Santoro's Italian Market & Deli — Restaurant in Alameda

Absolutely inappropriate & potentially racist experience: I used to love this place as a regular. However, today when I showed up to pick up my order, I was treated with egregious and unprovoked disdain and possible racism.

I placed a pickup order and received a call from the friendly female manager that my food was ready, so I headed over to the shop. When I arrived, the female manager wasn’t present, but two male employees were there behind the counter. I stood around because they looked busy until one eventually paused and made eye contact with me, essentially indicating “how can I help?”.

When I politely stated “Excuse me, hi I’m here to pick up my order”, the man abruptly screamed at me saying that by asking a question “I’m interrupting their entire operations” and proceeded to tell me that I clearly have no idea “how a restaurant works” because I was disrupting them. He yelled some insults at me which I won’t repeat here. Literally all this in response to just 1 simple soft-spoken sentence. I was completely stunned and another family with a child in the deli froze and were just as shocked as I was.

I kindly told him that I come from a family of restaurant business of almost 30 years, so I do understand how a restaurant works. His response was completely inappropriate and unnecessarily insulting over literally nothing. Either he was mentally ill/bipolar and/or racist.

Due to my ethnicity, I fear that he thought I was a DoorDash delivery driver instead of a regular/direct customer (which still does not excuse his behavior AT ALL). In fact, I am an attorney dedicated to helping people. I understand that some DoorDashers are pushy and he may have been under stress, so he likely assumed I was a DoorDasher (wouldn’t be the first time, trust me) and completely lashed out. That being said, there were no other non-employees in the entire deli besides myself and 1 family who were waiting to the side.

While the kind female manager eventually apologized to me, I experienced absolutely abhorrent behavior and it ruined my day. I will never come back to this deli ever again....

Was very excited and eager to try this place since I am from Long Island, NY and this place seemed to remind me of home (just moved here). Placed seemed like a small deli with good Boars Head Cold Cuts and a little New York experience. Not a big fan of package meats and safeway sliced meats, so when I discovered this right around the corner from my house, I was excited! Once I got in there, it was busy and very understandable. I placed my order (1 sandwich and 2 lb worth of cold cuts) at 12:15. I said I can come back at 1 to pick it up....the lady said PERFECT, see you at 1 and wrote down my cell number. I went home and did some stuff and figured on way back to work, I could pick up my order. Well when I got there, only 2 people were in there eating and that is it. Placed has calmed down and cleared out considerably. So I waited there for 5 minutes before anyone welcomed me. Once they asked for my reason to be there, I told them my name and saw my ticket on the counter. This is where I start getting frustrated...I understand you are busy, but I placed a very small order 40 minutes prior and you GUYS HAVENT EVEN STARTED ON MY ORDER. Thank God your not in NY, because the people there would eat that business up and wouldnt last for more than a month or two. Such a shame and very unprofessional, rude and did not care (maybe because I wasnt a regular). Doesnt matter, never going back and complete waste of time. Also they do not wear protective gloves while dealing with the meat, cheeses, food and all! Several times I was watching both of the people back there touch there faces, floor, un-sanitized things and go back to touching peoples food. Unprofessional and a joke of a place! Sorry for my horrible grammar, but not wasting anymore time on this. Its a good day for everyone if you dont set a foot in this ridiculous so called establishment. Also several people had there orders messed up or forgotten. No order and just left...

I've tried this sandwhich shop once before and was disappointed with my food. I just moved in down the street from the Sammie Shop. I decided to test my luck and give it another go. You have to call ahead if you'd like a hot sandwhich, pasta, pizza, or a salad (half the menu) before 11AM. Keep in mind they open at 10:30AM. No hot item, or salad is listed on their website you have to call and request the information. Well I called to order. They do not have pasta they have a pasta salad. The man I spoke to rudely stated that they have pasta salad but he didn't know what pasta I was referring to. I then asked if I could order a sandwhich and salad and he stated that didn't have a house salad. Didn't give me any options seeing as how I couldn't see them myself. More than anything the attitude towards customers is important. I'm a pretty flexible person. I'm not picky. The customer service is what blew me out of the water. I don't know what business makes it this complicated to purchase an order. Save yourself the hassle. The food isn't good and the service is far...