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- Nearest Transit:
-
New York Avenue Metro Station (Red)
- Hours:
Tue-Wed 8 am - 4 pm
Thu-Fri 8 am - 5 pm
Sat 8 am - 3 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Cathleen R. said: "In Foggy Bottom, where creativity is lacking with regard to food, FoBoGro is a small beacon of deliciousness. The salads are a bit lacking for the price, but the sandwiches are stuffed with all sorts of cool combinations. All of them…" read more »
103 reviews for A Litteri
Review Highlights
"obnoxious amount of olive oils and balsamics."
(in 23 reviews)
"The 9 inch hard roll is definitely the way to go."
(in 14 reviews)
"Walk through the door, and experience Italian nirvana."
(in 66 reviews)
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103 reviews in English
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Review from Emily S.
1/30/2012
Litteri's should change their name to 'Emily S's Place of Pure Happiness.' There is something about Litteri's that just makes me feel a wave of calm when I enter that lackluster green door. I think it is a combination of being completely surrounded by delicious goodies, wine up to the ceiling, and knowing that I will be getting an amazing Italian hoagie in the near future.
The cheese and meat they have in the deli is really good quality and they are always up for giving out samples. The store is packed with a full assortment of pastas, sauces, olive oils, and any other Italian staples. Wine specials are always near the front and you can get a bunch of bottles for only $2.99. That is not a typo, you can actually get bottles of wine for less than $3. One of the many reasons I adore this place. -
Review from JR C.
Annapolis, MD
2/8/2012
as someone before me said, when you open that nondescript green door, you are entering the rabbit hole! Chock-a-block floor to ceiling with an amazing array of goodies, most of which you will never see in a big chain grocery like Giant or Safeway. The aisles are so tight that just reading the labels is difficult even with my "readers" on... it's hard to get back far enough to focus. And... if someone wants to walk by, as you are gazing at these delights, be prepared to get a bit friendly, even intimate!
I have been meaning to visit here for a long time based on the many previous comments. I wound up spending a small fortune on $4 wine, $40 Greek olive oil (3 liters) and $49 balsamic vinegar. (all of which is a fraction of the price one would pay in the 'burbs.) I will need to do another trip soon. The place filled up so fast as the lunch line was taking over, it made further shopping about impossible, and just moving around difficult. I so much wanted one of those awesome looking cold-cut sandwiches!!! So no doubt about it I will come back soon. Anyone know when it is not rush hour?
BTW, dress is casual and there is no valet parking! -
Review from Shachi B.
If there was any more space I'd sell my house, pack a cot and move the hell in. This place is THE BEST in DC for Italian groceries. As in, you've died and gone to Italian heaven.
The isle of dried pasta is my personal favorite. Every type of pasta you can imagine lives there - including noodles that I had never seen before, including extra long spaghetti (yes, it's over 2 feet long). And, unlike what you buy in the grocery store, it's just dried pasta - not chock full of preservatives, just pasta (see pic.).
They also have cans of san marzano tomatoes, perfect for making a huge batch of sauce (I think the cans are 48 oz or so for 7.99). I wanted to buy a bunch, but my poor wallet stopped me. I'll definitely be back for those though...
My final secret: their spice isle. They sell large quantities of dried herbs and spices at a fraction of the cost you would pay in [Insert any grocery store here].
Cannot WAIT to go back and try their eggplant parm subs. *drool* -
Review from Fred K.
Washington, DC
2/9/2012
Looking for a REALLY good Italian sub on the Hill? Go here and get whatever you want on the 9" hard roll. Better than Mangialardo's. Better than Taylor Deli. Better than anyplace in the DC area. The whole experience with the deli and the grocery store is like being back in the North End of Boston. I love this place!
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Review from Robert T.
Washington D.C., DC
1/23/2012
Incredible Italian market. I regularly purchase cold cuts from here. The domestic prosciutto is very good if you don't want to spend $18/lb on the imported stuff. They know how to thick-cut pancetta and their hot sausage is the best in the city. It's the best selection of Cento-brand and similar items around, with an entire section devoted to different pastas ranging in size, shape, and price.
They have a good selection of cheeses, precut and shredded in the cooler or in the case behind the deli. The people that work there are very friendly and know their food very well if you have any questions. Make sure you get a mini-canoli from the cooler by the registers near the front of the store.
Perfect place to buy really good olive oil in bulk and the biggest selection of Italian wines in the city.Also, they have a good selection of wines for less than $5 a bottle if you are always on the hunt for that next great, cheap bottle.
And, always be sure and buy a sandwich before you leave. There is a reason why there is usually a line of hungry-looking people who obviously went out of their way to get there.
Be sure and check out some of the neighboring stores and markets, always interesting. -
Review from Jimmy D.
Silver Spring, MD
2/5/2012
Good selection of wine and Italian foods. Reminds me of a New York style family owned Italian deli. Simple Italian cold cut is very good.
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Review from Liz K.
Arlington, VA
1/12/2012
This is a great Italian deli! You can find practically anything here. There is a huge WALL of Pasta and another huge shelf of olive oils and vinegars! You can also order Italian deli meats and fresh homemade Italian Sausage (very lean).
When you come be sure to order a sandwich! They are the GREATEST! -
Review from Sean M.
Severna Park, MD
Despite my Irish American upbringing, 20 years in Flushing Queens NY has instilled in me a profound fondness for good Italian food. From meatball parmigiana (god bless you spell check!) to Oso-bucco I love it all as long as its done well.
So when my boss suggested that we drive 25 minutes into DC at 11:00 am on a Friday, I confess to being fairly certain that I was in for a lack luster sub consisting mainly of over priced boars head cold cuts and re-bottled Newman's own Italian dressing. Not to mention the New York Ave. nightmare traffic, both ways. I saw myself unwrapping a $10 sandwich and seeing the tell tale bumps on the bottom of an until just recently frozen "fresh baked" roll (my pet peeve)...
I have to give the boss some credit, this place was the real deal. A Litteri's is at first glance a wholesale market where you find yourself wondering if you are at the right place when you stand out front for the first time. Had I not been brought there by one of the initiated I would have walked right past the place as it seems like you would need your restaurant owners card to get in. At second glance, once you realize that all you have to do us push on the imposing green door, the place is a liquor store with a couple sandwiches in the soda cooler at the back of the place. As I made my way to the cooler dreading the price tag I'd find on a pre - made sub, the place unfolded before me; back, and to the right......... Suddenly I was back at Amoruso's grocery on Parsons Blvd... This was a real Italian deli.
The Italian sub came stock with capiccola ham, salami, provolone, and I believe a few slices of bologna thrown in for good measure. The perfect amount of "hots" and thinly sliced onion was tucked neatly in the middle and dressed with a delicious drizzle of dressing. All of this was inside a suspiciously fresh looking 9" hard roll that I'm willing to bet was driven over from a local bakery in the wee hours of this very morning. Wonderful sandwich!!
By the time I got to the register the $5.95 sub had found $32.00 worth of friends that are going to make one helluva antipasti this new years eve.....
I may bring my brother back tomorrow.... Yumm!!!!!!!!! -
Review from Rob P.
12/17/2011
Where I grew up, the Italian grocery was more like an Italian supermarket. A Litteri, on the other hand, is a quintessential urban ethnic grocery store - tiny, crowded, and packed floor to ceiling with more than you could ever imagine. It's worth a cross-town trip.
I like coming here to stock up on pasta and pizza dough. The pepperoni they sell is some of the highest quality stuff I've ever bought. I can't speak for the other meats and cheeses, but they do LOOK delicious.
They also have all the spices that any Italian recipe would ever call for, and unlike the bottles of McCormick spices at the supermarket, they aren't absurdly expensive. They pack a ton of wine into such a small space, including quite a few bottles for under $5.
Prices on some things though, seem way too high. A tub of Sargento ricotta cheese, for example, is like 3 buck more here than the exact same product at Harris Teeter. What's up with that? I might not mind if I knew I was paying for a ricotta cheese of vastly superior quality, but when it's just supermarket brand stuff, I know I'm not.
In any case, this is a very solid little store, but generally you'll be coming in for a lot of specialty items, not so much to do your regular weekly shopping. -
Review from Salmaan T.
Washington, DC
1/10/2012
Nice people. Nice sandwich. Nice.
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Review from Rachel M.
10/1/2011
A. Litteri is a piece of the past tucked away in the wholesale markets in NE DC. It's quite a gem and remind me of something you might find now in parts of NYC or Northern NJ.
It is stocked literally floor to ceiling with italian grocery items including more olive oils than I knew existed, pastas in shapes that I've never seen, tomato sauces, rices, jars of olives and peppers, and of course a case for cookies and cheeses. In the back of the store is a deli counter where sandwiches are made to order with freshly sliced cheeses and meats. To me, this is the major selling point - I know of no other place in DC that slices their own meats in cheeses (real deli style), which are so ubiquitous in NY and NJ. However, I did think the meats were a bit too salty for my tastes, and my friend agreed... a bit of a disappointment. But if you need Italian goods, this is the place to go.
Also be sure to wander the wholesale stores nearby and the flea market! -
Review from Becky C.
Washington, DC
1/25/2012
great italian market - truly a hole in the wall. the space is crammed with every type of italian specialty item, wine, herb, pasta, etc anyone can imagine. and the subs are awesome!! only thing is that i found it to be a little overpriced.
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Review from Oliver J.
10/24/2011
This is a five star joint that's been around since 1926. If you haven't been in there before it's quite an amusing experience because its more of a grocery for Italian specialties than a deli. They have a greater selection of olive oils, vinegars, olives, peppers, and pastas than anywhere I have ever been.
I'm reviewing mainly their sandwiches ....... I much prefer them on soft rolls. Inexpensive and great. Their meatball is awesome. Their lasagna - a lunch special should not be forgotten about! Next on the list to try is their pizza and eggplant parm! -
Review from Jennifer F.
Washington, DC
10/3/2011
LOVE A. Litteri. They have the best pizza dough and the best customer service. They had run out of their usual dough but we bought some anyway, it was awful! Terrible. We tried two and they were both the same so I brought the third one back. The owner was there and I told him the story. He said they wouldn't buy that dough again and he gave me two balls of the old dough, which we used Friday night and it was a wonderful experience. (I am eating the leftovers now and delic!). I wish Yelp would let us upload a photo, the pizza was really pretty to look at!
OK, so they also have terrific Italian foods, great sandwiches and great wines with decent price points and 10% off a case and they are just plain wonderful people! You don't find customer service like this often in DC. -
Review from Philippe C.
Alexandria, VA
1/14/2012
Freaking awesome Italian deli. Anything you can possibly want from pastas, to deli meats to a huge array of olive oils. The guys behind the deli counter are really friendly, customer-focused, and give free samples of meats and cheeses. DEFINITELY recommend.
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Review from Jesse K.
Washington, DC
1/14/2012
A Litteri is the best kept secret of DC. Their cold cuts may actually be better than I've ever had in NYC, they have the best selection of small-brew root beer and their italian product selection is endless, I dont think I've ever seen more types of olive oil or balsamic vinegar anywhere. If you want authentic, hole-in-the wall food thats completely undiscovered, this is your place. 5 stars all the way.
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Review from B W.
Upper Marlboro, MD
9/5/2011
My first 5 star review!
I have been going to A. Litteri since I was a tiny girl. I no longer am a tiny anything, and I have introduced my children to the staff there, who knew my grandmother and mother. That's four generations of family that have been customers of this fine establishment.
A. Litteri is an Italian grocery store, with full service deli, which also offers the best sandwiches (of your own creation) for reasonable prices. They have all the usuals: pasta, EVOO, capers, pizza dough, and the best capicola cut to order EVER! I can't find that brand anywhere else, and I don't want to eat any others. Their olive salad is excellent. OH, OH... I almost forgot. They have wine! And some times closeout wines for like $3.
Please go! Meet the staff. Tell the guys at the deli BW says HI!
Be aware: parking is horrible and the store's aisles are tight, and the store's hours are very 9-4-ish Tuesday - Saturday. -
Review from Louis B.
5/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Now that I am about to leave DC, I finally find the Italian Deli that I've been fruitlessly searching for, for the last nine years. A Litteri is a bit of Philly's Italian Market in the industrial area of DC. Incredible, yes, absolutely incredible selection of Mediterranean wines, probably the best in DC. Their deli meats were almost, I say almost, Philly's Italian Market. The rest of the place was a bit of Napoli. Pastas, Italian canned seafood, the whole enchilada... or better yet, the whole Ravioli... Olive selection that would wake up St. Peter. Even the neighborhood reminds me of Napoli - grungy, industrial, a bit seedy.
Best of the best of the best in DC. -
Review from Steve K.
Centreville, VA
Had my first experience today....
It was awesomeeeee bought a few wheat pasta noodles and tried one of their infamous sandwiches; chicken Parm on hardroll. Sandwich was amazing with copious amounts of cheese melting in your mouth... Yum.
The ONLY reason why I gave it a 4/5 was because the sandwich was just a little too salty for me. But def will go back to try out the other goods -
Review from Harry R.
Falls Church, VA
3/17/2011
Push the green door open.
It's like something out of a Lewis Carroll story. Stacked floor to ceiling is all of Italy, right off of Florida Avenue.
Wind your way through. Past #10 cans of tomatoes, Selvarossa Riserva stacked like liquid gold, avenues of arborio rice, piles of pasta, etc...
Toward the back, to the counter. Meats and cheeses under the glass, olives in jars along the wall, and menus for serious subs. The wall has a great selection, but really, just circle the house Italian sub on a 9" hard roll and walk around till it's ready.
Grab your sub, throw in a 1/2 pound of bright green cerignola olives, something cool to drink, say goodbye to Alice, and then walk back out of the rabbit hole. -
Review from Andre F.
Washington, DC
12/23/2010
Stupid good sammiches!
I don't know what a certain reviewer ordered, but my sandwich was neat and tasty.
Bought a nice bottle of chianti to polish off the sandwich. The reps are very helpful if you actually talk to them and not act like you know everything.
Diet be damned! This may be my cheat spot. -
Review from Jennifer D.
Washington, DC
7/2/2011
I have to be escorted when I come here so I don't end up purchasing the entire store. The wines, the olive oils... I could spend days in here. And the deli sandwiches are amazing!
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Review from wesley t.
Washington, DC
3/6/2011
I come from an area with an abundance of Italian shops and restaurants. I wasnt expecting much when I was invited to accompany a friend here. Litteri fits a lot of great stuff into a little shop. If you are a conossieur of of olive oils or red wine vinegar, this is the place. There are two full aisles of just these products. There is also a whole aisle of tomato sauces.
The deli counter appeared to have good stuff, although I did not want to wait in line. It seemed like people had been waiting for at least a half hour for service.
Lots of wine as well.
Check it out -
Review from marina m.
Washington, DC
8/6/2011
I am a customer of Litteri for 17 years... The best Italian food ever great selection of cheap wine, olive oil, vinegar and good frozen Italian food.
The fresh mozzarella and homemade sausages are the best...
wish they were speaking Italian...
Oh BTW I am Italian myself an d moved toWashington DC 20 years ago ... -
Review from Rachel L.
2/7/2011
Absolutely one of the best subs I've had in DC! Although subs aren't nearly as bad as the pizza is here, I still hadn't had that authentic Italian taste until I tried A. Litteri!
Got to the counter at lunch time and had to wait maybe 10 minutes for my sub. You only need half and it is enough to last for two meals. The staff is really nice and will help you if you need recommendations.
While waiting for my sandwich, I roamed around and picked up a few bags of pasta in unique shapes that you normally can't find in the grocery store. It just makes cooking pasta a little more fun when you have a cool new shape :)
Will definitely walk over here again! The pictures do a good job of showing what the storefront looks like. -
Review from Yo T.
Washington, DC
11/17/2010
Disclaimers: I'm a brown girl from the southwest. I never met a "real" Italian-American until I moved East of the Mississippi three years ago. So, I won't try to be all "authentic Italian" reviewer on you (i.e., fellow yelpers Cristina A and A.J. D)...but, I do know when my tummy is happy!!
Go on a Saturday and just soak it all in! Wait in the deli line near the front and ask to sample some meats they are cutting for others. We love going here on Saturdays to get sandwiches and buy fresh deli meats to take to someone's house for dinner that night. Olive oil selection is over-whelming; mustard selection is titillating. -
Review from Jane Y.
7/15/2011
This is a hidden gem. Go north on 4th Street from Florida Ave, take your first right (avoid the forklifts driving all over). Park in front of the green door. Peruse the awesome and cheap wine selection before heading to the deli counter in the back. You can get the best sandwich you've ever had, or choose from a selection of insanely well priced deli meats (get the mortadella!).
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Review from Stephanie S.
Silver Spring, MD
7/10/2011
This place is hidden, but I like to play hide-and-seek, so its location is no match for me. Although it is mostly an Italian market with amazing olive oil, pasta, olive and everything gourmet and farm razed - in the back is a deli. Simply write your order down using a mini pencil and watch the Philly gods create your deli delight. The sandwiches are amazing, with fresh deli meats, delicious and full cheeses, crisp veggies, and a wide selection of sauces to accompany. Good prices that make me hungry for more.
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Review from Paul H.
Arlington, VA
6/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here a few months back for the first time. Speaking as a Philadelphia, I was rather impressed. Great selection of everything from sauces to olives. I had one of their hoagies (well, subs if it helps you) and it wasn't half bad. Not quite Philly quality, but for DC, very decent. Having lived in Arlington, VA the past few years, I get worn out by what they referred to on The Sopranos as "wonder bread wops....who eat their Sunday gravy out of a jar." The few Italians I know that are from around DC seem to have forgotten a lot of what it's all about, but a joint like A Litteri will school them.
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Review from Sophia P.
Washington, DC
4/5/2011
Yum. The chicken parm sandwich is amazing!!!
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Review from Venu N.
3/12/2010
3.50 stars. A. Litteri's has built an incredible reputation in the city, but it is still the third wheel behind Mangialardo & Sons and Taylor when one is determining the best Italian hoagie in the city. While I still refer to it as part of the Holy Triumvirate of Italian Subs in Washington, D.C., it can be readily distinguished from its alleged brethren at the top of the perch.
How can I make such an outlandish statement? It ends up being a rather easy task. When you enter Mangialardo, the first sensory reaction is from the nose - in a good way. The Italian seasoning at Mangialardo is truly breathtaking; one might arguably spare their first son for a simple whiff of that magical concoction. At Taylor, the bread imported daily from Philadelphia is instantly noticeable. While that factor isn't necessarily specific to their Italian sub, it certainly makes that product even more desirable.
The Italian hoagie at A. Litteri uses nice meat, good cheese, and decent bread. It is a workmanlike product done properly. The size of the sandwich is generous, and the price is beyond reasonable by DC standards. Still, there isn't a specific detail of the sandwich that makes me pine for it (other than being reasonably located for individuals working around the New York Avenue Metro Stop). As such, A Litteri's value as a hoagie shop is a bit more limited than Mangialardo and Taylor.
However, A Litteri's is not simply a hoagie shop. Like Taylor, it carries a number of gourmet pastas and sauces. However, the selection at A Litteri's is awe inspiring (and possibly the greatest value of the entire business). As every review has mentioned, you will find a smorgasbord of every Italian item imaginable along with a number of surprising non-Italian items (I even found some Stubb's BBQ sauce from Austin, TX in this space). They also provide some of their own homemade sauces which could potentially be delicious as well.
Overall, A Litteri makes a commendable hoagie and provides its customers with an extensive selection of amazing Italian products. It is worth your time. -
Review from Brendan J.
Washington, DC
12/5/2008
4.5 or 4.75 or something like that.
I should mention that I'm not normally a big fan of processed meat, but this place is simply too amazing to pass up.
Even though everyone says this place is packed with Italian stuff, I didn't expect it to be as crammed as it is. You have to experience it yourself. They somehow manage to cram more items in that little store that almost humanly possible.
There are premade Italian subs in the glass case at the front, but everyone knows you want a freshly made one. Just make your way to the back and fill out a paper form, then hand it to the guy behind the deli counter. You can wander around the store and scope the various goods while they make your sandwich.
LeeAnn O.'s review is the authority to read, but I'll add my ten cents:
1. The 9 inch hard roll is definitely the way to go. Not just for the texture but also for structural integrity issues. More chewy than hard.
2. These sandwiches are huge and heavy - seriously bricks. I think the 9 inch hard roll ends up being over a foot long after all the toppings are applied and probably about five pounds. I wouldn't recommend trying to eat more than half a sandwich in one sitting. This could last you a good two or three meals easily. Exceptions may apply (Lester K., Su K.)
3. Strategically plan your sandwich before submitting the form. Stay away from too many watery/oily additions or condiments as they can make your sandwich a soggy mess (see point 1 about structural integrity).
4. Sun dried tomatoes are delicious, but not a recommended add-in for your sandwich as the flavor overpowers the other sandwich ingredients. The pieces were just too big. Roasted red peppers, however, are quite nice. Fresh mozzarella is an amazingly good addition.
5. Your sandwich is probably going to be somewhat messy. It helps that the sandwiches are wrapped in plastic, but it'll still probably be messy.
6. The sandwich is going to be quite salty, what with two types of meat, two types of cheeses, and pickles if you so choose.
7. They have a wide variety of Italian meats available. I wasn't familiar with all of the different varieties beforehand. You can view the selection ahead of time (http://www.litteris.co...) and look up the unfamiliar ones. Please don't settle for turkey just because you know what it is.
8. There isn't really anywhere to sit and eat your meal, at least that I know of. Probably should treat this as a grab and go lunch.
9. Cheap eats fans, this is the place for you. Ridiculously cheap.
10. Just a few blocks from New York Ave metro stop (take the New York Ave exit and then walk east down Florida Ave). Certainly not the nicest area, but not so bad.Listed in: The Sandwich
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Review from Candace H.
Washington, DC
11/10/2009 ROTD 12/18/2009
This place is so good, so amazing, that I don't even want to review it.
Sorry Yelpers... I'm selfish and therefore I am selfishly hoarding this place all to my own.
So, ignore the other 47 five star reviews. Don't go here. They do not have every Italian cooking ingredient you could ever want, or whatever Giada tells you you need, or whatever is sold at Whole Foods with a crazy markup. The photos lie... there are not hundreds of beautiful olive oils and balsamic vinegars, or pickled cauliflower and mushrooms. And those are not San Marzano tomatoes for a fraction of the price you're used to paying.
I mean come on, seriously, it's in northeast! Isn't it scary over there? There couldn't possibly be anything Italian in that quadrant of DC, guys.
It's all a farce!!Listed in: Domesticity
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Review from Rob H.
Washington, DC
6/7/2011
Wow.
Great sandwiches, great prices, and good selection of drinks, desserts, and other Italian fare. I recently ordered the "Italian" on a 9" hard roll with sun dried tomatoes as an extra topping ($4.95) and a mini canolli ($0.90). I was blown away by how flavorful everything was for the price. I am really looking forward to coming back to pick up groceries, bread, and meat from the deli counter. I love that they accept credit cards. If only they were open for dinner... -
Review from Vivian R.
Alexandria, VA
2/4/2009
I hail from Philly. Need I say more?
OK, so the environment for this store's location isn't the best in comparison to your oh-so-local megamart, but then again, when I was at school in Philly, I would make regular runs to the Italian Market in South Philly each weekend to get grub and groceries. South Philly? You know the place people joke about, where you can get shot or end up at the bottom of the Schuylkill if you wear the wrong team jersey - anything other than Flyers/Eagles/Phillies? Yeah, that South Philly.
So here in this warehouse vernacular where A. Litteri is located, I felt right at home. It's not the beauty of the strip-mall vernacular out in the burbs. And it sure as hell isn't the delicate rowhouse environment that surrounds Eastern Market. But hey - we're talking Italian food here, and last I remember from my sabbatical in Italy this past summer, the cigarette butts and trash bags in the city streets spoke little of the beauty of the food (and people) there.
So A. Litteri. I've driven in this warehouse neighborhood before, not sure if I could step into any of these places or if they wholesale sole-source to restaurants and businesses only. But I found the location on the map before I left, and I found this gem without any trouble. Green warehouse door, unassuming sign outside, I pushed the metal door in and stepped into what I call (ahhhhh) Mecca.
Imagine - 15' high utilitarian shelving packed full of olive oils, vinegars, canned goods, pasta, pasta sauces, jarred fish, jarred vegetables, beans, wines, beverages. If I died, this must be heaven, and all I needed was to find myself a stove to start cooking (I'll ask for a little help from the guy down below).
I headed to the back to get a sandwich. I didn't read the review about filling out the paper order for the sandwich, and I waited in line behind a woman getting her order of meats filled. I didn't mind - she and I got to talking about the crusty breads they have there and our experiences making bagel-loafs (not good, trust me. But the recipe called it "Italian Rustic Bread" - and we really had to stretch the truth to say that what we'd made remotely resembled "Bread", much less "Italian" or "Rustic." Maybe just "Rust."). So I got my Italian sandwich, 6", soft sub roll. Accompanied by a jar of anchovies with olive oil and oregano, a bar of olive oil soap, a bottle of olive oil, a bottle of strawberry-infused balsamic, a can of clams, two loaves of bread, a 4-pack of San Benedetto soda di arancia, a can of San Pellegrino Aranciata, and a bag of chips.
Yeah, OK, so I got a little distracted, but it's easy to have that happen here, especially when you haven't had lunch until 4pm. And my sandwich (the works, hold the mayo - who the hell would put mayo on an Italian) was amazing. Perfect balance of meat and vegetables. Next time, I'm going to go get the slew of deli meats. And maybe 50 other things.
Go. Gawk. Savor. And realize the amazing variety of things that are available out there, all under this one roof. Just don't go when you're hungry - otherwise, we may not be able to save you. -
Review from Dawn T.
Washington, DC
2/2/2009 ROTD 4/20/2009
I LOVE this place!!
I grew up in South Jersey where 9th street in Philly (the Italian Market) was only a 20 min. drive... and somehow I feel home when I step into A. Litteri's. It is a bit hard to find... but totally worth the treasure hunt!!
They have some of the best wines at really great prices and their selection is remarkable!!! There are more olive oils and vinegars than you could ever imagine and their homemade pasta sauces are worth every penny (I recommend the vodka sauce- just don't tell my grandmother I am buying pasta sauce!)
The staff is super helpful if you can't find something and I hear their sandwiches are quite the rave (I am not a red meat or pork eater so I am out of options there) but the DC police seem to frequent it on their lunch break! Just a note... no room to eat there take out only! -
Review from Marc H.
Manhattan, NY
3/5/2009
You know, I feel kind of guilty giving it three stars... in fact I may edit the review later to four stars if I get properly reamed by the Yelp community for this. In any event, here goes...
The good:
obnoxious amount of olive oils and balsamics. If you're looking for a particular brand here, they have it, I promise.
fantastic selection of wines at great price points
various canned and jarred italian food products that you wouldnt be able to normally find
from what I hear, the in house made sauces are exceptional but I havent had them yet so I cant comment on them
the stuffed cherry peppers and long hots behind the deli glass are fantastic.. they actually use sharp provolone vs regular provolone to stuff em (with the prosciutto), and you dont get that around these parts, it reminded me of philly
the bad:
I had the classic italian sub, on a hard roll, with everything. I really WANTED to love it. I WANTED a place in DC that rivaled the great italian sub shops in philly. I WANTED to be able to call all my philly friends and tell them that really, the only reason for me to go to their godforsaken city now is for Tony Lukes, John's Roast Pork, and Ubiq.
Unfortunately, I'd be lying if I said I could say all those things. I can't. The sub just wasnt as good as I was hoping. Yes, it's better than anything else I've had in our city, but it's not Philly good. There's not enough meat on the sub, the provolone is good, but not great, the peppers were subpar, and the hard roll, while better than the soft, didn't wow me.
So why the three stars if it was really only the sub that disappointed? Well, regardless of all the other stuff that they have in this store (which is truly great, mind you), the main attraction is the sub and it just didnt live up to the billing. Maybe if I come and make my own next time itll be better, but the classic italian should have delivered.... and it didnt.
Will I be back? Definitely. Will I order the classic italian again? Nope. -
Review from Ray C.
Washington, DC
5/28/2007
There's a diamond in the rough located NE DC that has been serving DC since 1926, but not many people seem to know about this place.
AKA Litteri's, this Italian import market is a find and offers a truly unique experience! Narrow, cramped aisles filled with every many imported Italian brand pastas, sauces, snacks, oils, vinegars, truffles, what have you! Especially impressive is Litteri's wine selection, quite expansive, very cramped, but wine offerings range from $2 on up! There is a wine staff who can help you pick a new wine or find your favorite, and as long as there is a distributor, any wine they don't have in stock can be ordered.
The other reason to head to Litteri's is for its fantastic deli. Hard to find imported Italian cheeses and meats can be purchased here. Even better, you can have one fantastic sub made to order with anything from the deli you want on it! Nice selection of breads for your sandwich too.
Located within the confines of the DC Farmer's Market area, just NE of the New York Ave and Florida Ave intersection. Actually, open to the public are ethnic food shops for importing goods from just about every country that has restaurant representation in DC!
If you're an authentic Italian foods fan, be sure to experience Litteri's for yourself. Hours are limited and are posted on their website.
Please note that the whole Farmer's Market area is under review for redevelopment and the future of Litteri's and all the other specialty food shops is unknown. Sad Sad Sad -
Review from Amanda M.
Washington, DC
12/8/2008
A little piece of Italy in the District.
The outside is nothing to rave about. Its next to a row of warehouses on an industrial block in NE. After walking inside, you will find yourself in the midst of rows of olive oils, pastas, wines, Italian cookies and meats. They have pizzelles! This place brought me back to memories of family parties on my Italian side.
When you walk to the back to order your sandwich, you fill out what you want on a piece of paper. You can select-your-own meats, cheeses and toppings (the top half of the paper) or you can order a classic Italian sub (bottom half of the paper).
My advice? Go with the classic. Its a good deal, you get more meats than the select-your-own & its the perfect, traditional Italian hero. Growing up in North Jersey, this is what my dad used to bring home from the local deli. Perfect.
While waiting for my sandwich at the counter, I overheard a funny conversation b/t a customer from South Carolina and the Italian man behind the counter. It was about ham. The South Carolina man asked for a sample of their ham and after eating it, remarked that it was just like his grandfather's delicious ham in South Carolina. To this, the man behind the counter remarked, "This ham does not come from the peanut-fed pigs of America. It comes from only the best pigs. The ones from Italy."
I love that man. Later, he remarked:
"You know what they say - Not everyone is Italian, but everyone has an Italian stomach."
The one negative thing about this place is the hours! I wish they were open for dinner. -
Review from Scott W.
Germantown, MD
1/14/2010
Honestly, I can't even begin to describe the transcendent experience that is entering Litteri's. It feels a bit like discovering a secret door in the back of a wardrobe, but rather than Narnia, you enter a classic, corner Italian grocery, somewhere in Brooklyn. The wine selection, the pasta, the sauces, the Italian sodas, the frozen raviolis...it's just all so freakin' awesome!
And then there are the subs...which, imho, are the best f-ing Italian subs in the DC metro. Better than the Italian Store, better than Mangialardo's, better than Vace, and better than the Italian Gourmet Market.
Just go. Walk through the door, and experience Italian nirvana.
