Panozzo's Italian Market
Categories: Grocery, Delis, Caterers [Edit]
Neighborhood: Near Southside1303 S Michigan Ave
(between 13th St & 14th St)
Chicago, IL 60605 (312) 356-9966
- Nearest Transit:
Roosevelt (Red, Orange & Greens)
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 10:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Sat 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sun 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
61 Reviews for Panozzo's Italian Market
One of Panozzo's Italian Market's Favorite Reviews
The panino italiano makes me excited to go to work cause it means i can come here for lunch. The lasagna bolognese (with extra marinara on top) i purchase for the drive home makes me ashamed to eat so much...but that feeling lasts about 30 seconds.
i come here at least once a week (more during marathon training)...i will make it my goal to sample everything in the store, then start all over. i might need to get a second job to finance my panozzo's addiction.
F%#KING AMAZING! Forget sacrificing a limb for these guys. I'd give my first born, wife (sorry Heather but YOU KNOW ME), dog (I'm tired of walking you anyways) and etc for these meatball sandwiches. You get the picture?!?!?
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Sweet holy baby Jesus in the stable...
I don't know if I can find any other words to express the awesomeness of the meatball sandwich I just ate. That good.
I also am excited about stopping off there after work one of these days and picking up some bread and buffalo mozzeralla for a nice salad. What a great find.
I can't believe I live just down the street from this place and passed it a hundred times without ever noticing it... But a friend recommended it so I actually LOOKED for it on Michigan Ave and finally found it. I'm so glad I stopped by - this quaint place will definitely be on my list of places to visit regularly.
The food here fits into 3 categories (a.k.a., different reasons to stop by) for me: (1) The 'get a sandwich to go from a place way better than the sandwich chains' category, (2) the 'pack a fresh, gourmet picnic basket from one store' category, and (3) the 'gourmet grocery' category (fresh pasta?!!).
I stopped by before an impromptu trip to a Millennium Park concert. I got everything I needed - a bottle of Moscato D'Asti, a (huge) sub - great to slice up to share, some bread, fresh cheese, and high-end olive oil. They were happy to slice the bread and cheese for me so I wouldn't have to do it in the park. They helped me pick a good olive oil for bead. They even let me taste some cheeses to find just the right one for my picnic. This extra service definitely makes it feel like our little local Italian shop.
I discovered this place upon moving to the South Loop. Now that I've moved, I still go there for the perfect Traditional Italian sandwich. Also, try the lasagna bolognese, FANTASTIC.
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My God.
So cheap. Sooooo friendly (the nice man behind the counter gave me free peppers on my meatball sub) and sooooo close to work.
I would sacrifice a limb for their friendly smiles and marinara sauce.
$2.99 for huge breaded rice ball, you can't go wrong.
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The best meatballs EVER. Period. I think I actually had an orgasm when I bit into them.
The arancini was also authentic and delicious.
This is a great spot to pick up pasta or sandwiches. I only wish I lived closer!
What else can I add that has not been discussed? Here is what I know from a half-dozen visits...
1. Italian subs are amazing, some of the best in the city.
2. Meatball sub IS the best in the city (sausage meatballs yum)
3. fresh sauces are nice when you don't want to cook
4. decent bread selection
5. VERY friendly helpful staff
Panozzo's is just what the area needed! I ordered up the veggie and added hot peppers. The sandwich was really tasty! Huge pieces of mozzarella and the pesto was a really nice treat. The subs are a little smaller then Bari but its a perfect size for lunch.
For me it is a little far to make the trip for lunch. But, when I am in the area I am going to make sure to hit up Panozzo's again.
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Okay, I admit, I am the ultimate Italo-phile! I LOVE everything Italian.So when I started planning for my husband's 50th Birthday (who also happens to share my Italian heritage and love of Italy) , I figured whatever I fed people would naturally be , you guessed it - Italian....
So, I just wrapped up a week long celebration for the above, and I've GOT to thank Panozzo's for keeping me from total melt-down! I ordered food for 16 people on Friday, and another 14 on Sunday and it was FANTASTIC, and effortless!
Friday's food included 2 large cold sandwiches (an Italian Corona & Prosciutto & Mozzarella), an antipasto platter, Italian ices and their incredible aranchini (rice balls). Nothing was left!
On Sunday we ate Italian Beef, meatballs and 2 salads with Tiramisu for his B-day cake... I must agree with all the reviews that rave about the meatballs.... they are THE BEST I have ever eaten! And the beef was equally delizioso!
So GRAZIE Mike, Ellen and everyone at Panozzo's for making my life so much easier! I am thrilled to have you in MY neighborhood ;-) again!
Pannozzo's is one of those special neighborhood places with well -stocked shelves, familiar faces, and a whole lotta' charm! Its part deli, part grocery, part carryout, sandwich shop. Strike up a conversation with the staff and their sure to remember you each and every time you come back. (And trust me- you will come back!)
More than sandwiches- I suggest trying the chef's daily special. My personal favorite? The fresh pea puree and tomato pizza on ciabatta. (It had a much catchier name which now escapes me) They go to local farmers markets and handpick the freshest ingredients- and it shows.
On the grocery side. The guys behind the deli counter are extremely knowledgeable and patient. Can't decide between one of the 6+ kinds of prosciutto? They will talk with you about your preferences and let you taste till you find the right one. The also offer a great selection of salamis, sausages, olives, cheeses, and fresh pastas. In addition, they have a substantial selection of Italian-staple pantry items from olive oil to Orangina- its there!
SUMMER SIDE-NOTE: It's also a great summer stop before Movies in the Park or a Millenium Park concert. Just bring your picnic basket and fill it with peach nectar and prosecco for Bellinis, Bruschetta, tasty sandwiches, - and don't forget the prosciutto!
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From recommendations from other Yelp reviews, we tried the Prosciutto & Fresh Mozzarella sandwich...ALSO DELICIOUS!!! Very light and refreshing - perfect sandwich for lunch or a picnic! And not quite as hefty as the delicious monster meatball sandwich we tried the first time we were there.
As my boyfriend likes to say, "It's the perfect summer sandwich."
Still going back again to eat again and also to try other sandwiches!
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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06/15/2008
Wow, the sandwiches here are HUGE...and yummy!
A "regular" sandwich is 9 inches, but you can also… Read more »
We had to run out to get another sandwich since a friend was coming over. We already had 3 subs from JJs, but decided to get one from Panozzo's. It was a way-bigger sub for the same cost.
It's good to see a non-chain place have a chance to thrive here.
Panozzo's makes me so proud to live in the South Loop :)
Their pastas are great, the sandwiches are to-die-for! Well, I've only had the meatball sandwich (with yummy peppers), but I'm sure the other sandwiches are great... I just can't seem to part with the meatball sandwich :)
The people that work there are great, and in my opinion, they have amazing memory! When you walk in that door a second time, they don't treat you like a "new customer," they welcome you back.
This place will become a legend in Chicago.
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Food: good; attitude: not so much.
The bf went and picked up a meatball sammie (with cheese and roasted peppers) for me, and he had a breaded chick sammie with a side of penne pasta. We also had a pretzel roll.
1. The meatball sammie is GOOD. I had it over 2 meals (it's huge). I was kind of put off that they charge $1.75 extra for the cheese and roasted peppers, a little over the top, IMO. Also, when the bf asked them about the extra charge, he said the person that rang him up was all uppity and highbrow about it. She even asked him if he had ever been to an Italian deli before. What does one have to do with the other?
2. Breaded chicken sammie. The bf liked it. They used fresh mozz and he said the dressing/vinaigrette on it was good, but the escarole or whatever green they used wasn't that good.
3. Penne pasta with fresh mozz: where was the fresh mozz? If you are charging $8/lb, I think the mozz should be visible.
4. Pretzel roll: AWESOME. I mean, how can you go wrong with pretzel bread?
I probably will go if I am in the area, but honestly, I would much rather go to Bari or D'Amatos (where Panozzo's orders a lot of their stuff from anyway) and not deal with the attitude.
Yes, people love you, but you don't have to be such snots about it.
I live one block away from this place.
Wow.
I am so glad I'm in the South Loop.
I tried their prosciutto with mozzarella and meatball with mozzarella sandwiches and they were awesome!! The prosciutto tasted just like the sandwiches that I had in Italy. So simple but so delicious. The meatballs were HUGE and I always get sad when I have a meatball sandwich with way too much bread. I'm starting to understand what people are starting to say about the sandwiches because the last couple bites were almost hard to finish.
I've also tried their pesto pasta salad and their eggplant lasagna which were okay but nothing compared to the sandwiches.
The people there are always super nice and smiley. I'm a sucker for smiley people. :)
Can't wait to go back to buy some of the other items like their pasta and get more sandwiches!
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WOW! This is a jewel in the South Loop. It reminds me of little deli's you'd find tucked away on a side street in Italy. You can get unique pastas and products that you can't find at Jewel or Dominiqe's and also go to the back counter for some fresh made pastas and goodies. The Aranccini's are great! The fresh sandwiches are wonderful on their crusty bread. Definitley get the meatball sandwich.
Yet another reason demonstrating that my recent move to the South Loop was a wise one. I logged on to Yelp this afternoon to find lunch places in my neighborhood, and I came across Panozzo's. One hour later, I am writing this review.
I had the panino italiano tradizionale. It was *delicious*. Normally, I am a loyal fan of sandwiches from the Dominick's deli, but this was not only better, but bigger! And the same price. Their shop was also adorable, and for the few minutes I was in there I half-expected to have to use my Italian because it totally reminded me of a shop in Italy (albeit a touristy one). I do a lot of Italian cooking, so I will definitely be back here for any meats and cheeses I may need, as well as olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I will also be back several times weekly for the sandwich. I'm so excited about this place! Yay!
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If you live in the South Loop, can boil water and you're a Nonna's pasta fan -- this is the place for you! I treat myself whenever I can to the (frozen) butternut squash ravioli or the lobster ravioli. The squash is so delicious, and not too steep at $5.99 a bag. Simply boil, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with freshly grated cheese. Mange!
This quaint market contains a variety of imported goods, some wine, sandwiches and a full case of prepared foods. They also cater. If you're hankering for some Italiano - be sure they are open - they close relatively early.
It's the food equivalent of playing Super Mario Brothers.
Delightful.
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I've been eating my way through Panozzo's for the last year! The meatballs are top notch, but don't stop there becuase I've never had a bad thing to eat there! The Lasagna Bolganse is one of my favorites, Also good, Anti Pasta Salad, Penne Margharita, Italian Sausage, Canoli's. They also have a wonderful deli and a really great gelato assortment. Also all kinds of great Italian specialites like olive oils, peppers, wine and beer.
Ellen who works the register is so nice, I look forward to my meatballs from Panozzo's just about every week!
one of the best damn sandwiches i have ever had. ever!
points dedcuted for no place to eat it. no tables or anything. have to take it to the park or something.
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OK, I am a sucker for places with the highest Yelp ratings. So my lovely bride and I wandered over to Panozzo's today for a mid afternoon lunch. We had the guidance of other Yelper to order the Meatball Sandwich with Mozzarella. OH MY! We were hungry, and yet splitting this monster (with the banana peppers) was more than enough and I cannot EVER remember a better meatball sandwich, and it was UNDER $6!
We ordered three sides, the Octopus Salad, the Escarole and the white asparagus. I loved the Octopus Salad and the Escarole, and thought the asparagus was just OK. All this food for $24
Just wish it was closer to River North and would like to see it add some seating inside, which it has none, but they are thinking about adding some. 15 minute flashers-on parking available right in front. All the people there were extremely nice and helpful, offering samples of anything we wanted.
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5 stars, 5 stars, 5 stars. Unbelievable. This should be in every neighborhood, a little Italian deli. This is the closest thing I have found to my favorite NYC Italian grocery/deli, Todaro Bros.
I am so lucky to have this place right around the corner from work. At this point, I have gone there so many times that I am definitely a regular, which makes it a lot more fun to go in there and feel like it is your little family grocery store. The deli guys work magic. Pure magic. Here are my immediate recommendations. Roast beef + marmalade spread + horseradish. Next? Prosciutto and mozzarella. Unbeatable. You think the sandwiches are too big? No way. I ate the whole Meatball sub. It nearly killed me, but it was worth it.
The guy (yeah I actually don't know his name, even though I know him) behind the deli counter told me that I look exactly like his cousin. I didn't believe him until he showed me a picture, and I thought, "When did you get this picture of me?" but it was his cousin. How can an Indian guy (me) look like an Italian guy. Actually, I think he said his cousin is hispanic. Nonetheless, it was hard to believe that he thought I was Italian. But then I saw this girl behind the deli counter who looked Indian, but then I started questioning myself... what if she is Italian?
Regardless, the food is superb. Hands-down.
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This is a really impressive Italian grocery/deli. The sandwich I had was worth the trip from Nashville. Ok, so I didn't just come to Chicago for this, but it was a nice addition. And how did I know to come to Panozzo's, you might ask? Yelp, of course. You guys rock.
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Although I was not blown away by the store end of it, they seemed to have the basics and just a little bit more, I was blown away by the deli and the sandwiches. The proscuitto and fresh mozzarella was one of the best sandwiches I have ever had, if not the best. We also tried the italian beef, which was great too. I will definitely be back to try the fresh pasta and for another proscuitto and mozzarella!
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I am a huge fan of Italian markets and living in the South Loop this is about the only game in my neighborhood. Fortunately, that is fine with me because Panozzo's is a great place. Super friendly folks behind the counter who are very knowledgeable and always willing to let you try an item before you actually purchase it. They have a huge selection of cheeses and meats not to mention the numerous sandwiches.
Overall a great place, come check it out.
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Absolute best meatball sub! Panozzo's illustrates what a true Italian deli should consist of. Wonderful meats, cheeses, quaint atmosphere and everything is fresh! Top notch! I highly recommend Panozzo's.
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THE BEST MEATBALL SANDWICH I'VE EVER CARRIED, HELD, SAVORED, AND ATE! Words cannot describe this delectable sandwich. That's why I'm going to tell you look at my pictures.
This was my first time here. I know the Italian food is better here than LA. I was craving a Meatball sandwich so based on my fellow Yelpers, this was the "go to" place.
This market is clean and organized. Visually stimulating. They had frozen pastas for you to take home. They had a wide variety of sauces (gravy according to homeland) and a deli counter that had just about every type of meat. I was in heaven. I wish I lived here so I can try every sandwich on the board. This place is so clean, I would drop my sandwich face down, count to 10 and still eat it!
The guys behind the deli were friendly. They asked how I was and wished me to have a good weekend. The BEAUTIFUL girl at the checkout was friendly as well. I don't care what the product is. If the employees are genuinely nice and care about their service, I will give them my business regardless of the cost. Speak of which, the sandwich was $5.49!
Now let's get to the heart of the matter: the Meatball Sandwich. The first bite I took was all bread, mozzerella, and sauce. I thought there was too much bread, but wait. When you finish the sandwich you will realize you have an even amount of meat and bread. The Italian roll was firm on the crust and soft on the inside which is phenomenal so it can soak up the sauce and blend in the cheese. The meatball itself: a combination of meats? Veal, pork, and beef? I could be wrong. There were many spices in the meatball. SUCCULENT and MOIST! It didn't crumble when I bit into it. These meatballs belong on a billiards table. It took me 4 bites to finish one! There were 3 in the sandwich. As I progressed through the sandwich, my bites were smaller and smaller because I want to savor the taste. I cried when I took my last bite. My lone mistake when leaving this place was I forgot napkins!!
I am a creature of habit. It's going to be very difficult for me to try another sandwich when I come back to Chicago. Thanks guys and girl for running an EXCELLENT establishment! I will see you in a few months!
Update - I had the meatball sandwich this Sunday. It was enormous and these were the best meatballs I have ever had...BY FAR!!! Man, this place rocks!
This place is super cute. I love the variety of single serving gelatos they have. I haven't tried one yet, but I definitely will next time. I had the Italian sausage and peppers sandwich. It was this delicious foot long sub with Italian sausage, tomato sauce, sweet peppers, and crusty bread. For $5, this was a great deal! I also got the tiramisu, which was light, fluffy, and decadent. The dessert was simple and delish. This is a great addition to South Loop.
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Luckily there was no one at the store when we arrived for a nice sandwich. I had the mozzarella and prosciutto (they sliced the prosciutto in front of us!), which was quite good. I had a craving for a prosciutto sandwich the other day and ended up going to L'Appetito, which was slightly disappointing due to the bread used to make the sandwich. I was happy to find an Italian deli location that was highly rated and knew that I had to go here for a bite to eat. The bread was good (oddly a little buttery) and the ingredients tasted fresh. This is the best prosciutto sandwich that I have found in Chicago, and when I am craving a prosciutto sandwich, I will probably head to this location. But, after reading the reviews I may have to go to Bari Foods and compare!
Wow--what a great find! This Italian market has everything you could ever want that's authentic Italian. It is so clean. The sandwich menu looks great. I only bought the watermelon granita (a tasty bargain at 99 cents) but I definitely want to go back and buy some delectable meats and cheeses.
I've lived next to Panozzo's for quite some time, but finally decided to make a purchase after discovering this place is a top place on Yelp. And I was pleasantly surprised. We got the Panini Italiano and the daily soup. The sandwich was amazing, and I'm not usually a fan of cold sandwiches. There was no mayo, no mustard, but it just tasted wonderful. The soup was tasty but decent. I just love the variety of "authentic" Italian items you can buy from here. Unfortunately, the prices are a bit beyond what I'm willing to spend for grocery items, but if I ever do need to prepare for a high end dinner party, I'll be sure to buy my stuff from here.
This little gem is so very consistent. Great sandwiches, tip...ask for banana peppers on top. All the appeal of a small Italian shop (the great dry pasta, sardine, olive oil, deli, beverage, etc.) without boutique prices. I can't help but always find myself back here time and time again.
Allow me to join the chorus of reviewers who love this place.
Panozzo's reminds me of the little Italian deli I grew up with in my tiny south suburban hometown. As everyone has said, their staff is so friendly and helpful. The deli guy always helps me plan out my whole dinner, complete with cooking tips and all! And the deli really is as fresh and delicious as everyone says - many of the items are their own special recipe.
If you love cooking Italian, skip the big, boring Jewel and head over to Panozzo's for some authentic, made-with-love ingredients.
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Grrrr... almost 5 stars. Had to think for a minute, then decide to leave room for improvement. I really really hope that Panozzo's will develop into an even more awesome place.
Service is extremely friendly -- I don't remember when the last time I've had the guy who made my sandwich behind the deli counter was so concerned about how I was doing. That continued to the counter where the greeting and banter were nothing but down-to-earth and neighborly. It made me wish for a second that I lived in the neighborhood.
The sandwiches are huge (foot-long in fresh Italian bread) and made with obvious care. The prices are cheap (about $5-7 per quality sandwich) that I wondered how they'd stay in business doing this. The Italian sausage sandwich has TWO sausages in the hogie roll, with halved and quartered pieces of three different bell peppers -- for $4.99. I think that the sausages were also homemade.
The deli/grocery items comprise homemmade pastas, Italian sauces and various snacks and ingredients. The prices are very reasonable; closer to the supermarket tags than gourmet deli prices.
My only wish is that they'd have a small table or two so that you can actually eat your sandwiches at the store. In the summer, this won't be an issue, however -- I'd happily take my sandwich or the picnic packages two blocks out to Grant Park.
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Excellent and authentic. Except for the sandwiches which are not authentic but are delectable, namely the vegetarian with grilled eggplant and plenty of fresh mozzarella (I'm not even a vegetarian). Who wants an authentic italian sandwich anyway? Ew. The arancini are delicious and the men behind the deli counter are friendly, as is the woman up front. Gelato, wine, and pasta/sauces galore inside this adorable, tiny shop. Go there, you won't be disappointed!
I love this place. The deli is great. The Italian ice is great. The people who work there are always very friendly and nice. I ordered lasagna to go and it was fabulous. I also got some tomato bread that was scrumptious. Go here if you live in the south loop!
Great selection of Italian grocery and deli. A bit on the pricey side, but what do you expect for some really awesome proscuittos!
Number 1!!!
I found this place through Fra Mani web site, speaks highly of the commitment to quality.
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