The Original Gonella's — Restaurant in Detroit

I've been hearing about this place for years. But it's far from us. I ended up here during the week at lunchtime. Small market vibes with the deli in the rear. Most of what they sell is stuff that would go with subs. A gentleman stocking shelves came up and asked me if I needed help. Nice! I ordered two different subs and an antipasto side. The counter staff seemed a bit ... Disinterested. I get this is a culture and has been around for decades, but my experience was not the same. The antipasto had gelatinous film in the meat and olives. Maybe the dressing got too cold but it wasn't good. I brought the subs home and the general consensus was just ok. The bread to me was not fresh. Light on the dressing and bland. The bread was the kicker though; killed the whole thing. I was so excited to have finally made it there lol. There's an olive bar and some other sides. Carry out only and it seems like ppl eat in the car...

It doesn't look like much from the outside...or the inside for that matter, but she's got it where it counts. Clean and good quality, also no longer owned by Italians but that doesn't matter, it's just great.

Be prepared to wait a few minutes between 11am and about 1pm as lunch rush hits hard. They can crank them out fast though, so stop in and try it.

Update (2024): the exterior has been refreshed and the interior got a major overhaul. Food is still the same great product as always. There is a much better selection of higher quality ingredients in the market portion of the store, including the only location in the metro area that carries sport peppers. The pasta selection is towards the lower end, I would like to see a rummo or a la molisana as a much better quality addition. Otherwise still great, stop in and...

I remember being a little girl and my father bringing home Gonella’s submarines for dinner, wrapped in that classic white paper, always with a bag of chips on the side. It was such a memorable delight — that simple meal felt like a feast! Ever since then, I’ve been a loyal customer, and now my children enjoy it just as much as I did growing up.

We were just there last week! I usually get the 7-layer turkey sub on a roll for about $8. It’s packed with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sliced onions, provolone cheese, and their famous Italian dressing — my mouth waters just thinking about it. I also love their pasta salad!

Even though I don’t remember the last time I bought cold cuts to make sandwiches at home, stopping at Gonella’s is still a nostalgic and satisfying treat. Highly recommend for a quick,...