Allan Borgen, Food Critic
About three years ago, I stopped into Gandolfo’s New York Delicatessen in Rancho Cucamonga and, although I was impressed, I kind of forgot about this restaurant over time.
Recently I passed by Gandolfo’s and thought I would stop in again.
I am sure glad I did!
This small chain restaurant was founded in Utah by a New Yorker who couldn’t find a New York-style deli in his new state, and decided to start one himself.
GANDOLFO’S NEW YORK DELICATESSEN
Rating: 4 1/2; stars (out of 5)
Where: 9090 Milliken Ave., Rancho Cucamonga
Call: 909-758-9000
Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m. to
9 p.m. Saturdays, closed Sundays
Price range: $3.69 to $9.49
The restaurant is set up like most sandwich shops except this restaurant has lots of pictures of New York and has a huge menu featuring some very unique and tasty sandwiches along with salads, wraps and some incredible side salads.
The meats are made especially for Gandolfo’s, and the sandwiches are wrapped and brought to your table in heavy butcher-like paper and are as heavy in weight as I am.
Most of the sandwiches are available on a freshly baked 6-inch or 12-inch roll and are not served with any sides. The first item I ordered was the Big Apple Italian Salad, $6.49, which featured cappicola, roast beef, pepper jack cheese, feta cheese, Romaine lettuce, tomato, onions, pepperoncinis and your choice of dressing.
The salad was large, fresh, and the Italian dressing was an excellent choice to go with the meats and cheeses.
Bring on the sandwiches! The first three sandwiches included the French Dip, $5.79, the “I Love New York,” $7.89, and the Carnegie Hall, $7.98. All of these sandwiches are new so I just had to try them. The French Dip sandwich featured lots of thinly sliced hot roast beef with provolone, mayo and salt/pepper on a 12-inch roll served with tasty au jus. The fixings inside the sandwich were great by themselves, but once dipped into the beef-flavored au jus, the sandwich came alive. The “I Love New York” consisted of lean corned beef, peppery pastrami, Swiss cheese, and spicy mustard or Russian dressing. This hefty hot sandwich was served on half-inch rye bread and was very tasty. The roast beef was juicy and the entire sandwich was delicious. Speaking of delicious, the Carnegie Hall was another winning sandwich. This hot sandwich featured that same great corned beef but this time turkey, Swiss cheese, cole slaw and Russian dressing also were stuffed between the rye bread slices. The combination of the corned beef, slaw, turkey and Russian dressing made for one fantastic and filling sandwich.
If you are planning on going on a diet soon, may I recommend that you first splurge on the Dagwood, $9.49. This massive work of art consisted of a huge roll stuffed with slices of roast beef, turkey, ham, pastrami, two cheeses along with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, mayo and spicy mustard. The sandwich must have weighed 2 to 3 pounds and was a hit with me and my family when I brought the leftovers home.
The most unique sandwich I tried was the Knuckle Sandwich, $8.99. Imagine hot pastrami, cheddar cheese, mozzarella and parmesan cheese with lettuce, slices of tomatoes, marinated mushrooms, black olives, mayo, olive oil and vinegar on grilled sourdough bread. Yes! This sandwich tasted as good as I described it.
Other items I tried and highly recommend are the delicious Chicken Salad Sandwich, $7.00, the great Grilled Pastrami on Rye, $7.99, and the sides, available as extras, that include creamy red potato salad, broccoli, bacon and raisin salad and the Mac and Cheese cold salad.
For dessert, you must try the homemade Banana Pudding, Cheesecake, Chocolate Mousse cake or any of the many flavors of Gelato. Gandolfo’s also has an outstanding catering service and has recently added on a meeting room, so now you and your friends or business associates have a place to meet and eat.
I’m glad I made a return visit to Gandolfo’s Delicatessen and so glad that the Inland Empire has this first-rate deli.
Oh yes, they also serve some terrific hot and cold breakfast bagels and sandwiches that will surely start your day on a positive note.
Hear Allan Borgen every Saturday afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. on the “Let’s Dine Out” Food, Travel and Entertainment radio show on KTIE 590 am. Visit his web site at www.letsdineoutshow.com, or reach him atallan@ktie590.com or 909-910-3463.
Allan Borgen, Food Critic
About three years ago, I stopped into Gandolfo\’s New York Delicatessen in Rancho Cucamonga and, although I was impressed, I kind of forgot about this restaurant over time.
Recently I passed by Gandolfo\’s and thought I would stop in again.
I am sure glad I did!
This small chain restaurant was founded in Utah by a New Yorker who couldn\’t find a New York-style deli in his new state, and decided to start one himself.
GANDOLFO\’S NEW YORK DELICATESSEN
Rating: 4 1/2; stars (out of 5)
Where: 9090 Milliken Ave., Rancho Cucamonga
Call: 909-758-9000
Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m. to
9 p.m. Saturdays, closed Sundays
Price range: $3.69 to $9.49
The restaurant is set up like most sandwich shops except this restaurant has lots of pictures of New York and has a huge menu featuring some very unique and tasty sandwiches along with salads, wraps and some incredible side salads.
The meats are made especially for Gandolfo\’s, and the sandwiches are wrapped and brought to your table in heavy butcher-like paper and are as heavy in weight as I am.
Most of the sandwiches are available on a freshly baked 6-inch or 12-inch roll and are not served with any sides. The first item I ordered was the Big Apple Italian Salad, $6.49, which featured cappicola, roast beef, pepper jack cheese, feta cheese, Romaine lettuce, tomato, onions, pepperoncinis and your choice of dressing.
The salad was large, fresh, and the Italian dressing was an excellent choice to go with the meats and cheeses.
Bring on the sandwiches! The first three sandwiches included the French Dip, $5.79, the \”I Love New York,\” $7.89, and the Carnegie Hall, $7.98. All of these sandwiches are new so I just had to try them. The French Dip sandwich featured lots of thinly sliced hot roast beef with provolone, mayo and salt/pepper on a 12-inch roll served with tasty au jus. The fixings inside the sandwich were great by themselves, but once dipped into the beef-flavored au jus, the sandwich came alive. The \”I Love New York\” consisted of lean corned beef, peppery pastrami, Swiss cheese, and spicy mustard or Russian dressing. This hefty hot sandwich was served on half-inch rye bread and was very tasty. The roast beef was juicy and the entire sandwich was delicious. Speaking of delicious, the Carnegie Hall was another winning sandwich. This hot sandwich featured that same great corned beef but this time turkey, Swiss cheese, cole slaw and Russian dressing also were stuffed between the rye bread slices. The combination of the corned beef, slaw, turkey and Russian dressing made for one fantastic and filling sandwich.
If you are planning on going on a diet soon, may I recommend that you first splurge on the Dagwood, $9.49. This massive work of art consisted of a huge roll stuffed with slices of roast beef, turkey, ham, pastrami, two cheeses along with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, mayo and spicy mustard. The sandwich must have weighed 2 to 3 pounds and was a hit with me and my family when I brought the leftovers home.
The most unique sandwich I tried was the Knuckle Sandwich, $8.99. Imagine hot pastrami, cheddar cheese, mozzarella and parmesan cheese with lettuce, slices of tomatoes, marinated mushrooms, black olives, mayo, olive oil and vinegar on grilled sourdough bread. Yes! This sandwich tasted as good as I described it.
Other items I tried and highly recommend are the delicious Chicken Salad Sandwich, $7.00, the great Grilled Pastrami on Rye, $7.99, and the sides, available as extras, that include creamy red potato salad, broccoli, bacon and raisin salad and the Mac and Cheese cold salad.
For dessert, you must try the homemade Banana Pudding, Cheesecake, Chocolate Mousse cake or any of the many flavors of Gelato. Gandolfo\’s also has an outstanding catering service and has recently added on a meeting room, so now you and your friends or business associates have a place to meet and eat.
I\’m glad I made a return visit to Gandolfo\’s Delicatessen and so glad that the Inland Empire has this first-rate deli.
Oh yes, they also serve some terrific hot and cold breakfast bagels and sandwiches that will surely start your day on a positive note.
Hear Allan Borgen every Saturday afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. on the \”Let\’s Dine Out\” Food, Travel and Entertainment radio show on KTIE 590 am. Visit his web site at www.letsdineoutshow.com, or reach him atallan@ktie590.com or 909-910-3463.