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Skip the costly plain ticket to Tuscany and, instead, feast on Italian flavors at one Chicago's many mom-and-pop delis. These humble affairs, often sharing space with grocery stores, offer killer sandwiches in endless combinations. Soprasetta, genoa salami, mortadella, provolone, capicolla, meatballs, artichokes, prosciutto, eggplant ... hungry yet?
Gino's Italian Imports
3422 N. Harlem Ave.
Chicago, IL
60634
(773) 745-8310
Hours: breakfast and lunch daily
What looks from the outside like any other Italian deli on this saturated strip of Chicago's Northwest side is actually the best go-to spot to load up on fresh pasta (it shares a door with adjacent Pasta Fresh) and Italian sauces. Or, if the thought of taking home sheets of fresh noodles to cook yourself already has you looking at your watch, just sidle up to the deli case and order a couple arancini. These fist-size treats are made from risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella, green peas and a dab of marinara and then deep fried to a wonderfully crunchy golden brown.
Gio's Cafe & Deli
2724 S. Lowe Ave.
Chicago, IL
60616
(312) 225-6368 http://www.gioscafe.com Hours: open daily
In a space no bigger than most eateries' bar, owners Giovanni and Nacho have managed to pack in a fully stocked deli counter, a handful of red-checked tables and a few cases of grab-and-go options, like fresh lasagna and gnocchi. That's good news for hungry Bridgeport residents, who flock to Gio's as much for the family atmosphere and community spirit than the lip-smacking Italian offerings. Dive into a full menu of pastas, salads and soups or comb the deli counter for a belly-busting sub sandwich. The arancini (fried risotto balls stuffed with meat sauce and peas) are not to be missed.
Tony's Italian Deli & Subs
6708 N Northwest Hwy
Chicago, IL
60631
(773) 631-0055 http://www.tonysdeliandsubs.com Hours: open daily
Caution: You might be tempted, upon seeing the staggering selection of pastas, sauces, breads and cookies at Tony's Italian Deli & Subs, to wonder aloud how everything could be made in-house. But the proud Italian mama working the cash register is quick to remind customers that everything, indeed, is. Lucky for hungry diners in Edison Park, who choose mainly between deli subs laden with imported meats and cheeses (the Italian beef and the meatball sub being the most popular) and ready-to-heat containers of pasta dishes (think of it as an especially delicious, fresh TV dinner, for about $5 a pop). There's also a small grocery section for ambitious cooks, though with such tantalizing freshly prepared options that are ready-to-eat, why bother picking up a pot?
University Market
1323 E. 57th St.
Chicago, IL
60637
(773) 363-0070
Hours: open daily
At first glance this pint-sized grocery is easy to dismiss (the deli is hidden along the back wall), but doing so would be a real shame. Operated by the owners of the adjacent Medici (and serving sandwiches on the bakery's super-fresh, scrumptious bread), University Market's deli is well worth a visit. Those in the know head straight for the mozzarella sub, made with plump slabs of fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes and aromatic basil. Dusted with oil and spices, this sandwich is a closely guarded secret among the cash-strapped students at nearby University of Chicago. Grab a cappuccino to go at the Med next door and head for the park across the street for the perfect low-stress Italian picnic.
Miceli's Deli and Food Mart
2448 S. Oakley Ave.
Chicago, IL
60608
(773) 847-6873
Hours: breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday
With seating for 120, Miceli's is a blissful break from grab-and-go delis and the perfect spot if your date is craving linguine with clams while you've just got to have a tall stack of prosciutto. Black-and-white checked flooring, a small grocery section to one side, and plenty of cheap, hearty fare will reassure you that this isn't some gussied up ristorante. Instead, look for sandwiches bursting with breaded eggplant, pepper and egg, and all manner of imported and domestic Italian meats (hungry enough for a double sausage?). Happily, the sit-down scene makes it easy to pair that monster sub with a cup of Italian wedding soup or a fat cannoli ... if you're not already full to the brim, that is.
L'Appetito
30 E. Huron St.
Chicago, IL
60611
(312) 787-9881 http://www.lappetito.com Hours: breakfast and lunch Monday-Saturday
L'Appetito is known for two things: Its sizable and loyal fan base which consider it one of the best Italian delis in the city, and its veg-friendly menu that lures those who crave a taste of Italy minus the meat. Sink your teeth into a cacophony of eggplant, arugula, roasted red peppers and goat cheese with the Verduri Arostite or, for the omnivores, belly up to La Bomba, a weighty, toothsome mound of genoa salami, mortadella, capicollo, provolone and plenty of giardinera on thick-sliced tomato focaccia. Pastas, pizza, grilled sandwiches (including a tasty egg-and-cheese breakfast panini) round out the sizable menu.
Open since 1991, this Streeterville deli has been giving Fox & Obel a run for its money in terms of hungry workers needing quick, tasty lunches. Italian classics from pizza and pasta to mammoth deli subs that can make even the biggest appetite seem itty-bitty are the main draws. The salads here are particularly plentiful, from lemon basil pasta salad to a wonderfully tangy fresh beet salad to the popular chicken walnut grape salad. Vibrant green, red and white dominate the interior of this small, clean space, which is hopping during weekdays.
This one-stop Italian shop houses a grocery section, refrigerator cases full of ready-to-heat pastas, a small beer and wine section, and a deli case that lines the back wall. There you'll find Italian offerings that blow other hum-drum Italian eateries out of the water. Look for mouthwatering eggplant lasagna and homemade sausage meatballs, along with sandwich fixings like roasted eggplant and bell peppers, smoked prosciutto, homemade pestos and premium cheeses.
Conte Di Savoia
1438 W. Taylor St.
Chicago, IL
60607
(312) 666-3471
Hours: open daily
Ask fans of this Little Italy delicatessen what their favorite item inside is and you're likely to start a fierce argument: Some people swear by the cannoli (rich and creamy in a still-crunchy shell), while others can't get enough of the sandwiches (try the grilled eggplant, artichoke and mozzarella or the tender, smoked prosciutto layered with mozzarella), while still others stop in for the full pans of ready-made lasagna, bottles of exotic olive oil and jars of imported condiments. The best way to settle the argument, of course, is to taste test a bit of everything.
Lucia's Deli
1825 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL
60622
(773) 292-9700
Hours: lunch Monday-Saturday; dinner daily
Think of this storefront deli as the little sis of adjacent Lucia Ristorante (the two eateries share a kitchen). But its pint-size stature doesn't stop this spot from being big on taste. Look for comfort classics like pizza, salads and sandwiches (most popular are the scrumptious turkey, hot pepper cheese and pesto mayo on focaccia or the tuna salad with artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes) as well as Italian faves like marinated olives, artichoke hearts, huge hunks of nutty, aromatic cheeses and, of course, cannoli.
Bari Foods
1120 W. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL
60622
(312) 666-0730
Hours: open daily (closes at 1 p.m. on Sunday)
While standing in line at the deli counter (and odds are that you will be, if you come during lunch on a weekday), peruse the Italian delicacies that line the shelves of this often-crowded grocery store/deli (think fig vinegar and walnut pestos to start). Thick slices of homemade tiramisu and pints of Ciao Bella gelato fill the freezers. But the real show is in front of the long lunch line, where a well-stocked deli case serves up some of the tastiest, cheapest subs in the city. Neighborhood locals feast daily on corned beef, prosciutto, spicy sausage and fresh mozzarella. The giardinera is made in-house and ranges from mild to fire-truck-hot (consider yourself warned).
Fiore's Domestic Import Deli
2300 W. Erie St.
Chicago, IL
60612
(312) 942-9419
Hours: lunch daily; dinner Monday-Saturday
Double-fisted delights abound at this family-owned Ukrainian Village gem, from monster-sized sandwiches like Italian beef and piping hot meatball to the drool-worthy dessert selections. The make-your-own sub offerings run from kicky sopresatta to standard salami to an abundance of thick-sliced cheeses. The roasted red pepper and scrambled egg sandwich, piled high on a crusty fresh roll, has lured in even the most hardcore meat lover. Pans of pasta fill the refrigerator cases for those who can wait to heat heavenly Italian food at home.
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