chicagospots

Got ten dollars and an appetite for Italian food?

There are a quite a few Italian deli-style restaurants in Chicago; this deli in particular goes above and beyond the mundane.

Panozzo’s Italian Market, located at 1303 South Michigan Avenue in the Chicago Loop, (www.panozzos.com) provides some of the highest-quality gourmet Italian fare available. Chicago is lucky to have such a neighborhood-style deli; people who visit Panozzo’s tend to walk away both satisfied and amazed.

Imagine a tiny neighborhood-style deli, situated in the South Loop area, within walking distance to Lake Michigan. Imagine the smell of Italian bread, classic Chicago Jardinero, and an incredible selection of meats and cheeses. Imagine stumbling onto an incredible Italian deli, smack dab in the heart of the South Chicago Loop.

Panozzo’s provides all of the above and more with a flair that you might find only in Italy itself! No joke, you’d have to take a flight to Italy to find similar quality ingredients.

Here’s why: some of the unique items in Panozzo’s (rare spiced pastas and other Italian treats) you absolutely will not be able to find inside your local grocer – you’d have to either grab your passport and book a flight for Rome, or order them from specialty shops on the internet. Understand that these are special items; the price for such items is a few dollars more, but you receive a lot in return for the money.

Expect to spend upwards of 8 dollars for sauces, and more for unique items such as Balsamic Vinegar, olive oil, sopprasseta, mozzarella, capicolla, prosciutto, and some of the higher-end Italian sauces.

The meatballs are first-class; beyond what mere mortals could dream of in Italian cooking. The texture and contents of said meatballs is delightful. These meatballs are a sublime mixture of veal, beef, pork, and an array of all the flavors in the Italian gourmet arsenal.

Panozzo’s offers an extensive selection of sandwiches (costing under the ten-dollar range); they come in several sizes for hungry customers. Be prepared to shell out a few extra dollars for a larger meal-plus sandwich. I bought a 9” sub and I couldn’t finish it all; it lasted me two meals.

Personally, I’m partial to a good Italian beef sandwich and Panozzo’s certainly came through. The meats and bread are always fresh and delicious; I really felt as if Panozzo’s had spoiled other restaurants for me. It’s so delicious that other deli’s really can’t stack up.

For those with a sweet-tooth, there is also a selection of gelatos, canolis, and other Italian treats.

The staff is understandably friendly; they know that the customers are there because of the quality of the food. The staff never served me wrong, nor steered me towards something that was not absolutely delicious.

The only downside of Panozzo’s is that there is no seating area. You have to purchase your goods and go. So, take a short walk to Grant Park to enjoy your treats in the comfort of Grant Park.

Expect to spend under 10 dollars for a superb sandwich and drink, for some of the gourmet sauces and other items, expect to pay upwards of 8 dollars.

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