Lucca Delicatessen

Old school Italian deli that’s a little chaotic in a controlled, amusing way. Came in here for the first time around Noon on a Saturday. The service is excellent and sandwich is great. You simply grab a number, and then go up and order when you’re called. You have to squeeze by people but everyone there was friendly, and I wasn’t waiting long for the sandwich. When you pay with card, there’s no little iPad that flips back at you asking for a 25% tip which is refreshing. Highly recommend.

Best Italian deli in the city! Sandwiches are unmatched. I had heard the potato salad was special and I found it underwhelming and too oniony but not bad at all. But the sandwiches are special. Fresh ingredients, decent portions for the price. Staff is generally friendly. They can be pretty overwhelmed with demand and still try to be kind and patient. If you’re not a regular, if it’s at all busy, be sure to grab a number from the center counter. They serve customers in number order. We stood around longer than we should have because we had forgotten that from the last time 5 years ago. This was our first stop, taking an Uber from the airport directly here. Worth it.

Due to the recommendation of a friend who was an exchange student at Berkeley, I visited right before closing on August 17th. I don't prefer sandwiches, so I didn't expect much. However, the charming atmosphere and really friendly and sincere staffs just prove why we should visit this place. I forgot the name of the recommended menu, so I asked the staff for a recommendation. He introduced me to two of their boasts. How was the taste? Damn, I found out that I didn't hate sandwiches, I hated piles of lousy stuff put between pieces of bread. Their 'sandwiches' are truly fantastic.

“What’s the second best place to eat in San Francisco?” I asked the Texan with a good palate. I’ve already tried that place. “What’s the third best place to eat in SF?” “Hmmm,” he pondered. “There’s a little deli around here that has really good meats.” I nodded, open to the suggestion. “They have a really good sandwich that I haven’t seen many other places.” he continued with his hands holding an imaginary sandwich. “Muffuletta has a big bread—it was huge!—with salami and maybe some other Italian meats. And it has an olive salad on it. It just tastes great,” he nodded with finality. I wanted to have a simple visit, so I opted for no review and left my phone in my pocket. When we got back to the office, it tasted so good that I had to grab my phone for a picture. I wanted to commend my colleague for another good suggestion. I started speaking before my thoughts were fully formed. “This is the best meat I have had…” I paused to think, “in memory!” I shook my head in disbelief at what I had just said. My eyes were wide as I spoke again to verify the truth, “This is the best meat I might have ever tasted.” It’s a cute little old-time feeling deli. They mostly have deli things like sandwiches from the menu or made-to-order, plus other pre-made food like various salads and entrees to reheat at home. They also have some shelf-stable items and cold beverages. Aside from being able to understand the spoken and written language, I felt like I was in Italy. Looks like they have a lot of products imported from Italy. It’s kind of crowded, especially when the delivery guys push their goods through to the back, but it makes it feel more quaint. I didn’t check the bathroom. My mouth drools at the thought of going back. If you choose to give a thumbs-up 👍🏽 or not, I hope you found my review helpful!