Decided to try something different than my usual Molinari stop while in North Beach and checked out Palermo II. It's a simple grab and go spot with a few tables outside. The cashier was friendly and recommended the Don Gaetano on sesame bread, and it was a great choice. A combination of freshly sliced Italian cold cuts and provolone cheese on excellent bread made for a really satisfying sandwich. Nothing fancy, just fresh ingredients and a good lunch done right. I'll definitely be back. read more

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This review is long overdue! I was mistaken in thinking I already did a review for my favorite sandwich spot in San Francisco! Yes, you heard that right! This is my go-to spot any time I find myself in SF. The times we've grabbed a sandwich (along with other snacks & Italian/Sicilian goodies) the owner is the one who has helped us. He was even there on Memorial Day (talk about dedication to the craft). I ordered The Witch Hunt: fried eggplant, pepperoncini, sun-dried tomatoes, and sweet peppers. It was absolutely delicious. I ate half while sitting outside in their cute outdoor seating area (red & yellow colored, DUH!) and saved the rest for dinner (which didn't last long). I'd definitely order it again in a heartbeat. The sandwiches didn't take long to make and they make it right in front of you so you know it's fresh. While we waited we browsed the little shop and grabbed some Sicilian (my husband is Sicilian) specific snacks and goodies which they had a ton of, we even scored a Palermo II tote bag (yes, I will use this more than you would think). All in all, if you find me in SF - you will definitely find me stopping here for my sandwich fix. 100/100, would recommend! read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - Signage. - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Small old school family owned Italian sandwich shop in the North Beach area with a couple of tables for outdoor seating. Stopped by around 1:30 on a weekend for a quick bite and sandwich was ready within 5 mins. Everyone was friendly and prices are comparable to other places in the area Ordered the pastrami sandwich to share and that layer was thick and generous. It is a little messy from the Cole slaw but that added to the juiciness and crunch of the sandwich. Bread was toasted just right, not too crunchy or hard. Overall great sandwich place if you don't have time to wait around for long lines nearby! read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

If I could absolutely give this place 100 out of 100 I totally would Not gonna lie I walked past this place. Wasn't sure if I should try it and I'm gonna be completely honest. I'm so glad that I walked back and went into try this place. I was greeted by a super nice, genuine, kind hearted man. I bought the veggie sandwich which by the way was by far the best vegetable sandwich I have had in my life, super flavorful, fresh and authentic. I felt like I was back in my hometown in Pennsylvania. If you're ever hungry and wanna grab something on the go and enjoy a flavorful sandwich, I would highly recommend trying this place hundred out of 100 for sure read more

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Very kind staff and they make your sandwich quite quick. They don't skimp on the ingredients and have a lot of options. Great place for a quality grab and go deli sandwich in the area. read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - palmero Palermo II Special Sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tried the Sicilian sandwich - artichokes and peppers were really good. Sandwich was a good size with lots of meat. With they toasted their bread, but overall was good read more

Ordered the Sicilian. Decent sandwich. Came out quickly as there were no heated or toasted components, which is too bad because the bread could've used a light toasting (was a bit stale). Meat was good (a thinly sliced ham), and the sun dried tomatoes and artichokes paired well. A few small tables outside. read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - The Sicilian Sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

Extremely generous portions! I love the North Beach sandwich (I like to add peppercino's), my friend got the Palermo II Sandwich and that one is also just as yummy. Customer service is great! read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - North Beach Sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

I used to live down the street and walked to work, depending on my schedule I always stopped and got an Arancini on my way to or from work. These aren't the little ones you get at the nice restaurants. These guys were the size of baseballs and you could bite into them like an apple. For those of you not in the know arancini are stuffed rice balls that are coated with bread, fried or baked and the insides contain rice, meat, cheese and veggies. They are soooo good. If you're near Washington Square Park you have to pop in and get one read more

I feel compelled to respond to a review made by Jennifer C from Fort Wayne Indiana, who in my opinion, completely missed the spirit of what Palermo II is all about. Not to be rude but she should probably stick with reviewing hot dogs and barbecue.  The signs and posters that were described as "ewww" by Jennifer are clearly meant to be humorous and playful,  something most Italians and longtime San Franciscans immediately recognize and appreciate. Italian culture is expressive, bold, and often tongue-in-cheek. The humor at Palermo II reflects that tradition. It's not meant to offend,  it's meant to make you smile. Now, let me speak about my background and  the deli itself. I was born in Italy and grew up in the restaurant business with 100% Italian roots. I say that not to sound arrogant, but to provide context, I know authentic Italian food and culture very well. Palermo II is the real deal.The sandwiches are outstanding, traditional Italian deli classics done right, along with creative options that reflect San Francisco's diverse culture. The ingredients are high quality, many imported directly from Italy, and you can taste the difference. The flavors are authentic, generous, and made with pride. What stands out most is that Palermo II has been in business since 2018 in one of the most competitive food cities in the world,  San Francisco. Anyone who understands the restaurant business here knows you don't survive unless you consistently deliver quality and earn loyal customers. Palermo II has done exactly that, supported by strong reviews and repeat clientele. I would encourage anyone reading reviews to step inside, try a sandwich, and decide for themselves. Experience the food, the culture, and yes, the Italian humor in the window. You might just discover one of the best deli experiences in North Beach San Francisco Ang S read more

Went here for the first time today and was pleasantly surprised. This deli did not have a long line like other deli's nearby. I ordered the, Little Rocket Man Sandwich. The delicious sandwich was full of spiced meats, pepperjack, and pepperoncini peppers. Service was pretty quick. After i put my order in, my food was ready in less than 5 minutes. Restaurant definitely has a nice laid back feel with the history within the shop. I definitely would go back here when i get the chance to. read more

The lady makes a great sandwich. They make the sandwich the way you want it. There was once a Palermo Deli nearby.

Ambiance is a lowkey deli that you wouldn't even guess that you're about to have one of the best sandwiches of your life. Not that much parking. Service was nice and quick. I asked for recommendations for a cold and hot sandwich and I split with my friend so we can try 1/2 of each sandwich. This was the best idea I ever had because it was legit a tie. I had the hot chicken parm and the Reuben. I was moaning and smacking my lips with every bite and I HATE when I see people do that so it was ironic I was doing it. It was THAT good! I highly recommend this location. It was my first time in San Fran this past weekend and I'm glad I stumbled on this location for the perfect lunch. Tysm! read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - Inside - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Always a classic never gets enough credit! Lunch meats always top high end. Dutch crunch and Focaccia bread always way to go.

Food - We shared the north beach sandwich ($17), which includes pesto, Mayo, prosciutto, mozzarella, and tomato! The combo of prosciutto and mozzarella can't be beat. And just when you think the sandwich has enough meat, they keep packing on more and more. It was a panini pressed sandwich that was more than enough to serve two hungry adults. - I searched near and far in Europe for a sandwich to come close to this. I am so happy this place is in San Francisco! Service - Service is friendly and sufficient. - They have contactless pay! Ambiance - It is a small shop with many Italian ingredients to buy inside. - The menus are clear and abundant! Be sure to look around and find the sandwich you are really craving. Or you can make your own. Thanks for satisfying our sandwich craving!!! read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - North Beach Sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

amazing and phenomenal find. i'm so glad we decided to come here. my sister and i split the sandwich and it was incredibly filling and delicious. we kept raving about it the entire day. the service was awesome and it is always a treat to be appreciated as a customer! loved this place and hope to be back some day! read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - Palermo II Special Sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Tasty little sandwiches at Palermo. I had the Don Gaetano sandwich (Italian combo of cold cuts w/Swiss cheese) $15.50. I really enjoyed the taste of their cold cuts. Very flavorful. The size of this sandwich is smaller than a Little Paris Vietnamese sandwich (see photo.) It is about 1/2 the size of a Little Lucca's sandwich down the peninsula. Regardless, it is a good solid sandwich. My small tuna salad $8.60 tasted alright. They don't put a lot of mayo or celery, which was nice. Good job everyone at Palermo. read more

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Old style deli. Packed full of eye-catching things to buy. Cookies, wine, desserts. I came for the sandwich, the hugh sandwich for two people. I got the Palermo II special. A panini with freshly sliced prosciutto on a dutch. So much goodness. You can smell it. The filling is about a pound, okay close to it.how close? You have to get one to find out. Slightly salty, so have a drink nearby. read more

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I have been to several Yummy Italian Sandwich places and Palermo II Delicassen is one of them... The last time I was here I ordered myself a Yummy Dutch Crunch Italian Sandwich With Ham, Mortadella & Swiss Cheese... When I took a bite of my Ham, Mortadella & Swiss Cheese Dutch Crunch Italian Sandwich it tasted sooooooo goooooood!!! This was my 1st time buying myself a Sandwich at Palermo II Delicassen!!! If your in the North Beach area and looking around for a good Italian Deli Sandwich Place.... Go to the Palermo II Delicassen they make really good Italian Sandwiches!!! read more

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Over priced and the bread was way too over toasted. The person preparing the sandwiches had way too much of an attitude when I asked one question. I just ended up getting something I didn't want over the embarrassment. read more

Excellent sandwich! I had the Palermo II Special Sandwich and enjoyed every single bite. Definitely look forward to a next visit and trying more options. read more

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This place is low key one of the best sandwich shops in SF. With Vince the owner being super helpful and a variety of selections, this place is a must visit. It's small but has everything you need. read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - The Jeremy - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fresh ingredients, plenty of if sandwich choice and OMG the caprese sandwich is my favorite. Flavorful, fresh ingredients. You can taste the real Mozzarella and tomatoes. It's a must read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - Nina, the daughter's owner assembling the freshly made Arancini. Amazing Italian rice balls with meat sauce - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Had not planned on stopping in here but glad we did. This little Sicilian place in the heart of Little Italy was excellent. The staff was very nice and helpful and so quick can't believe the sandwich turned out perfect. Very clean establishment good variety and some stuff to buy off the shelf like Italian wine cheese etc. But the sandwich in some of the best bread we have tried was perfect. Can't wait to get back here. read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - Just perfect - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

Looks like I have a new favorite sandwich spot in North Beach. I am a sandwich lover. I can have a 'wich for breakfast, lunch, and dinner--the same day or several days running. It probably has something to do with my relationship with bread (I love good bread, pizza crust, focaccia). Put great bread together with great deli ingredients and BAM, the sandwich magic begins. And it happened here. The Vince: 5/5. Imported mortadella, provolone, olive oil, tomatoes, salt, pepper and oregano. Simple, fresh quality ingredients that are perfectly combined. The bread was not particularly memorable, but was the perfect vessel for this food--not getting in the way and allowing the other ingredients to shine. I shared this with my wife (because we had more eating plans after this stop), but I regretted it after the first bite. When I was eating this sandwich already thinking about what else I want to try here (the Jimmy G), I knew the magic had happened here. read more

Delicious sandwiches! The owner Vince is really nice and runs a great shop. I ordered the Palermo II Special and walked over to Washington Square Park to enjoy it. Highly recommend!!! read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - Palermo II Special Sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

In the best sandwich city in the country, this is one of the better delis. In addition to DIY, serves up standard "italian" sandwiches with ingredients such as coppa, artichoke hearts, pepperocini, etc. on various breads for between $13 and $16. Highly recommend The Palermo Special or the Rocketman. Meat is cut fresh for sandwiches (super well-cured but not too salty), ingredients appear very high quality, and sandwiches are big! Well worth the price. Some options have a lot going on but the quality of the ingredients really helps articulate the flavors. The only drawback is that the bread is pretty good but nothing to write home about. Only disclaimer is that I have not tried the "hot" sandwiches using pre-cooked cutlets, meatballs, etc. read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - Palermo II Special Sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

Got the meatloaf sandwich today. Toasted. Very tasty. Vince wasn't in today, but his daughter made the sandwich. Thank you!

I happened upon this place on one of my walks in north beach and decided to give it a try. Vibe check- pass....old school italiano deli with a menu to back it up! Owner was native SF and that came through in the food Food Check- pass menu was nice I got the chicken parm sub, toasted bread not overpowering with cheese and sauce and chicken was not too oily. Me and my son split it and we both where happy Staff Check- Pass, two people in the shop where nice took the order and the time to speak which was nice. Felt like a local spot and you could taste the love Will be back for sure and you should go as well! read more

Disclaimer: I grew up with east coast Italian style delis and maybe my barometer is too high, so I'll preface with that. And maybe it was an off day/time since it was the end of the day on a Sunday, but the sammies were bland and not fresh tasting. How does that even happen with chicken cutlets? The saving grace and hence 3 stars is that they were actually reasonably priced (about $12 for quite a bit of food). We went with the chicken parm, chicken cutlet and sausage sammies and we were so jazzed as we are always on the lookout for these types of Italian delis, but we were disappointed. I was jazzed when I walked in and saw you could get some deli style salads and even chicken and eggplant cutlets to go - looking authentic.... But, the bread tasted stale that we took off the top part, the chicken cutlets were flavorless, and dry, as was the sausage and the chicken parm lacked any tomato sauce. While I love this old-school Italian deli vibe, sadly it's not serving up old-school Italian eats. Maybe the move is to stick to deli meats? read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - Chicken Parm II Sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food is very good, generous in size. Mortadella is one of my favorites. I like most of their offerings.

I've lived nearby for over 11 years and can't believe it took a pandemic to get me to stop in. This place has a pretty old school vibe. Unfortunately they no longer make the crab jack melt, which was popular in old Yelp reviews, but their meatball sandwich was still awesome! Meatball Drone Sandwich: This is exactly the type of old school Italian sandwich I was hoping for. Meatballs cut in half, so they don't slide off. Just the right amount of tomato sauce to moisten it up, without making the bread soggy. Lots of gooey mozzarella. And a fluffy bread that is pressed nicely and grilled just right. I literally devoured this one! Chicken Parm II Sandwich: The meatball sandwich really raised my expectations. This one was just ok in comparison. The chicken cutlet was a tad dry. And the sauce was a lot skimpier than the meatball sandwich, contributing to the dryness fact. The bread and cheese were tasty though. Cuccidati: Super soft cookie shell with an amazing fruit filling inside. Tasted a bit like a really good Christmas fruitcake. Not sure what exactly was inside, but I tasted fig and orange peel. read more

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While pricey, the sandwiches are amazing. Probably a top three sandwich in SF. A woman from Rome was in line behind me and she was thrilled to see her father's favorite cookies in stock, as well as Italian football on TV. The line is long but efficient as long as customers do their part--know your order before you get to the counter! I'll probably be back eventually for salt cod and another amazing sandwich, as well as the general old North Beach vibe. read more

Super over priced. $17 for a make your own sandwich (turkey, lettuce, tomato, Swiss, mustard mayo, onion).. all I got was a sandwich packed with layers upon layers of dry turkey. 1 tomato for the whole sandwich. No onions. 1 piece of lettuce. It was not a decent sized sandwich either. It was honestly the worst sandwich I've ever had it was just pure turkey and dry hard bread. (They only had one option for bread they said they ran out of everything else) read more

I came by for lunch and they put together the Palermo II Special super fast. It was still hot and crisp by the time I got home, making the oily saltiness of the focaccia the perfect sandwich bread. The melted provolone adds an amazing texture, and when it oozes onto the press and burns a little, it's the most amazing caramelized piece of the sandwich. It's also STACKED with coppa (the spicy version is so good in this sandwich) and prosciutto, though I will say that there's so much that the sandwich has a few bites that are a little too salty. The artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes are also wonderful to break up the heaviness of the sandwich. Though perhaps the Palermo II Special is a better sandwich split with someone, and something like the Columbus Avenue would do a better job of giving your lunch some balance. read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - Palermo II Special Sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

It feels like I'm back in Jersey City. I got the meatball Parm, which was really good. They would make any sand you want or you can pick from their menu. Very friendly people. read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - Meatball Parmesan sandwich and around the store - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I was looking to order a juicy sandwich and knew that Palermo II Delicatessen would have great options. The store is charming as always! They offer a lot of great Italian drink and snack options to browse while waiting for a sandwich (like 5 mins or so). I actually ended up picking up a Tiramisu Panettone. I normally get Parlermo II Special Sandwich, but this time I ordered the Italian Reuben Sandwich because it was National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day at the time. Though messy and hard to eat, it was definitely generous in fillings. I didn't like the pastrami as much because it tasted very processed but I thought that the bread was really good. Good sandwich, but I personally still prefer the special. The Tiramisu Panettone is not made by them, but by a brand called Maina. I've tried their classic flavor before and enjoyed it so I wanted to try this one. While it was also tasty, it was a little too sweet and not quite enough espresso for me to be tiramisu-like. Still lovely. Overall, good experience! Glad I tried the items I got, I'd still like to explore more from the menu. read more

Palermo II Delicatessen - Italian Reuben Sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I was overwhelmed by choice when I came here but ended up settling on the Columbus Avenue. The turkey was satisfying but I was hoping for more quantity of vegetables (fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, pesto), but it ended up being more turkey heavy with only a smattering of the veggies. Which was my bad because I should have realized that the focus of a shop like this is not the other sandwich toppings or the sauce or the bread (which was pretty basic) but the meats - the coppa, prosciutto, mortadella, etc. That's I'm sure where they really shine so will have to check it out next time. read more

This place is amazing!! I got the coppa 19 and it was great! The sandwiches are a great price and a lot of food and the ingredients are so fresh! We got olives and arancini with marinara and both were amazing also! The owner is really nice and store has a bunch of Sicilian packaged foods! Highly recommend for a great sandwich when in little Italy! read more

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Excellent sandwich - very hearty. Feels like a true neighborhood hangout! The Palermo special has a ton of cured meat and is very flavorful. I will come back. read more

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