88

FOOD - DRINK - FUN

Mountain Views-News Saturday November 22, 2025


First Impression: 

THE ITALIAN DELI ON WASHINGTON

By Peter Dills – Dining With Dills

I mean… what else can I say but the truth? A friend asked 
me, “Where do you want to go for lunch?” and without hesitation 
I replied, “Let’s try that new Italian deli on Washington.” 
Off we went. Expectations were simple: a sandwich, 
maybe a bag of chips, and back to the day.

Before the emails start—“Peter, you should’ve tried the pasta!” 
“Peter, the chicken parm!” “Peter, why no lasagna?”—
remember this was lunch, not dinner, and a first-impression, not the final word. My father 
always insisted on three visits before writing anything; today I’m breaking that rule 
and I’m okay with it.

Here’s the surprise: despite the 
name, this isn’t a deli in the 
Mario’s of Glendale or Eastside 
Deli by Dodger Stadium 
sense. It’s a full restaurant with 
a deli counter, a dining room, 
a bar, and outdoor seating. 
It’s been open a few months 
now, and based on the strong 
Yelp reviews—very few complaints—
it’s already a welcome 
addition to the Northern Pasadena 
food scene.

Inside, Reuben seemed to be 
everyone’s waiter, which tells 
me the “new kid on the block” 
energy is still in full swing. 
People were looking around 
like they’d discovered something 
new… because they had.

Let’s talk bread. Enzo bakes 
it fresh daily—Italian rolls, 
baguettes, full loaves, even 
piada, the Italian flatbread. 
With bread this good staring 
you in the face, no wonder the 
sandwiches lean generous. Sebastian 
Maniscalco famously 
jokes that every Italian restaurant 
should have olive oil on the table. He’s right. A bottle on each table here would be a 
nice touch.

Yes, there’s a bar—beer taps, liquor, the whole sha-bing sha-bang. An Italian deli where 
you can order a martini? Only in Pasadena.

As for our lunch, the Lucky Luciano All-American—turkey and provolone—was a clean, 
satisfying sandwich. But the Italian Deli Hero stole the show. It didn’t make it to the to-go 
bag. I finished the whole thing, no regrets.

Outdoor seating is available, and with Pasadena’s weather behaving beautifully, why 
wouldn’t you sit outside? They even provide water bowls for your little Sinatras—the pups.

IN SUMMARY

If you forget the address, just look for the line of cars on Washington Blvd. circling the 
block trying to figure out where to park.

1615 E. Washington Blvd. Pasadena

Email me thechefknows@yahoo.com please check out the podcast


You Deserve an Agent WhoWill Do More Than Just SellYour HomeLearn why sellers say that working with me wasthe difference between success and stress!
If you’re thinking of making amove next year give me a call!
DRE#02015404626.253.1323 
suecookrealtor@gmail.com
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com