Niccoli's Italian Grocery-Deli — Restaurant in Phoenix

I was told about this place in my Uber ride. So i went and checked it out. What a cool little place. Great ingredients in the grocery. They sell handmade pasta. Everyone from the cashier to the cooks was friendly.

I got a few seconds to talk with the masterminds in the kitchen, both from france. Probably why the food is so good, especially the bread.

I got the chicken parm sandwich and tried the meatball mushroom slice pizza. The pizza man u can tell they used the spices to make the doe, and even the crust was enjoyable to eat. I haven't had pizza like this since i was in Rome. The sandwich the bread was so light and delicious and rge chicken parm man. Demolished it. I was talking to the owner, i can eat a whole foot long sub from Subway and still be hungry after. Their subs aren't as big, but it filled me up. Its judt how you know the ingredients they use are the best.

It's a family owned shop, the owner was cooking, and his kids were happy to be there. His young son was on the phone solving problems and his little daughter man, she was crackibg me up shes just delivering food to the shops around the area that ordered. You dont see many family run places like this anymore.

The seating is nice, only a few spots but enough to sit and enjoy lunch and listen to the atmosphere. They will talk with you as well, which was cool because i was interested in how they did things. Very friendly, very good food, def worth coming to check out, and I'll be telling my Uber passengers to...

The worst excuse of an Italian Deli...in America! FOOD: Italian Beef Sandwich - store bought sliced beef lunch meat in canned beef broth. Zero flavor. Pickled Giardinaire from a jar. Served on a MEXICAN ROLL! Small portions, no sides other than Frito-Lay products...those famous Italian Potato Chips, no pasta salad, olive salad, ANYTHING! Cannoli - Half the size of any cannoli I have ever had in Italy, New York or Chicago. Overly sweet and gloppy filling. No choices. I have had cannoli with preserved lemon peel, orange peel, mini chocolate chips or pistachios in the filling, ends dipped in what the filling is flavored. Expensive and SLOW! SERVICE: I walked in and felt like I was in a I Love Lucy Skit or a Marx Brothers movie. Old lady with a pad of paper and pen sitting about 10 inches from the front door. I said I saw them on YELP. She said "What duh ya want?" No suggestions. Order my food, was not offered any chance to order a beverage. She wrote me up, I took out my ATM card, she got on a phone call, so.I had to run my on transaction the hand her the merchant's receipt. Without leaving her perch, another woman walked up and took my receipt, walked 15 feet, gave it to some old guy, who looked at it, and handed it to an even older guy. I was told to go sit in an adjacent room and they would bring me my food. Took 20 minutes to get the sandwich, and 40 minutes to get the cannoli. COMPLETE WASTE OF...

12/23/23: we spotted Niccoli's while eating in the area and finally came back to check them out. It's fairly small in the front, crowded with lots of goodies, and if I recall correctly, there were a couple small tables on the sidewalk.

When we walked in, there was a woman there w/ one small child on her hip. then she proceeded to harass the young lately behind the counter because her food was taking too long. She was complaining because she saw the guy in the back do this and that instead of making her food -- then she played the pregnant & hungry card and the "my kid here is getting fussy, she needs her nap". My sister and I were thinking "then leave the kid at home next time!", as well as "do you want freshly made food? then stop complaining!" :-)

The counter gal kept apologizing and handled the Karen very well. We were both impressed w/ her and she was very friendly with us, laughing off the Karen situation as we complimented her on her handling skills. She did explain there would be a wait on the food, which gave us time to explore the racks and make other purchases.

The calzone was freaking huge! The meatball sub was good, although I think some additional condiments would have been a nice touch. The bread / dough, though, was pliable and just the right texture -- even a couple days later.

We have every intention of re-visiting Niccoli's, next time for...