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Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
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I just moved into an new place across the street from this place, so it is now "my local pizza joint". There is a constant stream of people rolling in and out of this place. A funny mix of old ladies and teenage boys work here, which makes the place somewhat slow--but the pizza delivers. The extra large is HUGE though---so if you don't have a HUGE fridge and you don't think you will eat the whole thing, shy away from it because it just won't fit.
The best part of this place for me was the selections of cheeses--ricotta salada, real mozz....I could go on for days......
Wow, how could I have missed this little gem all these years? I don't know and I don't care because now that I have found it, I know where I must go for my meatball sub fix.
Sure the long lines made it questionable whether or not I wanted to stay and wait or postpone my visit for another day but boy am I glad I waited. Grabbing a seat outside was impossible but that is why god invented a tailgate.
Eight large homemade meatballs made the sub hard to manage, but hey as long as they didn't hit the ground its not-a-problem!
Yummy!
Not that I condone such behavior, but after partaking in some "mental elevation" I had a religious moment with half the gargantuan chicken parm sub I picked up from The Italian Store.
Seriously, f'ing awesome! I LOVE Taylor, but The Italian Store's chicken cutlets are juicy, perfectly breaded, and smothered in cheese and marinara.
I will be making many return trips and making my way through the menu. The Italian Store's chicken parm rocked my world.
OK I've been eating here all week. I discovered it was pretty close to work, so I make the couple-minute drive. I start with a Genoa--delish. The sweet peppers on this hoagie work, but when I got the Philly I held them and just opted for hot. OMG!
Today was the crowning jewel--I tried a pizza slice. Holy Toledo I just found a ringer--Vace has major competition now for best pizza. I tried a supreme slice. The crust, excellent, the cheese, to die for, the toppings, fresh and tasty.
Turns out their bread comes from a commercial baker in Centreville, which explains the not-as-good-as-Jersey thing. I am tempted to go here every day next week, too, but I would definitely turn into a meatball.
We had an office lunch catered today by this place. Easily the best hoagie I've had outside of… Read more »
I'm afraid that if I keep eating as much as this pizza as i do, I'll turn into a pizza ala "Pizza the Hut" (http://www.youtube.com...). Maybe I'll get lucky and turn into a teenage mutant ninja turtle, but most likely I'll just become obese.
Their subs aren't the best I've ever head, though definitely in the top three. The bread is a little weak not nearly crusty or tasty enough, and come on, shredded lettuce? The veg on this thing look like they've been smuggled out of the back of a Subway truck. The meat and cheese are another story. the prosciutto is heavenly and really it is surprising that they would pair it with such low par extras.
The real winner here is the pizza. They have cut no corners on this pie. The crust is chewy and delicious, the toppings are juicy and plentiful and the sauce is redolent of tomato. It is a relatively thick crust, but they manage to make it without that doughy layer that the fast food places have. The sausage by itself would be one of my favorite foods, and its nearly overpowering richness is balanced by the sweet tomato slices. Seriously, this is as close to the platonic ideal of pizza as you are going to get in the physical world. Only Heaven can top this, and only then on a good day.
I had their pepperoni pizza by the slice yesterday. It was freshly baked so there was no reason to warm it up in the oven. The pepperoni wasn't too salty and the cheese and crust was great. It was a little greasy but really every pepperoni pizza with cheese inherently has grease. Some people don't eat crust but I think it's the best part of a pizza. It was crispy when you bite into it and then soft and chewy afterward. Great pizza for ~ 3 bucks a slice.
Useful note: Skip getting a number and go straight to the pizza counter. Only people ordering sandwiches and other deli case goods have to wait.
I've only had the subs and the pastries here but man are they good. I ordered a large Roma on a… Read more »
A great sub starts with great deli meat. This stuff is fantastic, the prosciutto is my favorite. They give you a huge sub for pretty cheap. Watch out for the peppers, they can be a bit spicy sometimes.
Also try their Pizza, which I didn't know they had for a long time. Pizza is made in house and tastes like authentic Italian pizza straight from the motherland.
I can't believe that I have never written a review for this place, despite the number of times I've had their food.
I was first introduced to TIS back in 2004 by my former other half, who is a New Yorker and -loves- his pizza. I have to say that their pizza is some of the best I've had since moving to VA, although I really like their sandwiches, too!
Their pizza is a little on the oily side (what good pizza isn't though, right???), so I usually grab a few napkins to dab up what I don't want to consume. I usually get the pepperoni but occasionally venture towards some of the other pizzas they have.
I always get the same sandwich, though...the Capri, which is what I had last Thursday for lunch. I love it on the small soft Italian roll with all the fixins. Half the time I get it I end up paying the price for it the remainder of the day. Do you think that stops me from eating it? Um, no. Hell no.
The Capri comes with prosciutto, genoa salami, spiced capacola ham, and provolone cheese, so if any of those meats grab you, please give it a try. I hope it doesn't affect you the way it does me, though!
I'm always wanting to pick up some of the prepared dishes they have in the refrigerated section, but alas I never do. I want to take the time one day to browse all of the wonderful food items they have because believe me, there are a lot of wonderful things packed into that store. I always come on a work day where I just don't have the time to leisurely browse their goods.
There may be a line when you come by but they are pretty good at moving it through very quickly. Plenty of tempting desserts will beckon you while you wait in line for the register...go ahead, pick up a little something. After all, you deserve it!
Excellent salads, pizza's and sandwiches. Having worked there as a high school student, I can attest to the fact that they slice their own meats fresh every day and have a true appreciation for authentic, high quality ingredients. One suggestion, ORDER EARLY BY PHONE, they do the best they can, but the place gets very, very full during peak hours. Also, you can't drink beer in the outside seating area, and there's no seating inside, so if you buy a beer make it "to go".
For what I've experienced in the 11 years living in the area, its probably the best sub shop around. My favorite is the Capri (with its piles of Prosciutto - Mmmmmm - on top of Genoa and Capacola) or the Meatball (hands down the best meatball sub I've had outside of Boston or NY), but all of the italian subs I've had are pretty damn good. And a small will easily give me 2 lunches or fill me up for dinner.
The lines are insane though and really the reason I won't come here more than once in a rare while. Even calling ahead isn't fool proof as you still have to pay for your items. I dropped in last night and it only took about 5 minutes to actually get my sandwich (no call ahead) but it then took another 15 to make my way through the line to pay for it.
Oh and don't be fooled into thinking this is actually an Italian grocery. The mediocre selection of Italian grocery items are in general overpriced and most I can find at any gourmet store, better grocery or even the international aisle at a good sized Giant or Safeway in some cases.
No, this is an adequate Italian deli that had great subs and a good selection of meat and cheese available. There is a nice selection of frozen items (mostly pastas and desserts) and prepared meals. Maybe someday I'll venture trying the pizza, but I hope the slices taste a lot better than they look.
Oh, I'm giving The Italian Store 4-stars based on the competition I've tried in DMV, but in all honesty if I was comparing it against sub shops / Italian delis in Boston or New York it would probably only rate 3 (and then only for the subs, the "store" part is pretty disappointing).
The problem with a place like this is that you have so many choices, it's hard to decide. Every time I come here, I tell myself I'll try something new, but almost always end up getting a Roma or Milano. Then, I realize they have pizza too, which I've yet to try. I did manage to try a Chicken Parm sub, but was disappointed to see them microwave the sandwich. But now I know to stick with the Philly Style Subs, which remind me of some of the offerings from Hoagie Haven in Princeton. If only they had a store in McLean...
Very good reasonably priced subs. What more could you ask for? Yummy Italian goods and tons of great wine? Oh, they have that too.
Stopped by here after a hike for a much needed sandwich. I had the small turkey on a soft roll and my boyfriend had the Roma. Both sandwiches were really good and we were both stuffed after eating them. I really enjoyed the peppers and thought that they were a nice addition to the sandwich. The price was also right- 7 bucks for a good size sandwich.
The store itself is really cute, and, if not for the hefty price tag on almost everything (that and the fact that I'm not really a pasta girl), I probably would have bought lots of yummy goodies. They sell pastries, pastas, wine, beer, and CHEESE. If you like cheese, you will be very happy here.
I'd venture to say that this place is so good that it's worth securing a vehicle (that is, if you don't have one) for the sole purpose of coming here for a sandwich.
When you're far from Philly and NYC you'll do just about anything for a well-made sandwich. The line was a 30-minute wait and it was worth every second. There's no place to sit inside, and outdoor seating is limited so my boyfriend and I ate in his car and it was definitely a top meal of the summer.
The capri sub on a soft roll is my favorite. Prosciutto, pepperoni, salami, cheese . . . the works. I bet I'd love all of their sandwiches, because when a deli gives you the choice of a hard or soft roll . . . you know they know what they're doing. Perfection.
People come here most often for the subs, which are 5 star, but it also has some really good pre made pasta dishes, desserts, and other grocery items you wouldn't find anywhere else on this side of the atlantic, Whenever my family of 30+ hungry Italians comes to town,
a trip to the italian store for the ingredients for the big dinner is a must. They also have pizza but its exremely greasy. Even though alot of the items here are expensive they are well worth the price
Large Milano on a soft roll - not hot pepper extra sweet pepper is my favorite. I drive from Chantilly to Arlington just for a Milano
I've been to this place a few times times and at first I thought nothing of it. I think i was eating the wrong things--like the plain pizza--just plain greasy! But then, I started diversifying and man, that white pizza is good. Garlic-ky and crisp, the white pizza doesn't suffer from the same greasy soggy issues the regular does. The Nino's, with spinach, is very yummy. The subs are deli style delish---fresh, made to order, thought it's debatable whether they're worth the wait. That line can be ridiculous, so I highly recommend calling ahead of time if you can. I've heard the pastas are very yummy, so I'll be stocking up on those next trip.
There is Italian stuff here, you can't get it anywhere else in the area, and it's really expensive.
I don't know what kind of review you want, honestly. If you're the type of person -and I mean this in the most respectful way my elitist Italian personality will allow- that thinks Ledo's and Quiznos make good pizza and sandwiches, well, then you're liable to think that the Italian Store is the Super Mario brothers' gift to Dixie. That is the truely frustrating thing about the Italian Store, it is simultaneously sub-par and the best around.
If, however, you are unimpressed by glorified-Subway sandwiches prepared by disinterested teens who would sooner take another cigarette break than prepare your sandwich, look elsewhere. Go at practically any hour and you will wait in line some 30 minutes. You will also pay nearly 10 dollars for a sandwich which gloriously features cooked (read: NOT cured) prosciutto.
This place is the deli equivelant of Williams Sonoma. Just as you don't actually buy cookware at Williams Sonoma for yourself - let's face it, it's just a stupid frying pan - you don't buy things for yourself at the Italian Store. Shop here, like Williams Sonoma, if you want to buy someone something that looks nice and let them know that you spent too much on it. Take, for example, their five-dollar-a-pound stripped pasta, it will cook nicely in that new $400 Mauviel all copper saute pan.
So, an old friend recommended this place to me, and surprisingly another friend recommended it out of the blue. So on I went.
Besides being full of delicious Italian groceries, the subs are amazing. I'd never imagined that a sandwich could taste this good. I got the Napoli and highly recommend it, although it wasn't as spicy as I was hoping for. The next item on my list is to try the pizza.
I came here with my dad on a Saturday night to get some subs for dinner. We ordered The Capri on a hard roll and The Roma on a soft roll, but they were out of hard rolls, so I had to settle for the soft. We got the large size with everything on it. The subs were tasty and reasonably priced.
Later that night and the next morning, my dad and I had terrible belly aches. We had burning, explosive diarrhea that splashed all over the toilet bowl. I believe the culprit was the hot peppers. BEWARE!
A bias review follows because I can not pull myself from eating anything else on the menu except large Capri subs on hardroll bread with all the fixings. If you want the best sub in town honestly look no further but prepare to pull a number and wait a while if you are going for a weekday lunch.
Dont be confused...this 'store' truly isnt much of a store... BUT it is truly some of the best pizza or Italian take out for a night in that you can find... Ive known this place since 05..when Im home in DC..I place my call from speed dial and get my pie on.. Love the Capri...& Ive grabbed my ex a tiramisu here to go...and he says its ALMOST as good as mine... :-) ... The point is...you can get a good pizza , and grab a few gourmet desserts and a wine too... a bit on the upside of price for those used to chain pizza..but its part of this hood...and its oh-so-pie-worth-it...
been going here since 1985. Pizza is good, the subs are unmatched. seriously. I don't think you can get a better cold cut sub.
This is the only *real* Italian store of any size in NoVa. If there's something you need from Italy, you can be pretty sure that this place will have it, if it can be had at all. This is particularly important for Italian expats.
Also note that they have "fresh" Italian-style products such as ravioli and spumoni in their freezer section; these are generally imported from Baltimore, Philadelphia, or New York - cities with Italian populations sizeable enough to support manufacturing of such things.
Ok - the deli section is popular - so much so that sometimes you have to wait in line to order. Is this a bad sign? No - it's *good* sign. Admittedly, the subs and pizza are not uniformly good. But they're generally very good to excellent. I'd certainly take their pizza over, say, Z-Pizza, any day.
We decided we were hungry mid-afternoon. Drove the 30 miles to The Italian Store. We do this frequently. It is our favorite lunch spot.
Today was the Milano and a Philly sandwich. Fresh meats and rolls. Great hot and sweet peppers.
This is a really good place. Wish I lived closer (or maybe I am glad I don't)!
4.5 stars.
Wow - funny to see a review this evening. I live in Centreville and I was at the Italian Store… Read more »
The Italian Store's NY style pizza is stunning. No place in Northern VA comes close. If you have not tried this pizza, get over there SOON. And don't clutter it up with lots of fancy toppings -- go for something simple, like half pepperoni, half cheese.
-------------------------------------------------- --------------------
My rankings for NY style pizza. More samplings around Ashburn area, as that's where I live.
1.) The Italian Store, Arlington, VA --Amazing NY style pizza, best-of-the-best.
-----Great-NY-Style-Pizza-----------
2.) Santini's New York Style Deli, Sterling, VA
3.) Ciro's New York Pizza, Centreville, VA
4.) Tony's New York Pizza, Fairfax, VA
5.) Manhattan Pizzeria, Ashburn, VA
6.) Flippin' Pizza, Reston, VA
-----Very-Good-NY-Style-Pizza-----------
7.) Rubino's Pizzeria, Ashburn, VA
8.) Giovanni's Italian Restaurant New York Style Pizzas, Leesburg, VA
9.) Don Corleone's Brick Oven Pizzeria, Sterling, VA
------Good-NY-Style-Pizza----------------
10.) Sal's NY Pizza, Ashburn, VA
11.) Emilio's Brick Oven Gourmet Pizza, Ashburn, VA
12.) Manginos Pizza, Ashburn, VA
------Poor-NY-Style-Pizza----------------
13.) Scotto's Rigatoni Grill
-------Other---------------------------------
- Z Pizza, Leesburg, VA -very good pizza, but not NY style
-Fireworks Pizza, Leesburg, VA -very good pizza, but not NY style
-Ledo Pizza, Leesburg, VA -good pizza, but not NY style
Wow.
Coming from California, I had never had a sub quite like this, so this was a phenomenal maiden voyage into the world of the fabled "Italian Hoagie" and let me tell you, future Hoagies are not going to have it easy with the bar that this bad boy set.
The premise is simple. You walk in, take a number, and order your own individualized heaven between a roll.
I personally ordered the Capri. Which was Prosciutto blended with genoa salami, provolone cheese and spiced capacola ham. Basically, sex on bread.
Not only are the subs divine, but from what I have heard, and what the other yelpers have been saying, the Pizza is also fantastic.
I would definitely say that The Italian Shop is one of my favorite lunch spots and would recommend it to anyone without a second thought.
They're gonna make you a hoagie you can't refuse.
This place is much bigger than the little Italian deli in Vienna. I'm not usually in Arlington, but I drove by it one day and had to go in. They have lots of Italian foods, cheeses, wines, drinks, and other things, but not too much I couldn't get elsewhere.
My review is based solely on getting one of their sandwiches though. I really want to try their pizza next time, and then I'll update my review. The sandwiches are very reasonably priced and they fill them up with A LOT of meat. And I've been looking for a sandwich place that does them on soft rolls like they do, so that's a plus. The only vegetables you can get are lettuce, peppers, and tomatoes (which they charge extra for). Unfortunately I don't like any of those veggies on my sandwiches so I just went with the meat, cheese, and dressing.
While the sandwich turned out to be pretty good, it was a bit on the salty side, and the dressing they put on it was no substitute for mayo and yellow (not dijon) mustard. The rolls are definitely the best things they have going for them. Next time I'll try a different sub and ask for mayo instead of their dressing.
Unfortunately the sandwich just doesn't compare to my beloved Publix Italian sub with lots of pickles... I don't care if their meats are more authentic, it's just not the same. But since there isn't a Publix supermarket within 450 miles of the DC area, I've learned to settle.
So, I didn't get to see the actual store, (the subs were brought to my office) so I can't comment on the space. But I assume it isn't much of anything, it's in a strip center in NOVA.
The subs, though...WOW! I got the Milano. It was incredible. The meats tasted so fresh and juicy, and the bread was not bad either. Some of the best subs I have had. I guess I wasn't expecting anything that great, and subs are usually pretty much the same, but Man, this place is awesome! One of the top sandwiches period.
I'll have to check out there store some time, although I hate going into VA.
I've never been disappointed in the subs here- I usually get the Capri or the Roma. The soft rolls are better, imo, because you can squish them down to get all the meat and cheese in your mouth. The pizza is also very tasty, and so is the meatball sub. Others have complained about the prices, but where else can you get good lobster ravioli and anchovy paste? Not sure the wines are a great deal, but the staff writes useful explanations. This place is always extremely busy, so don't come and expect to get a seat outside or a quick in-and-out.
I've lived in Arlington for over two years. Probably even within a mile of the Italian Store. However it took me this long to finally make it inside and order myself a sub for lunch. OMG, why did I not do this sooner??
After a soccer game on sunday, a couple friends and I went to the Italian Store for lunch. I ordered the large Capri sub (prosciutto, genoa salami, provolone cheese and spiced capacola ham) on a soft roll. I also got a bottle of water and everything came up to about $10. Although the sub looked big, it was delicious that it was devoured pretty quickly.
The only not-so-fun thing about this place is the wait. You have to grab a number and hang out with everyone else and hope your number is called soon. The people behind the counter do listen to everything you request on the sandwich and can do numerous subs at one time, if it's a group ordering. In the end, the sub was worth the wait! I'm definitely a fan and will be returning in the near future.
The store part is also neat. There is a large variety of gourmet Italian and European groceries and is also the only place in Arlington I've seen Bergers cookies sold.
A lot of things are victimized by the hype that is built up about it beforehand: Y2K, Snakes on a Plane, Rudy Giuliani's bid for President, Spore, etc. It sets expectations unrealistically high, and many times, while a product may be fine, it falls short of what people expect. I think The Italian Store suffered from this effect with me. While still good, I just didn't think it was worthy of the numerous 5 star ratings.
The pizza here was too soggy for my taste. Yes the toppings were nice and high quality, but I just didn't care for all the grease. I understand this is how New York style pizza comes, maybe it's just me, but I don't think New York is the be-all, end-all for everything. The sandwiches were much better. Filled with high quality Italian meats, the sandwiches were fresh and tasty. My only small complaint was the bread was too hard. I think this is the style, I just don't care for it as much. I like it to not feel like I'm biting through a protective shell (Magic Shell on ice cream excepted).
The store offering many Italian goods is great, and as a fan of Italian wine, they have a great selection. I've also purchased some of their frozen ravioli and found it delightful.
At peak times (lunch, dinner, and all day on weekends), it can take 30 minutes to wait in line and get your food. I guess, in my case, it better be incredible to make me wait 30 minutes standing in line and waiting. I'm not sure if there's a sandwich anywhere I'd consider waiting that long for, and it's no different with Italian Store. It pains me to not heap praise on this clear favorite of Yelpers, but I just can't agree and believe some people get wrapped up in the hype.
This is the place to go for Italian subs in our area. (The being a-deli? out by Gateway in Reston.) They put all manner of quality obscure Italian deli meats on their sandwiches. I don't eat it often, just when in a while when I deserve a treat. They also have groceries here. The store has SOME but not much seating. The tables outside are sorta yucky.
This is an establishment that sufers from overratedness. What is it that makes people go crazy for mediocre things? Don't get me wrong, it's pretty good food. But that's it--pretty good. I order a sausage n pepper sandwich from here one time and it wasn't my favorite thing in the world, so I never ordered anything else. But I go to try out the grocery and frozen items. Their sauces are a bit...um, gross. Maybe that's harsh but I've haven't found a sauce there, including marinara, that I've been pleased with. The lobster ravioli is kind of awesome. Follow the instructions for cooking and handle with care because they break easily (like most raviolis) but if you make them correctly, then add whatever major brand name sauce you like, you won't be disappointed.
I was told this place allegedly had mozzarella curd. It does not. Or at least the employees said no and didn't make any attempt to clafrify that it was out of stock or seasonal or anytihng like that. Al Tiramisu Cooking Yelpers know why this is sad.
I went to college in Hoboken, NJ - home of multiple authentic Italian delis. I took it for granted just how easy it was to find delicious sandwiches, because I had the likes of Fiore's Deli of Hoboken and Vito's Delicatessen within walking distance. I've been living in the Marlyand/NoVa region for three years now, and The Italian Store was the very first deli I've found to offer a grade of sandwich better than that offered by Blimpie or Subway.
Good bread makes a sandwich great. TIS has great bread - hands down. You can select either hard or soft sub rolls, and I had ordered a large Napoli (salami, capicolla ham, mozzerella) with oil, lettuce and tomatoes (tomatoes, extra cheese, and extra meat are extra). The sandwhich wasn't huge, but it was filling - I wouldn't recommend the small versions if you were especially hungry. The lettuce was shredded, but still crispy, but the tomatoes were sliced to thin for the size of the sandwich.
The second thing that will get me to go back again and again was the freezer section of prepared (stuffed) raviolis. Prices range from $8 (spinach) to $12 (lobster) for 26 frozen raviolis. The servings would definitely be dependant upon the size, but the box seemed to be of generous proportion, suggesting four servings for ~$10 isn't entirely out of the question. I'll report back after I've sampled the quality.
Overall - great deli experience. TIS is hidden in plain view, in a small strip mall on Lee Highway also reachable directly across from Exit 72 off Route 66. The meats are authentic, the staff polite and efficient, the wine selection was sufficient, and you get to pick a number. Yes, I count that as a positive; it let me wander around the store without losing my place in line.
Would eat there again. Tomorrow. If you haven't discovered The Italian Store yet, head over and try their fare for lunch. The ten minute wait in line is well rewarded by the quality sammich you get served.
The Italian Store is the Bayside High of yummy takeout eateries. There is no competition, sure the Peruvian Chicken places (i.e. evil Valley High) gives them a run for their money in Arlington eatery domination, but the Italian Store ultimately prevails. What makes them so dominant you may wonder, but the answer is simple, it is their supreme rule over a wide variety of things. Their subs are phenomenal, using great bread, fresh cut meats of great quality, their compisition is the Zach Morris in sandwichdom, there is none cooler and when you bite into one you know you are having one of his patented "Time-Outs". Their Pizza is totally the A.C. Slater of "Saved by the Bell" status (read it's big and a stud). An extra large cheese pizza is unstoppable, great homemade taste, with lots of cheese, some of the best NY style pizza you can get in DC.
On top of it all they have great homemade dishes and salads especially their Baked Ziti, Lasagna, Caprice Salad (equivelant of prominant supporting but ultimately not lead characters Screech, Lisa, and Jessi).
The best part about this place is that there is no Mr. Beldings, which to say is that there is nothing that would stop you from going through with your zany plan for a great dinner or lunch.
I heart the Italian Store like I heart Kelly Kapowski.
We've been eating here for more than 10 years. It was great then, and it's great now.
The white pizza cannot be topped. The Roma is incomparable.
Four stars for the food, two stars for the slow lines. It's one of the better subs I've had, but honestly, it's just a sub- I dont want to wait in a 20 minute line... now if it were a Philly cheesesteak, I'd wait hours.
Like I said, I have to be fair and say that the subs have always been really, really good and fresh. I definitely think they could speed up the process to please their paying customers.
When I think of Arlington, I think of the Italian Store. And when I think of the Italian Store, I think of one word: Milano. My favorite sub ever. Be prepared to grab a number and wait in a long line if you show up during lunch time but they always have a million premade Milanos in a basket up front which saves me the half hour wait.
If you like your pizzas greasy, cheesy, and delicious-y, then Italian Store is the place for you. Otherwise I'd say stick with the Milano! Also a good place to stock up on random stuff like Berger Cookies (chocolately fudgey cookies that will make you want a BIG glass of milk).
Went to the Italian Store for the first time today. As delis go I thought it was ok. They do a good job with the sandwiches, and even though there was a little bit of a wait on a Saturday at 3 pm, it seemed to go pretty fast.
The reason for only 3 stars out of 5? Well I got the Capri - soft. I guess they have hard sub rolls too?
The bread was great and I liked the way they built the sandwich up. However, there was a big imbalance in the meat I thought. Tons of Prosciutto, but not nearly as much salami or hot cap. While I like prosciutto it is a tougher meat and the sub was almost jerky like there was so much in there. After eating the first half I took out about half of the prosciutto - it was probably 60% of the meat content.
The food was good, but I have had better subs at Italian delis in the past. I will go back to check out the pizza and some other subs but probably would not eat the Capri again.
This place is awesome. Great sandwiches, great pizza, and nice Italian imports you may not find elsewhere.
Must try's, in my opinion:
1) the pizza (my favorites, cheese, pepperoni, or pepperoni and mushroom). Great thin crust, perfect flavor, some of the best in the area.
2) The Muffuletta. So tasty, and hard to find in this area.
3) Prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, olive oil & seasoning sub -- not actually on their menu, but they'll make it. (FYI, if you phone order, double check it. I've had them leave off the prosciutto once, and once found provolone instead of prosciutto--which tempted me to knock off a start. But considering cell phone clarity, and the ambient noise of TIS, bound to happen. Which is why I recommend checking it at pick-up).
Final advice -- if you're going, CALL AHEAD WITH YOUR ORDER. I don't understand those who complain about the line. People like the place. It's busy. It's because they make good food. But rather than complain about having to wait in line, I have their number in my cell, call ahead, and am in and out with my food in about three minutes.
Weeknight Specials
Neighborhood: Glover Park
Late Lunch at Kora
Arlington, VA
Arlington, VA
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Palisades
Category: Seafood
Arlington, VA
Category: Pizza
Arlington, VA
Category: Grocery
Arlington, VA
Category: Italian
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