On our way back from New York, we picked up our car and wanted one last quick, authentic food…read moreexperience before heading home. I had been saying for days that I was craving a good Italian deli sandwich, and my partner came across Vito's & Son Italian Deli in Hoboken. Well, it does not get much more authentic than this.
What an experience.
You know how some Italian restaurants say they make you feel like family? At Vito's, we actually felt it the moment we walked in. The welcome was warm, genuine, and immediate -- the kind of hospitality that cannot be faked.
As we browsed the extensive deli menu, I had to ask what "mutz" meant. I am from Chicago, where we usually say "mozz," so this was my first time seeing it written in what I can only call New Jersey-ian. Without hesitation, they gave us a sample of their fresh, in-house-made mozzarella, and it was absolute perfection -- soft, fresh, creamy, and exactly what fresh mozzarella should be.
We took several subs to go, and every single one was delicious. I had The Vito's, which was incredibly satisfying -- packed with that classic Italian deli flavor and everything I had been craving in a sub, and then some. My partner had The Sophia Loren, which was also full of flavor and definitely worth ordering again. My mom had what I ordered as a custom Caprese sandwich since I could not find it on the extensive menu -- mutz, fresh basil, tomato, balsamic vinaigrette, and herbs. It was so fresh, simple, and delicious.
We also tried the arancini. The traditional one brought back memories of what used to be some of the best arancini in Chicago at Monastero's, which sadly is no longer around. That is not a comparison I make lightly. The cheese arancini was also wonderful, and the sauce was divine. Personal preference: I could have used just a touch more salt in the sauce, but the flavor was still excellent.
Of course, we could not leave without dessert. The cannoli had the perfect balance of softness and crunch, and the filling was delicious. And naturally, we had to take home a pound of that fresh mutz.
When we got home, we turned the leftovers into the perfect little Italian deli dinner. We thinly sliced the remaining halves of the subs, added fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette, and wine. It became a charcuterie-style dinner that felt like the perfect ending to the trip.
Taking a detour through Hoboken was absolutely worth it. Some Italian restaurants claim to treat you like family, but at Vito's & Son, we truly felt it.
We are already planning another stop on our next trip because we still need to try the homemade freezer dishes -- and, of course, the homemade tiramisu.
If you have not been to Vito's & Son Italian Deli, do yourself a favor and go. Authentic, welcoming, delicious, and completely worth the detour.