VIto's Hoagies...and Sandwiches, Salads, Soups and Desserts

When I hear Vito, I think immediately of Vito Corleone from Mario Puzo's "Godfather" or from the fantastic film version directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

My love for the Corleone family runs so deep that I actually wrote a paper about the role of the "Godfather" film series in the American mythological mindset when I was in college (what a geek!). What would a place called offer its customers?

When I walked in I wasn't expecting anything remotely close to the sumptuous wedding banquet that opens "Godfather" Part 1, but I will admit I was expecting pretty authentic Italian fare. The space is very clean and no frills, which I appreciate. You can see the entire prep area which is always a plus.I interviewed a chef once and was expressly forbidden from entering the kitchen area. Lord only knows what kinds of dirtiness and health code violations lurked beyond the doors.

The shop is very brightly lit from overhead lights and plenty of sunlight beaming through the large windows.

Upon entering you are greeted immediately and sincerely. Be on the lookout for daily specials which are always a deal. The menus are printed in the colors of the Italian flag, red and green on a white background.

The hoagies are made on "seeded Abruzzi rolls with lettuce, tomato, onion, oregano and oil." I love this combination on hoagies. A friend of mine is a mayonnaise freak who slathers it all over any sandwich he eats but he would be out of luck here, they have mayonnaise but I'm sure they would frown on anyone ordering an Italian hoagie and getting it with mayo instead of oil.

I ordered the special of the day which was the Vito (prosciutto, genoa salami, capicola, sopresotta and provolone), a bag of chips and a drink for about 9 bucks. The hoagies here come in small, half or whole sizes. I received a half size Vito and the moment I ripped apart the white deli paper I could smell the salty prosciutto and the heady savory aroma of the other cured meats.

While this sandwich was good, it's definitely loaded with meat. I had trouble biting into the massive hoagie. I would not recommend it to people who have smaller appetites or who don't relish meat the way that I do. Better yet, eat half at lunch and save the rest for a snack for later. I wasn't sure that I would like the sesame roll but I thought it added a nice nuttiness to the whole thing. You can always request an unseeded roll if you'd prefer.

The bag of Herr's salt and vinegar chips did not survive the car ride home although the 20 ounce diet Coke is still in my refrigerator (why are soda bottles so big? Does anyone drink 20 ounces of diet coke in one sitting?). I wish I had saved some of the chips to put in my hoagie (I love the crunch of chips in my sandwiches). 

There are 13 hoagies with an Italian emphasis (most come with some combination of the meats in the Vito) although there are regular cheese, roast beef, turkey and chicken salad hoagies as well.

For vegetarians there is a caprese hoagie with fresh mozzarella, basil, tomato and extra virgin olive oil or the delicious sounding Italian veggie (roasted peppers, broccoli rabe and sharp provolone). Both are $6 for the small, $8.50 for the half and $17 for the whole sizes.

The wraps (Italian, roast beef, turkey, tonna Italiano, buffalo chicken) always come with chips and a pickle. As all are $6.50 or under, they are quite the economical choice here.

The rotation of hot sandwiches changes everyday with my favorite hot roast pork only being available Thursday-Saturday. Chicken cutlet sandwiches are only available on Tuesdays. Eggplant parmesan and meatball sandwiches are offered daily.

If you're looking for less carb and more protein and vegetable, there are numerous salads with every dressing under the sun. They also offer a soup du jour with varieties and pricing changing accordingly. 

What I found awesome was that there are so many desserts at this deli. Make no mistake, these are rich to say the least and with names like dreamy coconut, sinfully decadent triple chocolate torte and yummy German chocolate cake, you get the picture. All desserts are $3.75 or under which is a bargain because they appear to be homemade.

The refrigerated cases are stocked with Coca-Cola products, bottled water, iced teas and juices. Pick out your favorite while you wait for your order, or read the funny wall postings or peruse the photos. I thought the Catholic dictionary was particularly funny. The service is friendly, quick and efficient.

My only complaint would be the lack of a seating area. There really isn't one. While it's one thing to enjoy a sandwich on a park bench while basking in the glorious sunshine, it's a different thing entirely doing it indoors.

My advice is to take your hoagie and chips and have an impromptu picnic in some outdoor area on your next lunch break. I wish I could tell you that the weather is bound to get better pretty soon, but we all know that I would be lying and unlike the majority of figures in the Corleone family, I make it a practice not to lie.