Old Italian Grocers Still Slice Mortadella At These 6 Illinois Markets

A single log of mortadella can weigh more than a toddler, and somebody still slices it by hand. That old ritual lives on behind a handful of no-frills Illinois deli counters that still do things the slow way.

I find that oddly thrilling, like discovering your favorite song still plays on the radio. Ordered fresh, mortadella comes off the slicer in thin ribbons, ready for wax paper or a crusty sub roll.

One of these counters has been slicing since 1948, back when your grandparents might have been ordering their own sandwiches. Others sit in modest suburban storefronts run by families who skipped the memo about shortcuts.

Shelves of imported pasta, homemade sauces, and Italian cookies wait nearby while your order gets sliced, and lunch at most of them won’t wreck your budget. So which old-school counter deserves your next Saturday drive across Illinois?

1. Conte Di Savoia

Since 1948, a Taylor Street grocer has been feeding Little Italy without changing its basic mission. Conte Di Savoia still runs as an Italian gourmet grocery with a counter-serve deli up front.

Mortadella is the move here, sliced fresh at the counter for cold Italian sandwiches. You can also take some home and build your own masterpiece on the kitchen table.

Hungry for something hot? The Italian beef has earned a loyal following, and the meatball sub and Italian sausage with peppers keep it company.

Shopping is half the fun. The shelves carry bronze cut pasta, imported groceries, and pre-made dinners for nights when cooking feels like a chore.

Save room for something sweet before you leave. Tiramisu and assorted Italian cookies by the pound make a strong case for dessert, and gelato shows up too.

Need to feed a crowd? Antipasto trays turn a backyard get-together into an instant Sunday supper.

Grabbing lunch is easy whether you eat in or carry out. Prices stay friendly too, so a family lunch here won’t feel like a splurge.

Weekday afternoons tend to get busy, while evenings stay calmer. The shop is open seven days a week, closing a bit earlier on Sundays.

Little Italy has changed a lot over the decades, but this Chicago counter is still slicing. A free lot helps, which feels like a small miracle on Taylor Street.

Address: 1438 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607

2. Capri Italian Food

Fair warning: the doors close by midafternoon, so sleepy weekend risers may miss out. Capri Italian Food runs Tuesday through Saturday until 3 PM and Sunday until 2 PM.

That tight schedule is part of the old-school charm. The family-owned deli on North Avenue in River Forest has been serving the western suburbs for more than 50 years.

Behind the counter, imported meats get sliced to order. Mortadella, Genoa salami, and capicola come off thin and stack high on bread that’s crisp outside and soft within.

Sandwiches are hearty, so plan your appetite accordingly. Housemade pastas round out the menu for anyone who wants dinner handled before lunch is over.

Don’t skip the grocery side either. Imported cheeses, deli meats, and Italian basics fill the shop, and quality runs high.

Prices stay reasonable, which matters when you’re feeding a whole family. Service has a strong reputation too, the way a neighborhood deli should.

Keep in mind there’s no dining room, so this is a takeout stop. A picnic at a nearby forest preserve makes a fine backup table on a nice Illinois day.

Mondays are closed, so circle another day on the calendar. Arriving early gives you more breathing room before the afternoon close.

Grab extra mortadella for the ride home. Future you, standing at the fridge at 9 PM, will be grateful.

Address: 7325 W North Ave, River Forest, IL 60305

3. Poeta’s Italian Food Mart

Highwood may be small, but its Italian immigrant roots run deep along Green Bay Road. Poeta’s Italian Food Mart keeps that story going as a neighborhood market and butcher shop.

Start at the deli counter, where cold cuts are sliced by hand. Subs get built to order with authentic Italian deli meats, so your sandwich matches your mood.

The butcher side brings its own reason to visit. Homemade sausages are a specialty, and they belong on your grill this summer.

Imported olive oil and pastas line the shelves for home cooks. Dry goods sit alongside fresh items, so one stop can cover a whole Italian dinner.

Busy week ahead? The freezer holds an extensive selection of prepared foods, which feels like hiring a nonna without the paperwork.

Family owners stay hands-on here, and that personal touch is a big part of the appeal. It’s the kind of shop where tradition hasn’t been traded for convenience.

Plan around the schedule, since the market opens Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Sundays are closed, so a Saturday North Shore outing works nicely.

Delivery and in-store pickup are both options. Still, browsing the aisles in person is half the fun.

Pair your visit with a stroll through downtown Highwood. Then head home with a bag of sausages and a sub you’ll probably start eating at a red light.

Address: 520 Green Bay Rd, Highwood, IL 60040

4. DiTullio’s Italian Market & Cafe

Rockford sits about 90 miles northwest of Chicago, yet this deli has the feel of a classic big-city counter. DiTullio’s Italian Market & Cafe pulls off that trick on East State Street.

It works three ways at once: cafe, deli, and Italian market. Imported specialties and groceries share space with a full-service deli case.

Mortadella and other traditional Italian lunch meats get hand-sliced to order. Take them home wrapped in butcher paper or have them stacked into a sandwich.

The house favorite is DiTullio’s Italian Sub. A veggie panini keeps meat-free eaters happy, and desserts wait for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Got a few minutes while your sandwich comes together? Wander the grocery shelves and the deli case, and you’ll leave with dinner plans too.

Coffee gets plenty of praise here, so order a cup with lunch. Seating inside and outdoor tables make it easy to linger.

The mood is casual and quiet, which suits solo lunches and family meals alike. Parking is usually plentiful, a rare gift for any lunch stop.

Families appreciate the relaxed pace. Kids can pick a sandwich while grown-ups eye the imported pasta.

Hours run Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 3 PM, with a 10 AM start on Saturday. Sundays are closed.

Throwing a party? Catering is available, so your next family gathering in northern Illinois can taste like a trip to the old neighborhood.

Address: 2207 E State St, Rockford, IL 61104

5. Rubino’s Italian Imports Inc.

Rubino’s Italian Imports draws shoppers from as far as northwest Indiana, which tells you something about its shelves. The Tinley Park market blends an Italian grocery with a busy service deli.

At the deli, house meats, mortadella, and cheeses are custom-sliced on request. Order a pound for the fridge or a made-to-order sandwich for lunch.

Housemade products stretch well beyond cold cuts. Look for pastas, salads, desserts, and prepared foods that make a quick dinner feel homemade.

A bakery section adds bread to the mix, and the produce earns compliments too. That makes the shop a handy one-stop for a big Sunday sauce.

Staff keep things friendly and hands-on. Questions about imports are welcome, which helps when the shelves look like a delicious puzzle.

Weekends get lively, especially Saturday and Sunday mornings into the afternoon. Weekday visits may feel a little calmer.

Hours run Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM and Sunday until 3 PM. Mondays are closed.

On-site parking makes the stop simple. Just know there’s no public restroom, so plan pit stops before you arrive.

Grab a sandwich for the car and a bag of groceries for later. That’s lunch and dinner handled in one stop.

Tinley Park is an easy drive for much of the south suburbs. Toss a cooler in the trunk, because one sandwich rarely feels like enough.

Address: 16635 Oak Park Ave, Tinley Park, IL 60477

6. Alpine Food Shop

Simple, delicious, and not complicated might be the best description of a sub here. Alpine Food Shop in Elmwood Park still makes sandwiches the old-fashioned way.

Elmwood Park is known for its deep Italian heritage, and this little North Avenue shop fits right in. It runs as an independent neighborhood deli with a full-service counter.

Cold cuts, mortadella included, get sliced to order for classic Italian subs. Service moves quickly, so a lunch break here doesn’t swallow your whole afternoon.

Planning to cook at home? Deli meats and sauces fill the shelves for recreating your favorite Italian recipes.

Don’t expect fancy menus or trendy twists. The charm comes from doing a few things right, the same way for decades.

Food here has a reputation for tasting fresh, visit after visit. That consistency is exactly what keeps a corner deli going.

Friday and Saturday afternoons draw the biggest crowds. Tuesday mornings tend to be the quietest, perfect for a calm first visit.

Hours run Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM. Mondays are closed, and free street parking keeps things easy.

Bring the kids and let them pick a sub. Watching meat come off the slicer is old-school entertainment that costs nothing.

Capri sits just down North Avenue in River Forest, too. Hit both on one Illinois mortadella crawl, and call it a very productive Saturday.

Address: 7538 W North Ave, Elmwood Park, IL 60707