TLDR: must go to food spot in D.C. Truly a gem, decent parking nearby, great service and a large variety of products in the shop. This is the holy grail for DC SANDWICHES! I have been here over 3 dozen times atleast. I always grab a sandwich and have venture into their homemade pizza dough, pasta sauces, baked goods and more. I've never had anything bad here over several years. They have an online ordering service which makes pick up a lot more easier. Sometimes when it's busy you can expect to wait 20-30 mins on your sandwich, so i usually order in advance. Parking can be touch and go sometimes but there's a free parking garage (up to 3 hours) around the corner. read more

I've passed by A. Litteri countless times and had been meaning to try it for a while and it definitely lived up to the hype! The deli sandwiches are tasty, with very generous portions. I ordered a half, and it was enough. The atmosphere is great, and I loved browsing the Italian grocery section as well. Service was quick and helpful, which made the experience even better. read more

A Litteri - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Love it here! Have been becoming a regular - never disappointed. Fresh sandwiches and I love when pressed and pickles by the door read more

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AUTHENTIC, AFFORDABLE, DELICIOUS!!! I love the feel of A. Litteri, it feels lived in and authentic in a sea of new builds in Union Market. I got a meatball sub, chips, and a cannoli, a perfect and robust lunch, for $12. All great. The market is lovely to peruse. The staff is friendly and gave some tasty cheese samples. read more

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Nice, soft bread. Could've used some more meats on the sandwich, but I did like the way they put the toppings in between layers of meat. Standard Italian hoagie. read more

A Litteri - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If this wasn't so far from my apartment I'd be here every day (ok maybe not everyday...) but it would be my go to!! We found this place while visiting the VA hospital and fell in love with everything and everyone here! The staff is great front to back. The guys in the kitchen and behind the counters were fun and I'm pretty sure my silly banter made them laugh and maybe even wonder! We went in for the Italian sub and was NOT disappointed in the least. We ended up purchasing olive oil which they have a huge selection of authentic olive oils to choose from. The place is so incredibly sketchy looking from the front and I love these adventures! The area you can tell wasn't a great neighborhood and they are revamping it. The inside is a great little market with a ton of cheeses, wines etc.. to choose from. Do not pass the sandwiches by!!! read more

A Litteri - So happy we found you on yelp!!! - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I did my order online, so can't really speak about the service. Reminds me of an old mom and pop market that's has a deli in the rear. Handful of ppl inside waiting and ordering sandwiches. I walked in and grabbed my food and paid and was out in 2 minutes. They have a freezer in the rear as well as Italian items to grab(pastas, frozen pizzas etc). Give a nice Italian vibe for sure. I got a smoke and roasted turkey on a 12 inch soft roll with heavy mayo, mustards, o&v, Italian seasoning lettuce and onion. Food was good, I asked for heavy mayo but didn't get it and also asked to be cut into 4s. I live w good cold cut and this bread is everything. Everything tasted fresh. I'd compare this spot to Carls and mother Rucker's, taste wise. This was $13. read more

A Litteri - Turkey and cheese, 12 inch soft roll. - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Wow what a breath of fresh air. Sandwich fresh, tasty and ready quickly. Check out without software asking for a tip.

I've heard really amazing things about A Litteri forever and now I really get the hype! I think it's worth visiting in person and perusing the Italian Grocery section. Also this feels like a great spot to get a bottle of wine and fresh cold cuts. It's easy to order on their website for pickup and the Italian sub is a classic read more

A Litteri - Italian - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A. Litteri is an unassuming (except that the storefront is painted with the Italian flag, haha) Italian specialty grocery store a couple blocks away from Union Market in a more secluded area. They make and sell subs in the back of the store. A few of us stopped by for the first time this past Sunday afternoon, and the line was pretty long. We all got our sandwiches with in 15-20 minutes. The ordering part is easy, but not typical. We scribbled our orders on a half sheet of paper, marking what bread (and length) we wanted, the meats, cheeses, veggies, etc. before handing it to one of the employees. They call out your name once it's done and you can pay up at the front. ITALIAN CLASSIC - 6.99 +2.26 for 9" hard roll The default is a 6" soft roll, but I wanted a slightly bigger sub, so I paid a bit more. I really should have gone for the soft roll, because the hard roll was rock solid and incredibly hard to eat. The Italian classic came with a variety of meats like capicola, genoa salami, mortadella, and prosciuttini. Then there were the typical provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, and Italian dressing & seasoning. I took out the hot peppers. For the ratio of bread to ingredients, I thought there was way too much bread. My friend who got the soft roll had a much more balanced bread to ingredients ratio. I was jealous. The ingredients themselves were fine, but nothing extraordinary. I'm mad at myself for getting the hard roll. Besides that, the pricing is fair and they make it fresh for you. read more

First of all this place is the true definition of a hidden gem! The market with all of the Italian novelties was truly unique! From fresh pasta, different types of sauces, spices, ingredients... anything you need to create a true authentic Italian meal could be found here. The staff was so friendly and helpful which I loved. The sandwich was pretty good, the bread was super soft and I loved the taste of the smoked turkey. However, I did get the Italian dressing which they put it directly on the bread making it soggy. However, I went home and popped my sandwich in the toaster oven and it was truly life changing. I also purchased the shrimp and garlic ravioli which I made at home... wasn't a huge fan of the filling but I did want to try. Will definitely be back here can't wait to try more items from here! read more

A Litteri - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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As a native Philadelphian and Pennsylvanian who grew up on hoagies, this place feels like home. Walking inside is like stepping straight into Italy. They have everything from spices to pasta and of course the best hoagies you could ask for. The service is quick, kind, and always genuine. From the moment you walk in you can tell it is authentic. They want you to feel like you have been transported to another part of the world. It reminds me of the Italian shops in South Philly where culture is alive and you feel it in every detail. Each bite makes me wish the hoagie would never end. I am proud to have this spot still in the neighborhood. Thank you for bringing both nostalgia and the feeling of being in a small Italian corner shop right here in town. read more

So the only con I faced was with their cannoli. It tasted a bit stale on the outside but the filling was nasty. It was a grainy ricotta texture and not as sweet as I'd hope it would be. Won't be ordering that again. I ordered an Italian sub with banana peppers, letters, mayo, mustard, turkey, and prosciutto. The ingredients tasted fresh and the flavors came together really well. Although the bread wasn't toasted, it still turned out to be a solid sub. I would recommend this place a 100 times over for their sandwiches. You won't be disappointed! read more

A Litteri - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Pretty good. This was my number one craving that motivated me to eat meat again. Crazy but I wish there was more meat (and maybe a little sauce component?). Had to pop over to Peregrine to get a cappuccino, this was basically our breakfast. read more

A Litteri - Classic Italian - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I could have spent an hour in here. The store just smells like Italy. Hidden off one of the main roads, this Italian store offers a super affordable sandwich. I've read they've been voted as one of the top places in the city. What surprised me was the price. I got a super affordable priced hoagie that was probably $10 less than other joints in the city but still weighed fairly hefty. The quality of meats were great. I'm from South Philly so the roll was okay to me ( we love our carangi baked rolls and Angelo's rolls). I want to come back with a cooler and just stock up on their fresh cheeses and meats! read more

I've been wanting to go here for years--no joke. Someone told me how this was his favorite place in DC literally in 2021. So it's been a long time coming!! Finally, I went and I'm sad I didn't come earlier! This place is amazing. It is so unbelievably cool. You walk in and there's a red, white, and green door (Italian flag!). Instantly you'll see shelves upon shelves of wines from all over. There are snacks such as cookies, chips, and biscuits. There are oils, balsamic, red sauces... it's an Italian grocery store and deli which is just so fun. I feel like you don't get to see many of these. Of course I had to get a sub. They have a signature Italian sub and I got it on a 9 inch hard roll for $9.25. It was packed with meats, cheeses, oil, lettuce, spicy peppers, and tomatoes. If you're coming, definitely give it a try because it is so worth it. And $9.25 for a massive sub was totally awesome for pricing, especially as a college student who is just a little broke! I was so full after eating it too that I literally wasn't hungry enough for dinner. And it came out very quickly and the people making the sandwiches were nice. Heads up: you have to fill out a slip that has all the ingredients--you don't order at the counter verbally. In case it's your first time! I also bought some frozen ravioli and manicotti for later. And then of course cookies and orange wine (which can be really hard to find). I'd say everything was priced well and the aisles were wide enough and stocked with all sorts of goodies. All in all, great vibes. I'm so excited to come back soon and get another sandwich and some more snacks to try! read more

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Ordered the Turkey provolone with oil and vinegar and lettuce on 6' soft roll with lettuce and mayo. Sandwich was 7/10 it needed something maybe chipotle sauce or seasoning. Just lacked flavor. Definitely will try next time with mustard but overall great price and quality. First time their service was great . Team offered help. Busy place so definitely suggest place order ahead wait wasn't long though read more

A Litteri - Turkey provolone with oil and vinegar and lettuce - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is by far my favorite hole-in-the-wall deli in DC. When you first walk in, you'll see the grocery section stocked with all sorts of Italian goodies. After you check out the shelves, you head to the back to order a food! My go-to is the chicken marinara sub on crunchy bread -- it never disappoints. I've also had their lasagna, and it's definitely worth trying. If you're not sure what to get, you can always ask for a sample, and the staff here is super friendly. To order, you fill out a paper with whatever you want on your sub. They're quick, but expect a little bit of a wait since it's all made fresh. If you're in the DC area, I highly recommend checking this place out -- you won't regret it! read more

This was my first time at A Litteri and won't be the last. We entered the shop to find isles of wine and Italian groceries and made our way to the back where the sandwich counter is. It was pretty busy, but you grab a form to place your order and hand the paper to an employee. After a short wait , our sandwiches were ready so we grabbed chips and paid at the front. I created my own and my boyfriend did the meatball sub. I know 12 inches is 12 inches, but these sandwiches seemed HUGE!!!! They were both fresh, delicious, and made exactly the way we requested. read more

A Litteri - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place was a huge shock to me. I had one of my guests recommended it, so I stopped in today before work. Saying that it blew my mind is an understatement. It's one of those places that you have to know where it is to know where it is. The staff is incredible. The food is amazing, and the amount of items that they have purchase in the grocery store is super impressive. Pastas, sauces, olive oils, wines, and the list goes on. I will definitely be back. read more

A Litteri - This is their Litteri's Italian Classic - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is awesome and a classic! A great Italian market and delicious. A wide variety of pasta, olive oils, etc. Great service. You can call your order in and pick it up up. I rank this 6 stars for it sandwiches. Always fresh and filling. A little off beat, a hidden gem but it's my favorite. Near Union Market. Highly recommended! read more

I ordered the meatball sub and threw a few extra toppings on the sandwich. My goodness was this place good. The meatballs were flavorful and tender. The bread was freshly baked and flaky. The toppings were all fresh as well. Best of all, the price was great. The service was outstanding. They were extremely nice and made the sandwich in a reasonable amount of time. The deli is located in the rear of the grocery store. They have so many good things to buy within the store. I highly recommend stopping by here if you are in the area. read more

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I stopped in after doing a deep dive of delis trying to find a place to get a really good sandwich. Perhaps it's just me but it was confusing as to where to go to put in an order so I didn't get a sandwich of any kind, but I did pick up some pasta salad and their carrot cake. The carrot cake was very good. I also noticed some other staples that I would like to try sometime but again, I couldn't figure out how to order a sub lol. read more

Admittedly my 5 stars is based on a large dose of nostalgia, but nostalgia is a big part of the charm. This is one of the last pieces of DC's 'Little Italy', after all. I remember visiting some old-school Italian delis growing up and this takes me back. Great supply of hard-to-find Italian ingredients, wines, pre-made dishes, and assorted snacks. The number of Barolos in the wine rack is very impressive. But visiting is just about nostalgia and ingredients...it's about those sandwiches. OMG...those sandwiches! They are on the expensive side but oh so delicious. It's MUCH better to order in advance, but you can fill in your order and wait to be called. The wait time can be a killer. read more

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A lot has changed since I reviewed Litteri's back in 2015. Union Market has sprung up and become a destination foodie pavilion in the area. Many of the old warehouses and importers have left, and their buildings have been paved over, lost to history. The bustling business district has given way to modern, hip, next-gen residents who now call Ivy City home. So, it was not without some concern that Litteri's would either leave entirely owing to the influx of "newness" and "modernity," or undergo radical changes that would render it a shadow of its former self. Happily, I can report that neither wound up being the case. The neighborhood seems to be very welcoming to quality ingredients, niche/boutique shopping, and amazing food. Litteri's is an Italian deli and grocery store. You can find plenty of obscure and commonplace Italian food items here. The list is enormous, but I'll try to summarize: imported meats and cheeses, freshly made Italian sausage (a MUST-BUY!), canned tomatoes, locally made fresh ravioli and other pastas, freshly baked breads, rare vinegars, a wide variety of olive oils, and probably the best Italian wine selection you'll ever come across! Despite all the incredible goodies, the last couple of times we've visited, seemingly everyone was there for a sandwich. I can relate. Their fresh-made sandwiches are beyond description. If you've ever imagined a prototypical hoagie from shows like The Sopranos or movies like The Godfather, this is what you can expect from Litteri's (minus the mob stuff!). Genoa salami, capicola, prosciutto, provolone, mozzarella, et cetera... I'm going to have to change topics now, or I will wind up gnawing on my own arm. Suffice it to say, they're GOOD. Very very good! This little humble shop has withstood the test of time, and I hope that the neighborhood continues to embrace and support the place. Please don't ever lose your roots, my friend. You are a tradition that I hope continues to survive and thrive for many years to come. read more

I had no idea what to expect when I opened the doors but I was surprised to see that it's a full market and deli. It was a Sunday so it was definitely busy. I made a beeline for the deli counter. I wish there was a clearer way to place and receive orders because it just looked like a bunch of people standing around with little order. Once I watched a couple people order, I picked up an order sheet to fill out and hand back in at the counter. The deli counter was CROWDED but it seemed to move at a decent speed. After ordering my food, I took a Quick Look around the aisles to see what caught my eye. There were a lot of wine offerings but I didn't get any this time around. My sandwich was really good and I can see why this spot is considered a staple by so many people. I would return if I'm in the mood for a good sandwich. read more

A Litteri - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place has been here for so long I think it used to be a shop in the woods until DC grew up to surround it. If you're looking for cheese, meats, oil, pasta, wine, or anything else that originates in Italy you're wasting your time to go anywhere else. There's at least 15 options of even the most obscure product you can think of. The shelves are stacked to the ceiling with everything you need to make an Italian meal through desserts. Their sandwiches are just as amazing as you'd expect, and a little more. This place is so good I'm actually willing to drive into the hellscape that Union Market has become. read more

I got the Italian on a hard roll for lunch and it was great! You write your order on a piece of paper and while they're making your sandwich you can browse the store. They have a great wine selection. read more

A Litteri - Italian on hard roll - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Exactly what you want in a corner deli. Fast, friendly service, delicious sandwiches, great price. Unassuming from the outside, but don't let that fool you. This place is 10/10. read more

A Litteri - The crown jewel is the deli counter, where delicious subs are prepared with quickness and care. - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This deli is located in Union Market. Upon first walking in, it's like Italian heaven. It smells amazing. They have all the groceries you would need for Italian cuisine. As you maneuver to the back where you place your orders you see wines, pastas, sauces, cheeses etc. then you get to the part where you order your food. Everything is made fresh and they don't take long to make your food. They also provided samples. This will be my go to for my subs. read more

A Litteri - The front of the deli - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A hidden gem!!! Go here if you're looking for an old school Italian shop with everything you could need to make your own Italian feast! From a huge assortment of wines to homemade sauce, they have it!!! And you can make your own sandwiches and salad for cheap!! read more

Amazing sandwich and atmosphere! Staff was very welcoming and friendly also! I'll def come back! A must visit if you're in the area. read more

I was at Union Market and heard of A Litteri and wanted to stop by for some dried pasta (the good stuff from Italy not the $2 box at Harris Teeter) I also ended up getting a hoagie - yes I'll never stop calling it that. It reminded me of home. These "subs" as you call it are standard back home in Philly. As a 4th generation Italian I can't rate it anything less than 5 stars. Keep doing the Lords work, A Litteri read more

Such a quaint Italian store that sells amazing good and deli sandwiches. Sandwich was good, nothing fancy but solid quality food. The hot pepper were the highlight read more

A Litteri - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is one Tiktok trendy spot that lived up to the hype. In the back of an italian grocery store find the deli counter with options to check off on paper to submit your order. I recommend their Caprese sandwich. Your wait time will greatly depend on how long line is when you get there. read more

We found this place on TikTok and this place did not disappoint. My sandwich was 10/10!! It was such a cute deli inside and really liked all the product inside. The service was good, but didn't interact that much with the staff. Can't wait to go back and get the chicken Parmesan sandwich! Check this place out!!! read more

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Great sub deli that offers different types of sandwiches and grocery store. This place was nice and service was quick. We ordered online so it was quick. Giant subs for a great price! read more

A Litteri - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

one of my favorite neighborhood places for a sandwich & wine. Friendly service. I am like a regular there now.

The customer service and food were great! My friends and I popped into A. Litteri before our pool day and were surprised at how cute and niche the inside of the spot was. It is a little store/winery you can walk around while you wait for your order to be done. I wasn't initially going to order anything but the owner was so welcoming, kind, and talked us through everything. He made the experience so fun, so I ended up ordering and am so glad I did. The sandwich was delicious and the prices are beyond fair!! I highly recommend popping in and this will definitely be a regular spot for me. read more

A Litteri - Custom Sub - Specialty Food Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is the epitome of hole in the wall, mom and pop bihness. One of the last OG businesses in union market. authentic italian groceries and in the back is the SAMMICH section. this place gets packed from the sandwiches alone. you cant go wrong with whatever meat you choose. they got cheese that you dont see in your average grocery store (giant, safeway wegmans etc) i dont even know how to pronounce some of them, its too legit to quit. read more