Amidst the sea of delis in Hoboken, it’s hard to know which one has the freshest, most authentic Italian food. Enter Luca Brasi’s at 100 Park Avenue on the corner of Park and 1st. Opened in 2006 with the look of a deli that has been around since the 1920s, this unassuming Italian joint is the perfect place to get your grub on any time of day. HG recently visited this paisan’s paradise and could not get enough of the food.
Atmosphere
The most noticeable thing at Luca Brasi’s {other than the heavenly smells} is a large number of photos adorning the walls, mostly of famous Italians, complete with plenty of framed scenes from the Godfather. The friendly atmosphere of this deli hits you right away, from the giant cans of tomato sauce to the colorful chairs and tables {along with a few tables for outdoor seating}.
Hours
Open from 8:00AM–10:00PM Monday through Saturday and till 9:00PM on Sundays, the extensive menu here features breakfast specials like potato and egg sandwiches and omelets, tons of antipasto, hot sandwiches, classic pasta dishes, meat or fish dinner specials and of course, the sub specials {they can even put sandwiches on Texas Toast — our Italian ancestors might not agree with this, but it sure is good}. They also offer catering of their appetizers, heroes, entrees, and cold cuts — perfect for a stress-free, no-cook Sunday dinner.
READ: Fiores in Hoboken: Serving Mutz Since 1903
The Food
It may have been a little overzealous to order a bit of everything to-go, but it was all worth it. The sandwich made with mortadella, mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, and mayo is delightful, all packed on a solid roll with a light flaky crust {pictured below}. The grilled Chicken Parmigiana platter was just like Nonna used to make, served in a light marinara sauce, topped with plenty of cheese, and cooked to perfection {the deli will put any sandwich on a platter for the gluten-free = SCORE}. The pasta salad made with roasted peppers and black olives was tasty and authentic and the potato salad with shredded carrots was creamy homemade goodness.
For sandwich lovers, there are several to choose from on the menu, or you can create your own masterpiece with everything you enjoy. A favorite “build-your-own” consists of a fried chicken cutlet, fresh mutz, roasted peppers, and pesto on Italian bread — you just can’t go wrong with that combo and Luca Brasi’s does it RIGHT.
But really, the best part about Luca Brasi’s {and the reason you should go, now} is definitely the mutz. It’s made “all day every day”-fresh and is available in 1 pound and ½ pound sizes — trust your stomach and go for the ½ pound, the portion size is more than enough, but no judgment if you want the 1lb-er. This perfect homemade cheese cuts like butter and is so delicious that you can probably eat it all in one sitting. And as we said, no judgment.
Overall, the food at Luca Brasi’s is enjoyable and fresh — and the portions to be generous at a reasonable price — this deli is definitely worth a visit {or more!}. There are mixed reviews online for this spot, but we always have a quality/great experience and it’s pretty much everything you could want in an Italian deli: Fresh meats, sandwiches to-go, and of course — MUTZ.
See More: Losurdo Brothers Italian Bakery + Deli in Hoboken
Have you been to Luca Brasi’s? What’s your go-to order? Share with us in the comments below and tag us in your foodie pics on Instagram @HobokenGirlBlog + #HobokenGirl <3
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