markh wrote:
Joey Doves wrote:
You can also try Fontano's on Carpenter a block north of Taylor Street. Best Italian subs in the entire metro area.
Almost forgot. Minelli Brothers in Niles has a phenomenal selection of sausage. I believe they have four different types-mild, hot, very hot, and unbelievably hot. The place is massive. You could get lost in there.
If someone is thinking about driving to Niles, they should also think about going to Caputo's on the way. Actually they should think about going to Super H-Mart, the Korean mega-mart in Niles. There is nothing even remotely like it in the south suburbs or in NW Indiana. There's a Super H-Mart in Naperville as well...
Fontana's has the best Italian subs in the metro area? Hmm. That deserves its own thread, because you'll get some arguments from me about that! There are some incredible small delis in DuPage County that make subs to order using fresh-cut GREAT meats and cheeses. Amici's in Downers Grove is the closest to me, but I've been to similar places in Westmont, Naperville, and particularly Addison.
FWIW...if you don't mind driving 30 minutes for amazing food/groceries, you REALLY need to head out to Brookhaven Marketplace on LaGrange Road in Mokena. It's a mile south of the LaGrange Road exit of I-80. While it has a very good selection of Italian food, its strength is food from the eastern Mediterranean (Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey). Brookhaven is owned by the importer (Minos Imports) that supplies DeRosa with many of its products, so the prices for these products at Brookhaven will be less than at DeRosa...
http://brookhavenmarket.com/homepage%20 ... %20II.htmlhttp://minosimports.com(Note: Links don't seem to work for me on the Brookhaven webpage.)
Fontano's
DOES have the best subs in the metro area. Must be their mild giardiniera, but there's nothing like it anywhere else.
The deli you're thinking about in Addison is Marios, which used to be in the strip mall on 53 and Lake next to my buddy Jerry De Marco's restaurant. Not bad, but not Fontano's.
Ther's also a good deli in Franklin Park (want to say its called Ozzie's) on 25th and Belmont (I believe). Its been years since I've been there. But its subs are still not like Fontano's. Neither are Alpine's in Elmwood Park.
Amici's is ok also, but, not Fontano's. Btw, if you're in Westmont, try Vicinato on Cass just north of the railroad tracks in the downtown area. Very underrated restaurant, as is La Notte in Darien. And if you want something "nicer", go by my friend Gigi at Capri in Burr Ridge.
The closest to Fontano's I've found is Bari Deli, next to Amatos Bakery on Grand Avenue ( which makes fantastic cannolis).
As for Brookhaven, their specialty is actually Greek products but they also have an extensive line of products from all other Balkan countries and Italy. John opened his first store (Minos Foods) in Addison on Lake Street in the early 80's and now owns two other places in Darien and Mokena. The Mokena location was opened not long ago last year by two brothers from Barrington, they promptly went belly up, and John came in and bought the place just recently.
The original Minos Foods on Lake Street carries homemade Greek Loukaniko (sausage) with orange peel. They also do a good job roasting lamb and pig. And I don't think Anthony from De Rosa's buys too many things from John. Some, but not many.