Cappiello Foods

This authentic Italian store since 1921 on Broadway in Schenectady received my business again this year as I shopped for the Christmas holiday. I prefer this small shop over the larger specialty shops in the area.

The owner/manager is very helpful and pleasant.
You know it's Christmas when the Baccala arrives!
He brought out a whole box of Baccala (dried cod) for me to look through to select the salt cod pieces (over $100.) I wanted which are the thicker ones. I like to use these to make the traditional southern Italian fish stew for Christmas Eve. I also bought a container of large tasty pitted green olives for the fish stew.

The quality of everything is great and the prices are reasonable.

I also purchased 3 types of Taralli, fantastic Cannoli Cream, Ferrara Cannoli Shells, grated cheese, fresh pasta sheets for lasagna, and slices of delicious tomato pie. I will be back before Christmas for more including Italian candies, Pannetone, canned tomatoes, and sausage.

The owner kindly put my box of goodies in my trunk. I did not have to hint or ask. He makes shopping here a pleasant, relaxed experience. He graciously answers any questions you may have. He knows his products and Italian cuisine.

Check out this hidden gem in Schenectady if you like Italian foods.

A Schenectady landmark for all of your Italian specialties. This store has been around for years (I think over 100 years if not close). They offer the best Italian staples you can find in upstate NY.
From homemade take and bake meals such as lasagna, eggplant parm, meatballs and sausage especially made for their store.
Not to mention the speciality cheese, OMG the selection is the best quality.
If you're an olive lover like myself, they have a huge selection of olives you can buy in bulk.
And the pastries are really the best I've ever had. If they do not have any cannolis made they will make them for you, and they also sell the shells and filling if you'd rather make them yourself at home.

If you are a fan of Easter Pies at Easter time, then Cappiellos are the best in the 518!!

People! How is it possible that a local legend like Cappiello Foods only has three reviews?

Look, it's true. We have a tremendous number of excellent Italian import shops, bakeries, and delis. And Cappiello's isn't in Schenectady's Little Italy. It's on a lonely industrial stretch of Broadway between exit 5 of 890 and downtown.

In some way that makes sense, because Cappiello Foods' excellent ricotta can be found in every Stewart's Shops in the Capital Region and beyond. If you've never tried it, it's great stuff.

You do know what you can make with excellent ricotta, right? Cannoli.

I've long heard about the exquisite cannoli at Cappiello's. But I've been reluctant to try them for two reasons. First, I was informed they were all pre filled in the morning. Second, they often sell out before I might be able to make it down to the shop for lunch.

This Saturday, I was feeling lucky, and made the trip. And indeed at 1p they were out of cannoli.

But wait. This story has a happy ending.

Maybe because the shop was slow, or maybe because I was there with my wide-eyed daughter who was hopeful for a bite of cannoli, they generously offered to fill one on the spot!

The creaminess of the filling was extraordinary. Part of me wishes that they skipped the chocolate chips entirely, to not break up that lovely, rich and silky texture with anything else but crisp pieces of cannoli shell.

It should be noted that Cappiello Foods has more to offer than just cannoli. I could not resist a slice of the rectangular pizza by the register. Part of me wanted to broccoli ricotta one, but I thought my daughter would prefer a slice of the prosciutto, provolone & roasted red pepper.

She's a big prosciutto fan.

If I worked in Schenectady, I'd be at Cappiello's all the time to snag a couple pieces of whatever pizza they had on offer, and little something sweet. Their bakery case had a mini ricotta cheesecake that looked incredible.

And I saw the lunch menu that included a variety of stuffed breads. I really want to try the sausage, pepper, and onion. But I suspect my son will be a fan of the meatball. He's a meatball lover.

So I have a lengthy list of follow up items to eat. That's okay. I'm not going to be scared away of the neighborhood or the strange parking situation. There's a lot in the back, but you have to walk around to the front.

When you do, you might also encounter the amazing smells from the roast beef shop across the street.

Here's the thing. If you keep coming back, and other people keep coming back, this little corner of Schenectady might find itself getting a whole lot nicer. And in the short term, you'll be happier, and filled with old school deliciousness. Enjoy.

Great local place. Friendly folk. Really wonderful homemade food! Try it. It will not disappoint.

Nice choice for Italian specialties the lasagna is great and the biscotti as well good choices good services

When I used to drive home from church on Sunday afternoons, I would sometimes stop in here for a bite to eat or to just wander around. They have lots of imported Italian pasta and canned goods, homemade pizza (Tomato Pie), a deli, smoked cheeses, and various cookies. I usually park around the corner as there isn't really a good lot to park in, but finding a space is never tough. Their Sunday hours (the only day I am in the area) are odd and sometimes they are open and other times they are closed. It is a shame as it is a nice, quaint little store.

Def the best Italian deli in Capital District. Just walking in there and smelling 100 years worth of Italian cheeses makes me swoon. Guilio and Mary have gone to that prosciutto slicing machine in the sky but the kids are doing a fine job of preserving a true Upstate landmark

We went to Italy and I have been searching for pasta just like in Italy. I was so happy to find homemade spaghetti and Add to dictionary. I also bought a bunch of other stuff that was just like food in Italy. . The pasta is the best. I almost bought the ravioli But in Italy the ravioli is much thinner. Cappiello's ravioli were full more than I like. Parking is in the back. Store is in a rough spot to park in front of the store.

OMG. The slices of pizza here are AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS! One or two slices are a meal and for a great price. Every day they offer something new, like lasagna pizza, eggplant parmigiana pizza and they always have cheese pizza. While visiting my hometown Schenectady after 30 years, I stopped here multiple times. I couldn't get enough. The homemade cookies are totally off the charts, too! Cappiello has been a family business for nearly 100 years. The atmosphere is happy, and talking with Adrian and Will was like going to Cheers - I felt like instant family.

Don't judge a book by its cover, really. It looks so old from the outside, and it is but its old world italian store goodness inside. Fresh meats, sandwiches, and anything else you need. Olives, fresh pasta, imported everything, and my personal favorite....anchovies in hot pepper oil. OMG the canolis are out of this world too. A lot of the hype and flash of italian delis may overshadow this gem. Please, i cannot stress enough how happy this place will make you, if your still struggling with your inner fat kid like I am.