Serino's Deli-Roselle

Several years back there was some weirdness on chowhound related to the original Serino's in Addison on Army Trail and what appeared to be blatant shilling. I only bring it up since I know many of the old timers here have memories like elephants and the name was sure to stike a chord.

I've not eaten at the original and only ate at this new one once, but wanted to share a brief review of an excellent sandwich I had a few days ago. We tried three sandwiches of which they offer varying sizes, 6", 9" or 12". We had the traditional Italian with mortadella, salami, provolone and maybe one other meat? Good sandwich with decent oil/vinegar/oregano dressing, but not mind blowing or anyting to go out of your way for. Next we had a Caprese 6" which consisted of marinated eggplant, fresh mozzarella, basil, dressing and tomatoes. Very good sandwich with deeply flavored eggplant and several chunks of possibly pickled or par cooked garlic. I didn't inspect the garlic too closely but when you bite into it, you know it's garlic but it doesn't have the sharp green bite of raw.

Finally, the clincher was the Papa. We settled on a 9" after perusing the menu and seeing the sandwich consisted of housemade capacolla. The simple sandwich of provolone, aforementioned dressing, lettuce, tomato and onion really let the excellent meat shine. The bread had a nice crust and crumb and did well to balance the flavors. As my father and I were getting ready to leave, the owner/manager asked who ordered the Papa? I fessed up and he offered us a taste of few extra slices of the capacolla. Beautiful dark color, almost that of bresola, with nice marbling and that unmistakable funkiness you get from dry cured meat. He explained the father of the orginal store in Addison makes it. I know Riviera and Bari get much deserved love and are probably better overall, but this was a great sandwich for those finding themselves in the Western burbs.

Serino's Deli
468 Lake St
Roselle, IL 60172
(630) 893-5414

As I was reading your post the phrase "housemade capacolla" had my bullshit antenna quivering. After all, housemade, or homemade are basically marketing terms meant to imply something that is usually not true, and there are many examples right now of places purporting to offer house cured sausages that are not that at all.

But the details, the owner sharing extra samples, have convinced me that I was just being a cynical jerk.

Can't say I get up to Addison on Lake Street that often, but I will make a point to get there to get some housemade capacolla. Of course I have also been planning to follow your tip on Reem's for close to 5 years, too, so who knows?

Thanks for the tip.

If he was lying, he had me sold. Truth be damned, it was a good sandwich. While poking around in the refrigerated beverage case waiting for our food to be prepared, I saw several irregular chunks of the stuff in plain shrinkwrap with no labeling. Now you have me thinking? Would a place with house cured meats like Riviera or Freddy's be required to place the finished product in hermetically sealed plastic. Maybe it's made at the original store and sealed in plastic for transport. The manager also advised he was trying to get some sopresatta as well, which is easily commercially available which leads me to think if the stuff wasn't housemade then they would have sopresatta on the menu as well. Or I'm just a sucker.

While a big fan of Serino's in general, I'm actually not crazy about the store made sausages. I find the capicolas and sopresettas to be too hard, dry, and way too salty. That said, when Elvio, the owner who is almost always there if he is not in Italy, offers a slice of his own made stuff, I never turn it down. There is always some homemade meat in the deli cooler next to the commercial brands. And I trust him, the best thing I ever sampled there (Addison) was a ham he cured himself-unbelievably good.

I never understood the past antipathy towards Serino's, nor saw any shilling, but a moderator said that it indeed happened and they were sure it was employees. When it happened, no one at the store said they even knew about it, and Elvio was totally unaware the situation even existed.

At our shop whenever we are looking to treat ourselves or out of town guests, Serino's is always the first choice, with virtually everyone ordering Italian subs of differing lengths. Extra meat is a great indulgence. The hidden gem though is the daily special that Mama, Elvio's wife, makes each day. Regular sandwiches are also good as we have one ex-Wisconsonite who orders turkey breast with American cheese. Bread is delivered daily from downtown. Paninis and salads are also good, especially anything with eggplant in it. Lots of customers like the pizzas and Italian beefs, but I've actually not tried them.

The deli has some interesting meats;I like the salami with fennel and the mortodella with pistachios. Elvio has also just added a new "machina," a large coffee/expresso machine. The expresso which took less than 20 seconds to make that I had day before yesterday was excellent-small, intense, great crema.

Although the parking lot in Addison was expanded to four times its previous size, it is still packed anytime around lunch, hence the need for the Lake Street, Roselle store. Elvio's son, Bruno, runs the Roselle store. Cooking that Mama does will stay at the Addison store. Serino's even has their own giardiniara specially made by Orlando Greco's.

To my mind Serino's also has a warm welcoming ambiance as well as very good food.

Amazing pizza's. Best deal every Monday. Half off pizzas. They are amazing. Brick oven pizza, neopolitan style. Great texture, crisp tender chewy crust. Quality toppings. Simple and delicious, made to order. You cannot go wrong. I have heard many good things about the sandwiches while there, but my fiance and I cannot help but order the 'za!!! We are so happy to have found a place in the burbs with food that we are always excited about and again 50% OFF!!!

http://www.serinodeli.com/

Pizza pics. (Margherita and Verde)
https://plus.google.com/photos/11202656 ... 3426958961