I wanted a sandwich and so I decided to give this place a shot. That was a mistake. I called to place an order for pickup, and ordered a grilled chicken on sourdough, and a turkey bacon avocado on sourdough. When I arrived, I wasn't greeted or even acknowledged. I was hungry so I let it go. I patiently waited for my turn in line. The service was very slow, I ended up standing in line for 10 mins with only one customer ahead of me. When it was finally my turn in line, I didn't even realize that I was paying for 3 sandwiches until I paid and left. The man at the counter did not read my order back to me or even double check which sandwiches he was giving to me. After I paid $32 and got my receipt, I looked in the bag and found 3 sandwiches: A BLT that I did not order, a turkey bacon avocado and the bacon was undercooked and bread was so tough to bite, and a cold sliced chicken sandwich when I had ordered a hot grilled chicken on the same tough-to-bite bread. I'm extremely disappointed I wasted my money on this place and will not be coming back. read more

Growing up in Albany from Grade 1 through 12, I know for a fact that Zarri's had once been a 5 Star deli. The Zarri family were wonderful people who could make a simple poor boy sandwich and a can of soda seem like luxury to a 12 year old. Later, in High School, Zarri's was still AT LEAST a weekly event in my life, due mostly to the fact that I could actually afford their sandwiches at only $2.50 a pop. But sadly, times have changed. The Zarri's no longer run the establishment and the prices have more than doubled. The addition of vegetables (at an additional cost) doesn't feel right either. When I recently did opt for this new addition to the repertoire, I was greatly disappointed by the quality of said veggies. If you're going to fuck with the traditional menu of a small town institution, don't half ass it. The new employees and ownership don't have the same genuinely friendly vibe of the Zarri family. And the anti-abortion literature that can be found around the store doesn't help much either. read more

Alan was on Solano doing errands today. He stopped by Zarri's looking for egg salad for lunch. They either were out or don't make it, but when he saw tongue at the top of their meat menu he decided to get me a tongue sandwich on dark rye. I had been grieving the closure of Miller's East Coast Deli in San Rafael last year and then Saul's stopped carrying tongue, so about the only place I could get it was in lengua tacos. I was very pleasantly surprised when he came home w/ my sandwich w/ tongue, lettuce and slices of tomato. I added my own catsup. It was A-OK. The tongue was pickled, thinly sliced and thinly layered, the lettuce fresh and crispy romaine and the tomato thinly sliced and tasty. The bread was on the soft side, like Angelo's or the dark rye they use at Brennan's. Not my favorite. But if I wanted to buy a quarter pound or so of tongue to bring home and make a sandwich on a more sturdy rye bread this gives me an option that's less work than roasting a tongue at home, although that would be the best in terms of taste and texture. Probably isn't gonna happen, though. read more

While driving to Gordo's to get a taco for lunch today, I spotted Zarri's out of the corner of my eye and made a sharp turn onto Masonic to park. I hadn't been there in almost a year, mainly because I haven't been in town during their hours of operations, but that's changed now. It was definitely time to pay the Zarri's a visit! When I walked in, I was totally surprised that it was almost empty. I remember when I used to come here for lunch back in high school, this place was PACKED and I'd almost be late getting back to school every time I went to Zarri's. I felt kind of sad walking through their line apparatus because there was no line to be in; I was the only person at the counter. Behind the counter was the new owner, John, and another lady (who used to be the lunch lady at my high school!). I ordered the same thing that I've ordered for the past eight years: A provolone cheese sandwich on a soft sour roll with everything on it. John asked me if I wanted any peppers or vegetables like tomato or lettuce. I was kind of surprised because what sets Zarri's sandwiches apart from others is their simplicity, but I decided to go crazy and order tomatoes. When I first started going to Zarri's in high school, my usual sandwich was $2. It's understandable that the price may go up due to rising costs of ingredients. Then I noticed that to add peppers was 75 cents more, and to add tomatoes or lettuce was another 75 cents, so the total for my sandwich came out to $4.50. ...The reason I used to go to Zarri's is because it's really, really cheap. Now if I go back, it'll be because of nostalgia. I remember the last time I went there, one of Mr. Zarri's sons (the really, really creepily nice one) told me that they were raising their prices because they were changing ownership over to their family friend, John, and that in order to do so, they needed to do some remodeling. I'm not sure what they remodeled, but the deli looks the same to me. And where's Mr. Zarri? I loved seeing the incredibly cute and sweet Mr. Zarri! No other Zarri family members were there today either. No one to ask me if I had finished school yet or where I was living now, which made me kind of sad. Boo, because I loved this place in high school. read more

I grew up eating Zarri's! The service is always friendly and nice. I love how they now serve all the vegetables as well as the meats etc. Has to be my favorite sandwich place in the east bay that's for sure, and it's great only being three blocks from my house. I always get the roast beef with everything on hard sourdough. Make sure you get the hard sour, I'm not a fan of their new sweet sourdough. read more

Wow, I had no idea this delicious old school Italian deli was right under my nose all these years. What a wonderful find, my tastebuds are in heaven and my hunger sated for the moment. Not only is the food nourishing, but the nostalgia for simpler times brings on a calming emotional state. I'll be back Zarri's, mosdef. read more

My husband has been telling me about Zarri's for years. We finally went here on his birthday. Ordered a cheese sandwich. Really good simple sandwich. Everything was really fresh. I'd go back here if in the area again. read more

Zarri's caters - did you know? They just did my wedding (200+ people), deftly, swiftly, simply and deliciously. For an extremely reasonable price, they provided fantastic, delicious food. I had no idea what to do or what to request. They made suggestions that were perfect for the crowd; delicious, hearty veggie lasagna. Succulent porchetta, fantastic, delicate kale salad. Of course, as the bride, I missed pretty much all of the appetizers, but I have had their bruschetta in the past and am a big, big fan. Zarri's staff - thank you for keeping me calm during an otherwise very stressful time, for providing delicious, quality food and for making sure I got to eat it! 5 stars, would recommend. read more

You'll die of cuteness, if you don't first die of quaintness. Tasty sandwiches. The old school atmosphere is even tastier. You might even get a beer here and drink it in a park on a school day. read more

I love the tongue sandwich and organic apricot juice! Owner is amazing, have come to them for 20 plus years!

I am really super easy. Simple. If I come home, and there is a bag of chips on top of the fridge, and a Zarri's poor boy with pickles inside, I turn into a happy dog wagging my tail. Also a great place to get those nougat-y candies in the little boxes with pictures of Italian royalty. For 50 cents. Zarri's. Eat it all on a bench outside and watch Albany folks try to rear end each other. read more

Best Sandwich in the Bay Area: A Zarri's Poor Boy Deluxe on a Sweet Roll Zarri's is the way delis are supposed to be. The second you walk through those front doors you can smell ever slice of meat and cheese in the place. Just incredible. Zarri's is the real deal. read more

As I sit here and enjoy the end of my first Zarri's sandwich, I thought I'd write a review. New to the neighborhood, I'm finding many gems within walking distance, and there's still more to try! I am a sandwich connoisseur and critic, and have seen some mixed reviews here, so I was excited to get my own take. I find that the bread quality, amount of innards, and price are the critical components of a go-to sandwich shop. I also find it hard to get good sourdough rolls that are tilted toward the sour or crusty side. A sandwich from a place like Genova is amazing, but the sometimes $12 price tag generally keeps me away. I usually like places that are a good compromise. Looking over the menu, seeing no Bacon, I decided that an Italian flavor was the way to go. I asked for a recommendation, and it was the Poor Boy Deluxe. He showed me the pre-stacked stack of meat and cheese they use for the sandwich, and I could instantly tell it would suffice for what I figured would be a cheap sandwich. I asked for mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a dash of oil and vinegar. I'll usually watch the sandwich maker like a hawk, but instead opted to explore the fancy Italian items on the shelf: a good selection for a small, low volume deli. I am not shy about instructing the sandwich maker to make mine a certain way. I've learned that cheese against bread with mayo on it makes a slippery sandwich that wants to fall apart at every bite. I've had tomato stacked on dry bread, and it makes the bread soaking wet. I've had a sandwich made with wet lettuce that did the same thing. I've seen WAY too much mayo on my sandwich, which is gross. I've had hot meat stacked up against lettuce, which instantly wilts it. I've had so much oil and vinegar that the sandwich quickly turned into an inedible, wet, sopping mess. I've been to delis that used so little meat that I asked for extra meat midway through just so I wouldn't have to have a disappointing meal and never go back. I've had sandwiches wrapped so loosely that by the time they rolled around in my car or backpack on its way to the final destination, they have fallen apart within the wrapping. So I'm not afraid to give some instruction if construction is heading south. Before long, my sandwich was done. It came out to $5. Can't beat that. The weight was moderate, and it was wrapped in a very classic style with a single sheet of paper with the edges wrapped up. First thing I noticed as I was walking out with the sandwich in hand was how soft the bread was. This was good and bad: soft meant not crusty and likely not very sour, but it did mean that it would still be good in case the maker skimped on ingredients. A good, dense, crusty sour roll needs to have a lot of meat, cheese and veggies to be balanced. A soft roll needs less. Got it home, and it was cut in the dreaded diagonal fashion. This is something I would have corrected if I was watching him make it. The problem with a diagonally cut sandwich is that it takes very little slip and slide for the sandwich to fall apart. The other problem was that the sandwich was not cut all the way through. By the time I pulled the sandwich apart into two, the bread had ripped unevenly, and the sandwich was falling apart on my plate (see photo). If I was eating this on the go in my car, it would have been a disaster. A well prepared sandwich to go should be double wrapped. First wrapped and cut *all the way* through. Then wrapped again. This provides protection from the sandwich falling apart, and makes it very easy to eat on the go, half by half. Not to mention fewer ingredients and juice spilling out onto your lap, fingers, and inevitably, steering wheel. Now that I was ready to eat, all it took was one bite: it was a moderately sized, well balanced, tasty Italian sandwich that was priced right. Perfect amount of vinegar, which is one of those ingredients that give that Italian flare, but if overdone, will ruin the sandwich. On the last bite I realized there were no onions; teaches me to not watch. It was a bit difficult to handle with the diagonal cut, and since it was made with oily Italian meats on dressed bread, there was a lot of slip and slide. The soft sourdough roll was a very nice roll, but the non-hardened crust is very chewy, and that tends to squeeze the slippery ingredients out the back with every bite. Usually not a problem with leaner, less oily meats such as turkey or roast beef, or leaving the bread dry on the meat side. A straight cut next time will definitely help the sandwich stay together! A very good, simple, solid, cheap sandwich. One more score for Solano Ave. in Albany. And if you like Tri-Tip, it appears that he fires up a charcoal grill in the morning, and makes some killer looking tri-tip. read more

Zarri's Delicatessen - Delis Near Me - Albany, California

Great local deli on Solano Avenue is just the place for sandwiches, italian specialities, wine bargains, good conversation. No tables, but great coppa, cotta, cheeses, fresh bread. Prices remarkably cheap after all those years. John, the new owner, is continuing the friendly neighborhood tradition of Mr. Zarri and his two sons read more

This is my favorite sandwich shop. I would come here as a kid and now when I visit home I always make a stop at Zarri's. You have to try a poor boy on a hard sourdough roll. read more

As an elementary school student, this place was the bomb! $2 for a sandwich that tastes good? A drink of my choosing for a mere 75 cents? Please and thank you! Of course, going with the times, prices have changed... But nonetheless still a good place to grab a sandwich and drink for cheap. When I went back recently it looked like the store owners changed, but it's still a nice place. Poor boy deluxe is still my favorite. Great little drop of nostalgia! One of the bay's hidden gems! Go and have a try. read more

LOVE this place. True, the prices have gone up over the years... but hey, that's just natural inflation. The proscuitto is exquisite and their selection of authentic Italian treats puts a smile on my face every time. They're sourdough bread is the best and your fooling yourself if you get any other bread. I always either get the proscuitto or the turkey. May I recommend to not add mustard on a proscuitto sandwich. Oh, and good selection on chips and beverages! read more

Yummy sandwiches, with fresh ingredients and friendly servers. We need to support local businesses, if we want to have any left!

Had a delicious hot Cuban sandwich from there. Really nice, friendly staff as well. I'm going to get their meatball sub next time. It looked even better. read more

Roast Beef on Sourdough at Zarri's. Then go right next door for a head of lettuce and a verrrrrry ripe tomato. Then go sit under the Bart tracks and pig out! Ah yes, lunch with a view in good old Albany... read more

I like this place, and look forward to going again. Good food, good customer service, and welcoming of everyone.

I too miss the old Zarri's prior to the ownership change. There just aren't people like Mr. Zarri and his sons around anymore. However, the new owners seem to be trying hard and the food and interesting selection at still reasonable prices continues to bring me back. They should ditch the Zarri's Guy and Gal shirts though! read more

Having to pay extra for veggies in your sandwich is ridiculous. I didn't realize this, of course, until after my sandwich was made and I further studied the menu... Bread, meat, cheese (which cost an additional 75 cents), mustard, mayo, and pickles. That was it. The lady asked if I wanted everything on it, and I assumed that this would mean everything that delis normally put on a sandwich. But you know what they say about assuming things... That being said, I am a sucker for these types of family affairs. Checking out the imported goods also gives you something to do while you wait as well... read more

I came back recently, and they have improved, It isn't like they were lacking before, but I was considerably happier with my sandwich than the last time i was here. The prices seem to be creeping up, but it seems like that is happening everywhere, I guess I am getting old enough to remember "prices in the good old days" will visit soon again. read more

Terrific food and environment- I never hesitate to recommend! Yummy sandwiches and generous portions. Can't go wrong here!

This is a hard review for me as I've been coming to Zarri's most of my life whether as a local or returning visitor. Unfortunately my last few visits have just not impressed me. Sure, it's the same faces for the most part, same great service but the offering, at least in the sandwich category, seems to have changed for the worse. Amazing breads have been replaced with fairly generic rolls. The meats are still solid but feel a little more pre-prepped. Specialty founds still surround sthe aisles but more names you see elsewhere, less finds. There's other places for a good sandwich nearby which is a shame as they use to make a great one. But still a solid stop if you're on the Solano. read more

Love, love, looooove Zarri's! You can never fail with a Poorboy, sweet maui onion chips, and a root beer. I would give 4.5 stars if I could because ever since Mr. Zarri's handed the business over to John, the prices have gone up and the (chips and drinks) shelves seem to be replenished less often... and the newbies have forgotten to add pickles more than twice, grr. On a brighter note, they now have a debit/credit card machine that charges something like $0.75 if you decide to pay with your visa or mastercard (used to be cash only). Also, they have deals for high school students, poorboy + bag of chips + canned soda = $5...although if they reeeally like you, they'll give you the deal anyway even if you're over the hill. Bonus brownie points: they ALWAYS seem to remember my order even if I've been gone for months. OH and did I forget to mention they buy organic and from locals? Hidden gems: Try the cheesecake and pizza that's in the fridge next to the cash register, they're sooo good!! So far, I haven't found a place that is remotely comparable to Zarri's sandwiches and their warm customer service. Thanks for getting me through high school and college Zarri's!!! read more

I love zarri's. I've been coming here since High School at Albany high so over 18 years. It pisses me off they're skimping on the meat. My husband brought home sandwichs and I literally have 2 slices of turkey on my sandwich. It won't kill your bottom dollar to give me two more slices. I want to keep coming here so I hope the owner reads this review. It's not right to charge over $7 for a sandwich and skimp so much on the ingredients. I'll give you one more try until I stop coming here. read more

Zarri's Delicatessen - 2 slices of turkey. Does whole sale price turkey cost that much? - Delis Near Me - Albany, California

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Been there many times- Good products, Very good service, fair prices. Seems some sour apples don't like posters encouraging Equal Protection they have posted. I know the Law, and with over 500 hours research on this 'pandemic'; I concur with Zarri's position. read more

Zarri's has delicious food and outstanding customer service that is inclusive and welcoming. Besides the sandwiches and deli items, they carry a delectable assortment of imported relishes, sauces, crackers, cookies, pasta and other grocery items. I was especially happy to see that they carry Ajvar, a wonderful eggplant and red pepper spread typical of the Balkan countries. read more

My girlfriend and i go there when we want an all day snack. We always get the submarine which is an$16 sandwich that is massive. We nibble on it over the afternoon and head over to golden gate fields for the ponies!! Good beer selection for a deli and service is fine and always polite! Thanks again for the giant sandwich read more

So this place has been around for 30(?!) years and hasn't changed a bit. CHEAP, great sandwiches, cheeses and wines... not the best sandwich in the world but a great specific treat... poorboy deluxe... you can't knock it! I miss Mr. Zarri - but the place stayed the same, a local institution! *** Update*** Mr. Zarri still up there selling sandwiches, worth it just to see the guy! read more

Best salami sandwich I've ever had. Not too heavy on the toppings and super good salami. Waiting for my sandwich I ended up buying some Italian imports that I forgot even existed. And they have kinder eggs which I've been trying to find for months. read more

Zarri's Delicatessen - Best salami sandwich I've ever had. - Delis Near Me - Albany, California

I'm a native Albanian, so this place is like nostalgia central for me. I remember coming in here with my mom when I was 4 or 5 and I love how it hasn't changed at all. Delicious sandwiches, seriously, the best ever. So simple, so cheap, so yummy! I also love the people who work there. Even though I don't come in nearly as often as I used to, they still remember me and always ask how school, etc. is going. So sweet. Damn, now I want a sandwich. **EDIT 6/10** I lied. Now that I can eat real food, the first thing I did was go to Zarri's. Sorry Gregoire, your food is delicious and I love you, but Zarri's will forever hold the #1 sandwich spot in my heart. read more

This is one of the best delis in the Bay Area. 3 generations of the Zarris Family, and they are wonderful. The drink selection is very eclectic and they have a bit of everything with many Italian imports. Their frozen pasta selection is great for an easy weekday meals. All their meats and cheeses are very high quality. The bread is delicious. If you have not been here, go. If you are looking for a high quality cubano or a poor boy deluxe (my habitual go to) you can't go wrong. read more

I've been coming to zarris since I was in middle school I'm now 23 & it has changed ALOT ! The owner is always super grumpy never smiles. He looks at you like he's miserable. It's a very uncomfortable feeling in there. The employees make the sandwiches without gloves I'm pretty sure that's a health code violation. I made the mistake of not asking for my money back when I saw that. I hope I don't end up getting sick!! Won't be coming back ever again. There's plenty of other sandwich spots on Solano read more

I love a good sandwich. A real sandwich. And Zarri's has them. Bread, meat, cheese, and pickles. I like the fact that you walk in and it's like going back in time. The nostalgia that lingers here is great. The older gentleman that is behind the register is super cute, I just want to hug him. read more

I have been coming to Zarri's for 30 years. In the last 5 or more years it has gone downhill, especially in the last year or so. The sandwiches used to be a bargain, now they are overpriced. They do not always adhere to health codes, I have witnessed this. I have gotten food poisoning there twice. I can never get beef ravioli there anymore. Their chip selection sucks. They can't keep their employees. I have pretty much given up on the place. read more

I used to go here for lunch in high school and it was amazing; since I've moved to SoCal and I always go by when I'm visiting home. I'm a Poor Boy Deluxe on sour with pickles, though recently I've gotten the vegetables which never used to be an option... I'm undecided on which I like more, but I feel like there's been less of everything else since they were added. That said, I can live with eating a touch healthier now that they have some very live beers from Belgium (Augustine and Pirate Ale for me) and you can buy them as singles for about $4 - initially this sounds a little steep, but they also have Coors and a few more common choices for about $1-$2. Last time I went they no longer carried a lot of the fancy sodas they used to have, but I suppose that's just as well, who's going to buy key lime soda when there's a Pirate Ale? Just sayin'... Only four stars because of everything going up fairly noticeably in price, and down in quality in other areas, the beer almost brought it back to five... but given their location, when it comes to sandwiches and stuff most of their customers are going to be under 18, let alone 21... read more

I find the bay area lacking in the sandwich department, but Zarri's might be part of the remedy. The sandwiches are great and the service will out-nice just about any other place. The products sold at the market are inexpensive and worthwhile. If only I lived in Albany rather than 4 blocks from the Berkeley Bowl, I'd probably shop here more regularly. read more