Every neighborhood has an Italian deli that stands out from the rest. For one portion of the San Fernando Valley, that deli is San Carlo Italian Deli. Owned and operated by Italian immigrant Giovanni Roberto and his family, this deli has been serving up great food to locals since the 70's. Unfortunately, the original location burned down and the deli relocated to the current location in 1992.
The deli is modest and small, but offers a large selection of meats, homemade sausages and freshly baked breads. Every aisle is filled with imported goods from Italy and the meat case only holds the highest quality products. Someone from the Roberto family is always behind the counter and greets every customer with the same familiarity and enthusiasm. You will feel like a regular on your first visit.
Panzerotti
2.99
If there was one item on the menu that I cannot resist, it is the panzerotti. The pizza like dough is stuffed with mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce and fried to golden perfection. The outside is crunchy, but the inside is doughy and oozing cheesy goodness. Native New Yorkers have told me it reminds them of a New York pizza. This is the perfect appetizer to share between two people because eating the whole thing will leave you with no room for a sandwich or pasta.
Pastrami Sandwich
6.99 large
The toasted roll is packed with thin slices of juicy and flavorful pastrami. The tangy mustard and pickles are the perfect compliment. The juices from the pastrami is soaked up by the bread, but it doesn't make it soggy. It can be a messy sandwich, which only makes it better to eat.
San Carlo Special
6.99 large
The freshly baked roll is filled with salami, mortadella, capicola, provolone cheese and dressed with mustard, mayo, tomato and lettuce. This is a good cold cut sandwich, although a few more slices of deli meat would make it even better.
Overall, going to San Carlo is like going to grandma's house. The food is made with love and care which makes it a comfort to eat. The taste and quality are an added bonus. Their food won't change your life, but the ambiance makes it better than other deli's in town. The next time you are in the area, stop by San Carlo for a bite to eat.
San Carlo Italian Deli
10178 Mason Ave
Chatsworth, CA 91311
ParkingPlenty of parking in the private lot shared by several businesses.
During our most recent trip to Santa Barbara, we stumbled upon Mac's Fish & Chip Shop. The restaurant is located on lower State Street, which is a main artery in Santa Barbara. The sidewalks are packed with locals and tourists and lined with small business. Restaurants seem to take up a majority of the commercial space on this street and offer a large variety of options.
The brightness of Mac's caught our attention. The glass doors and windows offer a guilt free look into the restaurant as well as a inviting and casual feel. The British colors also pulled us in to try the "authentic" fish and chips. The restaurant has a walk up counter for ordering with a full view of the kitchen. The blackboard like menu hang on the wall with descriptions guaranteed to make you chuckle.
Regular Fillet + Chips
10
Of course, we had to order the fish 'n chips. The regular fillet is an 8 oz piece of sustainable Alaskan cod coated with a beer batter and fried to golden brown perfection served with tartar sauce. It is worth mentioning that each fillet is battered and fried to order. The batter was light, crunchy and delicately seasoned. The fish was fresh, flaky, sweet and moist. The chips were double fried and nothing like french fries. These chips were meaty and fatty. A few of the chips had some crisp, but the majority fell between the consistency of crispy and chewy steak fries. I'm not sure what "authentic" fish and chips is supposed to taste like as I've never been to the United Kindom, but I know this was one of the best fish and chips I have tasted.
Wee Haggis
2.50
It was hard to leave without trying something else on the menu so we ended up ordering a wee haggis. This is a traditional Scottish dish made with chopped up liver, heart and lung. The haggis was coated with beer batter and fried. We were told to eat it with HP sauce, which could be found on the condiments table. I was expecting the haggis to be dense and heavy due to the ingredients, but it was surprisingly light. The haggis tasted meaty and slightly sour, but not in a bad way. The HP sauce, which is similar to A-1 sauce with more of a vinegar flavor provided a nice balance to the flavors.
Overall, the fish and chips at Mac's is mouthwatering and a must try for anyone visiting the area. The haggis is an acquired taste and worth a try for the adventurous diners. The prices are fair for the quality and quantity of food and the service is fast and friendly. Beers are available on tap, televisions broadcast sporting events and there is plenty of seating. Although the restaurant has been only open since June of 2010, I think it will become a longtime tenant on State Street.
Mac's Fish & Chip Shop
503 State St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Parking
Plenty of side street parking. The closer to State Street the shorter the allotted parking time. Park several blocks north of State Street for free no restrictions parking. Also several parking lots in the area.
Every neighborhood has an Italian deli that stands out from the rest. For one portion of the San Fernando Valley, that deli is San Carlo Italian Deli. Owned and operated by Italian immigrant Giovanni Roberto and his family, this deli has been serving up great food to locals since the 70's. Unfortunately, the original location burned down and the deli relocated to the current location in 1992.
The deli is modest and small, but offers a large selection of meats, homemade sausages and freshly baked breads. Every aisle is filled with imported goods from Italy and the meat case only holds the highest quality products. Someone from the Roberto family is always behind the counter and greets every customer with the same familiarity and enthusiasm. You will feel like a regular on your first visit.
Panzerotti
If there was one item on the menu that I cannot resist, it is the panzerotti. The pizza like dough is stuffed with mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce and fried to golden perfection. The outside is crunchy, but the inside is doughy and oozing cheesy goodness. Native New Yorkers have told me it reminds them of a New York pizza. This is the perfect appetizer to share between two people because eating the whole thing will leave you with no room for a sandwich or pasta.
The toasted roll is packed with thin slices of juicy and flavorful pastrami. The tangy mustard and pickles are the perfect compliment. The juices from the pastrami is soaked up by the bread, but it doesn't make it soggy. It can be a messy sandwich, which only makes it better to eat.
The freshly baked roll is filled with salami, mortadella, capicola, provolone cheese and dressed with mustard, mayo, tomato and lettuce. This is a good cold cut sandwich, although a few more slices of deli meat would make it even better.
