Giaquinto’s Deli & Catering

A standard deli, stopped in for lunch today (third time I’ve been to Giaquinto’s). Had a buffalo chicken wrap this time. Was OK, nothing spectacular considering I spent 6 bucks for the wrap and it seemed like it took a considerable time to make. Not sure I’ll be back since I have more choices for lunch with all the street vendors in New Haven (better tasting food at a better price).

Their chili and lasagna are my favorites. Pleasant counter people, great food, good value for the price, clean. Varied lunch specials, quick service. What more do you want!

Giaquinto’s is a nice neighborhood deli in West Haven. Even though it’s right on Main Street, it seems like a hidden gem (other people in town whom I’ve asked about it never heard of it), though when I visited during lunch last week, the place was actually quite busy.
I tried their soup, which was an escarole and bean soup. It was tasty, though I would have liked some grated Parmesan cheese to add to it. I was not offered any, didn’t see any on the counter, though they may have had it available had I asked, which I didn’t. My boyfriend and I also shared a salad which was simple, though good and all of the ingredients were fresh.
Overall, service was prompt and welcoming. The woman behind the counter offered us a sample of their homemade chili, which I though added a hint of personality to our visit and was a nice customer service gesture. Honestly, I liked the chili even better than the soup that I ordered. I was a bit intimidated because it was labeled «firehouse» and I was expecting it to be outrageously spicy. To the contrary, it had a bit of a kick and tons of flavor, with lots of diced tomato and peppers in it. It was hot, but I enjoy spice and did not find it to be at all overwhelming.
Prices are good and on par with the quality of product that they are offering. The soup was around $ 4. The salad was around $ 6 and they offered the option of adding grilled chicken for about $ 2 more, which I thought was a fair price. They seem to capitalize on their daily specials, all of which appeared to be very tasty. They were even sold out of some items which I think attests to the amount of business they do combined with the caliber of the food they’re serving.
On the downside, there isn’t too much ambiance at this deli. Tables are kind of scattered about and the stuff hanging on the walls is a random mix of photos and signs, though I did like their huge photo collages with many pictures of smiling patrons. That added a friendly feeling to the interior. They had a television with a news station playing when I was there. Overall, it doesn’t really have a specific décor, which is just something to note if you want to visit a place that has more consideration of interior design.
One more thing to note: you order, eat your meal, and pay at the counter before you leave. I would not have known this had my boyfriend not mentioned it, and I think that this system is atypical of most other delis, so just be aware if you decide to visit.