Written by Emma Carroll

When I was in high school, I did the Italian exchange program so I got to stay with a family in Perugia for a week. It was one of the best experiences, and if you’re a lover of Italian food, you need to go to Italy and experience the real deal! While having dinner with my host family, I went on a rant about how much I love prosciutto and how the good prosciutto (imported) is always so expensive. We laughed and continued having our dinner, and we had a great time. The day I was leaving, I was packing my bag and the family called me into the room saying they have un regalo (a gift) for me. I walked in having no idea what to expect, and there they were with a GIANT hunk of prosciutto. I actually had to leave clothes there just to fit it in my suitcase. The best part was my Dad’s reaction when I said, “Guess what I brought home?” and pulled an 8 lb. hunk of meat out of my suitcase. We took it to the butcher to get sliced and had prosciutto sandwiches for weeks, and I think that’s where the obsession started.

Here are my favorite delis in Jersey City – they all have amazing meat, freshly made mozzarella, and the best Prosciutto di Parma. 

Andrea Salumeria – @andreas_247central
247 Central Ave

This is by far one of my favorite places in the Heights. Pete and his team really make Andrea’s feel like home. This place is one of the usual New Jersey Italian markets, but they have a huge variety of meats and cheeses, pastas and sauces, antipasto, and of course the best sandwiches. I’m always craving my usual order, which is a sandwich with prosciutto di parma, mozzarella, garlicky sweet peppers, and olive oil. The mozzarella here is thrown on your sandwich minutes after it’s made, and it literally melts in your mouth. This also is a great spot to go get all your charcuterie needs. I recommend the prosciutto, sweet soppressata, bocconcini (little mozzarella knots), parmesan, and the truffle brie. Pete gave me a sample of the brie (pre-covid) on a piece of fresh bread and I’ve been hooked ever since. You’ll end up getting more goodies for less money here than at a fancy cheese shop. Just a heads up, it’s a small place and there’s usually a line around peak lunch time, but I’m telling you, it’s seriously worth the wait. Also, the line moves pretty fast! With summer coming up, I also recommend trying their summer pesto pasta salad.

Side Note: For the lovers of Italian goods – this place has amazing specialties including zeppoli mix, every type of pasta you could think of, a variety of sauces, pickled peppers and garlic, tipo 00 flour (for pasta making), really good Italian olive oil, and amazing imported balsamic.

Cangiano’s – @cangianos_jersey_city
225 Pavonia Ave

This place is quickly becoming one of my favorite weekend spots. Andrea’s is closed on Sundays so this is my go-to hungover Sunday sandwich shop, but they’re much more than that. Cangiano’s has a huge sandwich menu; they do the traditional Italian specialties along with American favorites like turkey and roast beef. So, my excuse to go here is to get a sandwich, but then I leave with $100 worth of groceries for the week too. This place has a ton of prepared foods, they make amazing meatballs, eggplant rollatini and all different kinds of salads. Not you’re green leafy salads. I’m talking about potato salad, pasta salad, and tomato & mutz salads. They also have perfectly crispy chicken cutlets, chicken parm, chicken francese, pretty much whatever chicken dish you’re craving. There’s also a meat counter with fresh sausage, cuts of steak and cold cuts.

In the back. there’s a fridge with tons of freshly made frozen pasta, and of course they have a little section for cheeses too. The main event for me is the #1, it’s a prosciutto sandwich with fresh mozzarella, sun dried peppers, olive oil and balsamic. Similar to the Andrea’s sandwich, but the balsamic and sun-dried peppers give this one a sweet tangy flavor that’s amazing. If you enjoy a good roast beef sandwich, I’d also say try the #4 – it’s the perfect roast beef sandwich, and the meat is so juicy and tender. If the sandwiches aren’t enough bread, grab some of their custom-made bread on your way out. The prosciutto bread is my favorite but they also have olive bread, artichoke bread, asiago bread, and chocolate bread. I’ve had most of them because I’m a crazy bread lady, and I highly recommend.

Side Note: They do breakfast sandwiches on the weekend too, until 11pm on Saturday and until 3pm on Sunday.

Second Street Bakery – @2ndstreetbakery
402 2nd St

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Who needs a cinnamon BUN when you can have cinnamon BREAD? Second Street is a local favorite. It’s this hole in wall spot right off Newark Ave, and you can literally smell the bread throughout the neighborhood. This is that spot that I go to for the bread, and also for the chicken cutlet sandwich. My go to order is a chicken cutlet hero (large of course), with fresh mozzarella, balsamic mayo, lettuce and tomato. All I can say is it’s the balsamic mayo for me. It’s the perfect mix of creamy and tangy and it really steps the flavor of the sandwich. The cutlets are crispy and on the thick side, but the homemade bread holds it all together. I’ve been going here for awhile now and I still don’t really know what the hours are. All I know is get there before noon to grab some cinnamon bread for dessert. I went the other day and got 2 chicken cutlet heroes and a cinnamon bread for $16. They have a pretty large menu of sandwiches, and it usually isn’t too crowded.

Side Note: Cash only!

Honorable Mention:
Vito’s Deli – @vitosdelihoboken
806 Washington St

Okay, okay, I know this is in Hoboken but I had to mention this place. You can’t talk about fresh mozzarella without mentioning Vito’s. Before I moved to Jersey City, I spent a lot of time in Hoboken mostly doing early-20s drinking and bar hopping. But my favorite thing to do was go to Vito’s and get a prosciutto sandwich and riceballs, and maybe say hi to my friend making sandwiches super fast in his NJ Devils hat. I can’t say I know his name because this place is always packed, but that’s how you know it’s good. Like most Italian specialty stores, Vito’s has all the stuff you need, but my favorite thing is the riceballs (aka arancini). They’re perfectly crispy and they’re the perfect size. I’ll also say I’ve had some AMAZING (maybe hungover?) breakfast sandwiches from here. I would say my go-to here is actually the prosciutto, egg and mozzarella sandwich. This place is home of Hoboken’s best mutz, and the cheese pull says it all!