Best meatball sub sandwich I've eaten. I had the dutch crunch, as recommended, and it was a good balance between crunchy but not hard. It's a classic convenience store / deli. Don't come expecting table service. They have basic beers for base prices to wash down your meatballs. read more

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Decent sandwich spot. This is an older style sandwich spot. You order at the counter, and then you pay at the cashier. Lots of sandwich options. Hot and cold cubs. At the time, they also had lasagna. Chips and drinks are sold separately. I ordered the Turkey avocado. The ingredients seemed fresh. You can customize some ingredients. The sandwich itself was kind of expensive. $15.99, and not even a footlong. Adding chips and a drink made it expensive. Overall, it is good. I just don't know how often I would return due to the price. I did not see any lunch specials. read more

Pennisi's Deli - Turkey avocado sandwich - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

It was my first time coming here and it'll be my last. $6 for a bagel with cream cheese. I asked for a jalapeno bagel and she gave me an asiago bagel. There was barely any cream cheese. A lot of the items in the store don't have prices clearly visible. read more

Pennisi's Deli - Cream cheese bagel - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Amazing service. Great quality food!! The sandwiches are so fresh and very filling. Definitely check this place out. It has lots of history plus delicious food!!!! read more

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Me and my coworkers always walk by this spot and it always smells so good, so we finally tried it! When you walk in, there's your classic deli where they also have other hot items and where you pay is also a cafe with baked goods and your basic cafe drinks. There's also an area you can buy drinks and snacks such as chips. I ordered the turkey avocado and added lettuce and cream cheese on a Dutch Crunch. Overall, the sandwich was pretty good! I loved the creamy avocado and the Dutch Crunch was a great touch. This was my first time gettin cream cheese on a sandwich and would probably opt out next time. My one negative was I was charged for the person in front of me's order and not mine. I figured it out, because it was my coworker and heard how much her order was. Because of this, I was charged over $49 and my sandwich was $12.99. I didn't notice until it hit my statement and I wasn't given a receipt either. read more

Pennisi's Deli - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

This was legit the best breakfast bagel I've ever had. Nothing else to say, go here for breakfast and enjoy!

First time visiting, and I really appreciated how welcoming the staff was. The deli itself was cute, with a nice selection of drinks, snacks, and other hot meals available. I ordered the BLT w/ Avocado on Dutch Crunch for $14.99. Unfortunately, the sandwich was pretty flat and didn't quite match the photos I had seen, which was disappointing. On the positive side, the bacon was cooked perfectly, and the Dutch Crunch bread had a nice texture--crispy without being too hard like others I've tried. Overall, it was an okay sandwich, but not memorable enough for me to return. read more

Pennisi's Deli - BLT w/ Avocado - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

Yummmmm!!!! Working on J street has its advantages! This place is right next to my work! It's like a mom and pop place! They have breakfast, hot breakfast, hot lunch and then drinks, medicine, candy, coffee wine! The prices are great! I've had this bagel sandwich before and omg do you see that cheese pull! My other favorite is the tuna melt on the lunch menu! Support local businesses! Go try!!!!! read more

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I've been wanting to visit Pennisi's for years! I love a good deli, and even more than that a great spot to grab a sandwich. This spot is downtown off of J and is open for breakfast and lunch. It's a small store with basic deli options, snacks, drinks, chocolate, coffees and some great sandwich options. On this trip I immediately knew I made a great choice because it smelled incredible inside. We ended up ordering a Muffuletta Sandwich ($14.99) and a Meatball sandwich ($15.99)and four whole pickles($1 each). The meatballs on the sandwich are huge and have awesome flavor and the muffuletta sandwich was everything I wanted it to be. The pricing is a bit higher than my favorite hole in the wall spots but the quality is great and rent downtown is expensive. Next time I visit I'll definitely pick up more of their meatballs. They had a special for three meatballs for $7. I would also absolutely get the muffuletta sandwich again- so tasty!! read more

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On a Friday afternoon for lunch, I met my dad downtown to come try Pennisi's deli. Ironically, I used to intern around the corner from the deli when I was in college, but I never actually came here to try it. The reason for this particular lunch date was that my dad and I wanted to try their muffaletta sandwich. We are preparing for a trip to New Orleans in the fall. Anyways, we ordered our sandwiches and picked out our chips and our drinks. This little grocery and deli is definitely frequented by a lot of the local business men and women. The service was fast and friendly. Now to the sandwiches - the muffaletta sandwich was huge! Half of a sandwich is easily a meal in and of itself, but for the price it makes sense. The sandwich was tasty, and I enjoyed the tang of the olive spread. A muffaletta is a lot of meat, and I would have loved some veggies to break it up but I understand that that is not how a traditional muffaletta is made. All in all, I would definitely come back and try some of their other sandwich options and support a small, local business. read more

First time in this morning for coffee & a breakfast sandwich.. great food and felt like home.. thanks to Bill for the chat

Must admit, I had pretty low expectations for Pennisi's but it actually really surprised me! The sandwich was awesome! One of the better Italian subs I've had recently. I got the Italian on Dutch crunch with pickles and it was delicious. The Dutch crunch was great and it was packed with meat. I also got a side of potato salad which was great too. It's not against the service or quality, but I'm docking a star for the price. $17 for a sandwich and $5 for potato salad is pretty outrageous if you ask me. Who can afford to eat out anymore at these prices?! The sandwich was good, but for that price I wouldn't come back (it's not just Pennisi's, everywhere is expensive!) it was a cool little market when I walked in, it was a Friday at 11:45 and was pretty empty, one other person inside. I called ahead and they said my sandwich would be ready in 5 mins. Sure enough I got there and picked it up, paid and left in under 2 minutes. read more

Pennisi's Deli - Italian sub on Dutch crunch with pickles - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

It's a cool, little Italian deli on the inside. Service was quick, which I appreciated. I ordered one of their weekly specials, Black Forest Ham and Swiss on sourdough. The sandwich was basic, but fresh. I unknowingly bought an apple juice that was about two weeks past the date so that was a little off-putting. The outside could use a little TLC, but overall I like to support the local establishments where possible. read more

It made it through one of the worst economies the US has seen and the family feel has to be part of the reason for this. My wife tells me I'm going to go see PePe today and she means she is going to Pennisi's Deli. Sometimes when work is super stressful and you just have to clear your head and to somewhere different for a few minute. This is the spot. They have great food, amazing atmosphere for a lunch spot, and super friendly employees that will get to know who you are. This place is amazing. read more

Pennisi's Deli - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

Pasta, salads, made to order sandwiches , everything, imported candy, all well done. Pennisi's has been a Sacramento jewel consistantly for decades. read more

The cutest and nostalgic sandwich shop ever. I've been told by friends to go here but why it took me 7 years to go was 7 years too long. I now understand what the hype was about. The actual location looks like a New York deli mom and pop shop classic. The music in the background if classical and the store itself does not have many adornments or excessive decor. You go there to get the best sandwich in town and it appears that the man making the sandwiches knows all of his regulars. It may not be appear like the hipster new it place, but they keep it real and simple. I ordered breakfast and lunch. It was the best idea. I ordered the sausage breakfast sandwich. The eggs were fluffy and savory, the bread was super fresh and balanced, and the sausage was perfect! The second sandwich was the Dutch Crunch Roll with turkey, avocado and cream cheese. The bread was so deliciously crunchy and the entire sandwich tasted amazing! The Dutch Crunch Roll usually sells out but since I went at 8am it was available. Love this place! read more

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Solid 4/4.5 Stars. Solid selection of sandwiches with specials. They are good, but a little pricy. Sandwich + Chips + Soda = ~$18 Does have some indoor and outdoor seating options along with a large selection of additional snacks and goodies. Conveniently located downtown and a solid option for lunch. read more

Found this Deli right across the street from the Sheraton we were staying at. My buddy and I had a later flight so we decided to stop in and get some subs. We had a Turkey/Provolone sub and a Pastrami sub. I also tried the potato salad and the owner even brought over a sample of their San Francisco style potato salad. Both were delicious. Overall everything was tasty and a good way to prepare before the trip! This place is a hidden Gem when you're in the area! read more

Pennisi deli is a no frills deli that whips up some tasty sandwiches. The interior is clean and basic, no fancy hipster decor or new food trends. It is on J Street and 13th Street. It is across from the Sheraton Grand Hotel. It is only open Monday-Friday. Breakfast and lunch. They have some tables inside so you can sit and enjoy your food. They serve hot and cold sandwiches. Cold case drinks...no booze. Deli salads...macaroni, pasta, potato. Chips and snacks. A small inventory of Italian imported food items. I am a creature of habit and stick to a few favorites here. My go to favorite breakfast is the breakfast croissant sandwich. It is De-Licious! It is also quite substantial. Fluffy eggs mixed with melted gruyere and Swiss cheese. The ham is of quality and layered with the fluffy egg "patty". It is made with real eggs and cooked fresh on the spot. $5.99. I also like the muffuletta sandwich. Now let me tell you, the guy at the cash register is a matter of fact fella. I have been a customer for years. Some folks perceive him to be grumpy. But he has been polite to me. He has always been super helpful. read more

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Great food and prices. I work downtown and I try all the places and this place is underrated. I was surprised when I saw it only had 3.5 stars. The breakfast bagels are great and the dutch crunch is amazing too. Definitely worth going to read more

Delicious and perfectly prepared sandwich on scrumptious bread! Friendly staff and a quick turn around. read more

Had a tuna sandwich for lunch today from them and it was awesome. I've always had a great sandwich every time I go there when I'm nearby.The deli has that "real deli" look to it that I always like. read more

This is a great deli with an old time feeling. Which makes since since it's been serving customers since 1952. I walked across the street from the hotel I was staying at and ordered a breakfast sandwich. Super tasty, served on a bagel. They had lots of sandwiches which I'll have to come back to try. read more

What a great deli and small grocery! They offer hot lunch daily specials along with made to order sandwiches. I ordered the daily special, baked chicken breast with pesto and cheese on a Dutch crunch roll. So fresh...so tasty They have a great selection of Italian candy and treats along with beverages and other items you're excited to find in an Italian deli and shop. They have seating inside and a couple of tables out on the sidewalk as well. Check them out, you won't be disappointed. read more

Pennisi's Deli - Marinated chicken breast sandwich on Dutch crunch roll - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

Since 1952. They have an amazing breakfast menu 730a to 1100am ham cheese and croissant highly recommended. Allison made me an amazing pastrami and swiss on french. Fresh cut sliced pastrami ! Mouth watering. Great old world italian deli feel. Will return. Bill was nice as well read more

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Not a bad place, clean and friendly with a very simple menu and all my favorites are listed. I limit my visits to most deli's just to keep a fresh approach to new places. The location is perfect if you're downtown and are experiencing the Sacramento vibe, you'll love it here, you can sit inside or outside. They have a wine selection if you love the fermented liquids or bottled anything. Enjoy read more

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I really hate to give lower rankings to mom-and-pop joints, but I'm afraid this place may be sliding downhill. It's not my first time here, and I don't remember being disappointed, but I also don't remember being overly wowed either. The unfortunate reality is the quality of my sandwich today was downright sad. I ordered the tuna melt special on rye (they actually have multiple types of rye, but I was encouraged to use the "dark rye" and responded yes out of simple politeness and expediency). What I received was two grilled slices of dark rye bread, a tiny bit of tuna salad, and an unremarkable and almost unnoticeable slice of Swiss cheese that wasn't even properly melted. The bread was fine. I'm sure they aren't making it themselves, but they chose a quality product. The tuna was fine. All the expected flavors of tuna salad were present. The amount of tuna on my sandwich was laughable. Imagine a peanut butter and jelly sandwich you'd make for yourself in the kitchen, and you'd have the amount of tuna salad that this sandwich received. The Swiss cheese... I had to look for it. It was there. It added no flavor or texture to the sandwich. So that's all there was to this sandwich. And for some folks, that's probably fine. I think this could have easily been made a more tolerable sandwich had I been given (or even offered to have been given) any of the following: pickles, onions, sprouts, pickled peppers of any variety, tomatoes or quality lettuce. Maybe these items are available to those who ask but it was not suggested or made obvious. The service was also fine. Out the door, my very sad sandwich and Pellegrino were $20. All in all, there's too much competition immediately nearby (less than a block!) and from memory, both of the alternative options would've been more satisfying. I'm hopeful this place turns around -- as I said, I don't remember it being disappointing before. (Also, please, please stop invoking "New Orleans muffaletta" when all you are doing is adding an olive mixture to a standard cold cut and cheese sub sandwich. This is so wrong. The sandwich is named after the bread, and this ain't it. Others have mentioned this travesty as well, and Pennisi's should not be labeling this sandwich this way.) read more

Terrible muffalette, wrong type of bread. Very expensive, $16 a sandwich. Will not come back.

This is right across from the Sheraton and we were told is the place for a simple breakfast. Seriously-the food is bland. I had the simplest breakfast ever- scrambled eggs, bacon and toast. It was horrible presentation in the first place. They put the food in a styrofoam and hand it to you. So the toast is moist because it was in there with the just scrambled eggs. Grrr... The bacon was just sitting there too-not crunchy at all. They have a cute set up by the window that was the only nice thing going for them. They do carry some wines that you can imbibe right there. I thought that was nice. The place could use a sprucing up. So much potential. Too bad... this biz is supposed to be really old. So I say this with love...time for a menu and design UPGRADE! read more

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Awesome deli food! The service is quick, they don't take long to attend our large party. The deli store is really traditional, feels like it's been there for a while. read more

Every time I visit Sacramento, my tradition is to visit a different somewhat locally-famous sandwich shop on J St. On my last trip to town, it was raining at a pretty good clip, and I was pretty strapped on time, so I ran across the street from my hotel instead to give this place a try. In short, I was pleased that I did. This is a nice little mom & pop deli counter with a few aisles of convenience store items to boot. While not considered a bargain, the roast beef sandwich I ordered was stacked well with meat, cheese, and served on a nice flaky-but-soft sourdough roll. The gal behind the counter was friendly and asked enough questions without going Full-Subway on me... you know what I'm talking about-- all that "Do you want ________?" for every conceivable ingredient, then roundly ignoring adjectives like "a lot" or "a little." None of that here-- just a nice sandwich. read more

Pennisi's is a made-to order deli located on J Street. Food: I ordered the Reuben. I love Reuben sandwiches; however, this one didn't really meet my expectation. The meet was a little tough and there wasn't much sauerkraut. Sides Notes Ambiance: This Deli has limited seating and part of the place is like a grocery store. Service: The staff is very friendly. Overall: This place offers a solid sandwich, but there are many places in the area such as La Bou to get a good sandwich as well. read more

Pennisi's Deli - Reuben - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

Great hot pastrami sandwich, loaded with meat. Really fresh tasting and fantastic French roll. Directly across from my hotel at the Sheraton so super convenient. Meats in the cooler looked fantastic. Thanks! read more

Pennisi's Deli - Hot Pastrami - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

PRO: Enjoyed an afternoon visit to this deli. I've rolled past it many times and decided to stop by. First impression, a true non- franchise deli. Yes! Plenty of tasty offerings to choose from. I ordered a Turkey sandwich. What a memory inducing sandwich. Prepared on wheat bread with thick slices of tomatoes and pickles nestled between folds of fresh turkey slices with extra mayo. Just like my mama used to make for me after school. Yum! CON: Not wheelchair accessible. The counters are very high. If I hadn't voiced, "hi, I'm next" I would've been overlooked again. The employees can't see a petite person or a person in a wheelchair. I became a bit embarrassed at making myself known but if I hadn't, I would never be served. Recommend lower counters or at least an accessible counter space that petite and wheelchair dependent persons can place their order with confidence. read more

Pennisi's Deli - A late lunch but tasty and right on time nonetheless. - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

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An excellent place for a classic style deli sandwich that comes with a soft roll and they don't skimp out on the meat. The inside is underwhelming as it has not been updated in the last 20 years. The inside also has a little bit of a mini mart feel. I did like the fact that they had some unique Italian products for sale. Overall, if you're feeling like a no nonsense deli sandwich that is actually tasty and has good proportion, do check them out. They are usually only open during regular business hours serving mostly the convention center visitors and 9-5 businesses. read more

Pennisi's Deli - Lunch time. - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

Great sandwiches! I love a meaty sandwich and this is exactly what I get here. Nothing fancy, just a straight forward darn good sandwich on your choice of bread. There's a reason they've been here 60+ years. The only negative thing I can say is that the ladies making the sandwiches behind the counter could be a little friendlier. read more

A small sandwich shop with lots of choices. Many of my choices were sold out, hence the 4 star review. I heard the chicken breast sandwich was delicious but it was sold out. I ordered the turkey & avocado sandwich on sourdough (Dutch crunch was sold out). FULL of fresh sliced deli turkey, avocado slices, lettuce and tomato. Delicious! read more

Pennisi's Deli - Turkey & avocado sandwich on sourdough - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

Ordered a bacon, egg and cheese bagel. Got back to my office, opened it up and there was no bacon. SERIOUSLY?? How do you forget the bacon on a BACON egg and cheese bagel? Maybe I could forgive this if the owner wasn't such a rude jerk. read more

Cute little mom and pops deli. My sandwich was freshly made and prepared by a wonderful, friendly lady. There is a small seating area located inside the deli and a few in front. They also have beverages, chips, snacks and other items available for purchase. The deli is closed on the weekends and also closes at 4:00 p.m. during the week. They are quite busy during the lunch hour, so get there early if you can. read more

Pennisi's Deli - Delis Near Me - Sacramento, California

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After several bad experiences as a customer at this deli, I will not return. It's the closest eatery to my work, but despite the convenient location, it has nothing to offer. The owner is downright abusive to customers. As many other reviewers mention, he is abrasive, rude and inflexible with his menu items. Need a sandwich made to your specifications? You won't find that here--they offer a set menu of items and refuse to accommodate any variation. This is only one of many reasons why I won't eat here again... the final straw for me was my interaction with the horrible owner. I was seconds from calling the police and will never, ever, ever give a dime to this place again. At 7:40 am I was standing on the sidewalk about a foot from the curb. I was facing north on J Street and was on my phone, on hold. It was early and there were no cars parked on J Street near me. I wasn't actively speaking to anyone on the phone (was on hold), so I was aware of my surroundings. I heard a car pull up behind me to park on J, but I paid it no mind, as I was on the sidewalk. A moment later I heard a short series of beeps, like you'd hear when someone set their car alarm. I continued to stand, and I heard a few more beeps, assuming the car had parked and was resetting the alarm. I wasn't watching it park, as it was behind me. The next thing I saw was the rear of a vehicle just coming into my line of sight, then stop in my peripheral vision in the parking spot. Keep in mind that the car was in the street, and I was on the sidewalk. Just then, I heard a car door slam and a man's voice yelling... "Hey!" ... "Hey!". I turned slightly to see what all the yelling was about. To my surprise, a man (who I then recognized as the owner of the deli) jumped from the vehicle and charged at me. I turned to face him with my phone still at my ear. "Hey!" he said... "HEY! I ALMOST HIT YOU!" Okay, so there was absolutely no way he could have "almost hit" me because, you know, I was ON the sidewalk and his car was being parked IN THE STREET. It was clear that he really just wanted to order me around, and make demands of my position on the sidewalk. Sorry, buddy but you aren't my boss. And it's a public sidewalk. He must be used to people complying with his demands, but that wasn't happening on this day. He got in my face, yelling some more to try to intimidate me. He clearly did not like that I had defied him by not responding to his command. But I held my ground and told him "No, you didn't almost hit me. Learn to drive if you can't get your car into the spot without hitting a person on the sidewalk. Now get the $#%! away from me". He did not like that. He put is old crooked finger an inch from my in my face and said "What did you say?" So I told him to get his "#!#% finger out of my face or I'll call the police". He paused for a second then scurried into his deli like a little cockroach. That's right #%!#%, move along. You know, a 5' tall woman shouldn't have to assert herself that way, but he put me in a position where I either had to stand up to his bullying or fight back. He might get away with treating his employees and customers poorly, but not this gal. Read the other reviews...this behavior is very representative of his typical demeanor. Don't support this type of behavior with your business. Just don't. read more