sophisticated side of the menu, a special of chicken breasts filled with spinach and prosciutto and topped with a rich wine sauce caused one recent customer to comment: “The chef has fingers of gold.”

©2007 The Brooklyn Paper