Italian Delicatessen
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
63 reviews
Cupertino, CA
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26 Reviews for Italian Delicatessen
great deli in downtown Los Altos. I had the Godfather sandwich and it was all with fresh Italian meats (coppa, prosciutto,) and veggies (artichoke hearts, onions, peppers). Very tasty!
Had the Godfather sandwich, which, although it sounded as though would be overwhelmingly stuffed, was just right. Salami, Mortadella, Provolone, artichoke hearts, Italian dressing on a sourdough roll.
I would say the chances that I would ever be in Los Altos for lunch again are slim to none, but if I was, I'd head there in a second.
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I have been a long time regular of this place since i grew up within a 5 minute walk. Previously owned by Nick Testa Sr. and now owned by Tamar Sloan, it's always been a friendly, welcoming, authentic Italian environment. Tamar knows my regular sandwich, which I'm convinced should be called "The Ruvolo" cause i order it so much--Roast Beef on a Sour Dough roll with lots of onions, avocado, pickles, pepperoccinis , mayo and mustard. I know it sounds plain, but it's really good. Their roast beef is nice and pink and tender. I like. Overall, really friendly atmosphere, used to have an Eagle Card deal (don't know if they still do), and you can sit on the sidewalk and people watch as you eat.
MUCH better under new ownership. The folks are friendlier, the sandwiches are stuffed with meat, and the prices are great. Definitely the lunch spot of choice for downtown los altos.
Despite the boring store name "Italian Delicatessen", this place makes really good sandwiches that would even make the Godfather proud. The joint is a low key unpretentious place along the many old and stale stores they have along Main St. in downtown Los Altos. All sandwiches are $5.25-6.25.
They do have a signature sandwich called the Godfather but I went for the Ironman (roast beef+turkey, oil & vinegar, lettuce, onion, peppers, and artichokes). The Ironman ($6.00) was really tasty and I definitely enjoyed the change to a sandwich with oil & vinegar dressing instead of the usual mayo or mustard.
Italian Delicatessen is like 2 stores stuck together like siamese twins. One side is the deli and the other side is a sleepy gelato store where I didn't see much activity nor did the gelato look that fresh.
Service was a rather mechanical and nonchalant, but I enjoyed the sandwich enough that I'll overlook that.
Bottom line: Don't let the unoriginal and uncreative name fool you. They make really good sandwiches and I like the oil & vinegar based ones. The Ironman was solid and going to try the Godfather next time.
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Been coming to this place since 1994 and the same great taste hasn't changed a bit. Their Godfather sandwich is just out of this world, I tried to "recreate" it at other deli stores and it never came out the same. The Italian sausage sandwich with meat sauce is also extremely delicious. I was pretty fond of the original ownership but the new owner successfully kept the same laid back, no fuss attitude and atmosphere (and the same taste and same menu). Prices are very reasonable as well, around $5-6 for a sandwich. Oh and don't forget to try their Dutch Crunch bread, it's sooo good!!
"They made me a sandwich I could not refuse".
Best meatball sandwiches! You have to get that! Homemade meatballs and sauce and great bread. I used to come here for lunch frequently when I worked in the area and I still visit here whenever I have a craving for one.
There isn't much seating so it's more of a take-out place to me...
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This place would get five stars but Lucca's in the City kicks its ass when it come to a true Italian Delicatessen. However, my nostalgia for this place knows no bounds. Anyone who grew up in the area knows about this place. If you're truly old school you know about the discounts you could get with a Los Altos High Eagle Card. Even though Nick doesn't own it anymore, little has changed. It is still the best place for a sandwich on the peninsula. Ambiance it does not have but the fresh pasta and gelato are definitely a plus!
To be fair, I've only eaten here once. At first glance it reminded me of Zari's in Albany. I was excited. We ordered our sandwhiches. They were expensive. The meat didn't taste 100% fresh. It wasn't rotten, but deli meat can get a weird taste when it's not 100% fresh and this had it.
The table was a little unbalanced and it rocked back and forth. The place felt crowded, even though there weren't that many people there.
Friends have invited me back with them, but I have refused.
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Love the avocado delight. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find simple delis that sell unpretentious sandwiches (I'm a vegetarian, but that doesn't mean I want grilled eggplant in everything I order). 4 stars because the servers aren't super friendly.
I just finished an avocado on sour roll, no mayo, no onions, add provolone & extra peppers - now I need a nap. That was sooo delicious. Some of it may have to do with the fact that it is 5:30 and that was the first minute all day that I got to eat. So delicious. Wish I got the gelato too.
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I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet! Simply my favorite place to get a GOOD sandwich. Run by a fan of Los Altos High Sports (last I heard), the employees are always very friendly and often from the high school. The sandwiches are great, with good ingredients and bread, and they have a good selection of drinks to choose from.
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For the Gelato:
I got the Jr. sized gelato with mocha and caramel pecan. The Jr. size was HUGE. The dude just kept packing it on. It was enough to be too much for 2 people to share, almost. And it only cost $2.70 - super great deal.
The gelato was generally very creamy, soft, but a little on the sweeter side - but that could probably be because of our flavor choices (almond praline and caramel mocha).
Good gelato, but not great enough for me to crave coming back for it.
When I'm craving a sandwich and can't make it up to Redwood City to the Woodside Deli, this is my 2nd choice for sandwiches. The staff is very friendly and the sandwiches are good! I get the turkey and avocado with everything on it with provalone cheese on a sour dough roll. Yum. Oh, and I didn't know there were so many choices of turkey. I just get the deli turkey. I usually walk around downtown Los Altos for a bit, grab a sandwich and eat it outside. It's a nice way to spend an afternoon when the weather is nice!
I've never had the gelato here, but from what I hear, it's great too!
The meatball sandwich on Dutch Crunch roll was delicious!
Damn I miss this place so much! It's located in a little strip in Los Altos. As a Gunn High school alumni, I had the pleasure of going there for lunch every now and then. Most of the employees and people who go there go to Los Altos High. Good god, the sandwiches are delicious and fresh. It truly truly is. I want a sandwich on Dutch Crunch, it just makes everything better.
Great local sandwich shop! The people behind the counter are always super friendly and the sandwichs are very well priced and taste delicious! This place is definitely a local favorite for both the young crowd and older people.
When the prices are this low for how good the sandwich tastes, AND I can eat out on the sidewalk in peaceful Los Altos, I don't know why I choose to eat anywhere else.
This place has some of the best sandwiches. I like that you can add bacon and avocado to it, and the breads are always fresh. I like to stick with dutch crunch but depending on my mood, I either get roast beef, turkey, tuna, or seafood salad with lettuce tomatoes and mayo with avocado and bacon. They have a godfather style sandwich with like 5 dift kinds of meats. You can also choose from lotsa chips and drinks in the fridge and in the same shop is a gelato stand. The sandwiches are about $6 but they are plenty good for lunch or times when you're really hungry. They only take cash here tho, so come prepared
This place doesn't have much on the menu that's vegetarian, but the staff is very helpful and willing to customize something. My eggplant sandwich was scrumptious. The price is moderate and the atmosphere is very European. Nice!
The weathered sign hanging on their store front should be a great indication of their solid customer base over the past decades, if not, just sink your teeth into a real deli sandwich and you'll be a believer.
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I remember coming here when I went to the local high school. It used to be so good. The old wrestling coach used to run it, there'd be old pictures of the team hanging out the walls. I used to love going there for nostalgia.
I went back about a year ago and can't say it's the same. The old pictures are gone and the people behind the counter are different. Maybe it's the memories, but more likely it's the sandwiches. Something changed, it's just not as good. There are worse places out there for a sandwich, it probably deserves 4 stars... but, knowing how it USED to be, I can't do it.
Sweeeeeeeeeet Memoriesssssssssssss......
This was a "father and daughter place" for my family. Me, my bro, and my pops used to come here when we were young, it was always busy and the sandwiches were FANTASTIC! (dutch crunch roll is the best)
Went there recently, and the sandwiches are still VERY good, but something has changed..and I cant put my finger on it *hmmm*
But I cant give this 5 stars, but I think 4 will do!
Local deli that's been around for years. A hangout and lunch spot for Los Altos high kids during the year but that rabble should be away for the summer so you won't have to listen to the gossip and banter outside. Ask for Chris if you want your sandwich to be made right. They also have gelato, coffee, and my personal favorite, italian sodas. Sit outside and just enjoy the beautiful weather.
Tasty sandwiches for a decent price, and the wait wasn't too bad. There were at least 10 people waiting in line when I got in, but everyone got their order pretty quickly. They have a nice variety of your basic sandwiches, as well as some special creations of their own. It was a bit warm inside, but there's plenty of outdoor seating. I got a pastrami sandwich on a sourdough roll, and my only complaint is that the roll was a tiny bit tough. Otherwise, it was really good and I will definitely return.
Great sandwiches, and an easy stop on the way home from a bike ride. I don't know where they get their bread, but it seems to be a step up from Le Boulanger down the street. My favorite is the Ironman on a sourdough roll. The prosciutto is also excellent, they know how to slice it extremely thin.
The Ironman is all-world. Quick service and great sandos.
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