L’Appetito

Had the moz cheese/​tomato sandwich with chips and a snapple for roughly $ 11. Fair price because the sandwich was large but I enjoyed my chips more than my sandwich. It was bland and there was far more bread than filling. The tomato was slightly old/​mushy and I’ve had far better similar sandwiches. Unfortunately the worker recommended this sandwich over the others…
The staff was nice and I liked the place because it was clean and quiet. I don’t think I’ll return with the numerous food options to choose from around here.

Adorable little place quite reminiscent of little cafes in Rome. I wish they had a greater selection of imported goods though. I was looking for bacio :(Great espresso; they use illy. And good sandwiches!

I was craving arancini… and sweets! This place had both. The massive arancini was stuffed with beef and peas. Just how I like it. It is essentially a big rice ball stuffed with awesomeness. I asked for sauce on the side and I’m glad I did. This was a good portion if you want a bite that won’t overfill your stomach. It was absolutely flavorful and the sauce was amazing! I want to try their pastas. This deli is really cute and has many chairs/​tables inside. I also had the pistachio sandwich which was good but not amazing. They have many other desserts that I would surely try…

I came here for a quick bite along my visit and the the sandwich was okay. The sandwiches I wanted to order weren’t available :(The famous cannoli also wasn’t very impressive. All in all, if you need a quick bite, you can certainly stop by here to refuel. However, if you’re expecting something spectacular or impressive, don’t.

What a great find! I needed some sandwiches to take to a picnic and since this was right around the corner from work I thought I’d give it a try. The sandwiches were great– so fresh, and the service so pleasant, it has become my «go to» when I need a filling sandwich.
My favorite? The Luino. This is a grilled sandwich with swiss cheese, roasted peppers and salami is out of this world! (shh…don’t tell my naturopath as this is definitely not on my dairy free, gluten free list) But every once in a while a splurge is needed.
But even if you don’t go «all the way» to the Luino, they have classic salads, sandwiches and soups, hot entrees, fresh baked goods, chips, soda and custom coffee drinks. And if you call ahead, your order will be ready when you pop in.
This location also has an outdoor patio which is the perfect place to enjoy your sandwich.
I dream about that Luino sandwich. Check out L’appetite for the sandwich of your dreams.

Positive– My turkey sub was very good, and very large– everything on the deli side looked fresh, Negative– I paid for a ½ pound of Italian cookies that were all STALE and had a terrible taste to them, i actually took a bite, made a bad face, and spit it out. I was looking forward to those cookies and they tasted like complete do-​do

We ordered two sandwiches and drinks. The sandwich fillings were great, and super flavorful, with vegetarian options, but we were a little disappointed by the plain white bread buns. Definitely willing to give this place another shot though. It feels like an authentic Italian deli.

Although I’m easily sold-​down-​the-​river of nostalgia when a locale has authentic European or specifically Italian treats, it’s the quality of their espresso, bakery delights, fresh sandwiches, smooth cheeses, breads — everything looks as yummy as it tastes. Sometimes I want to taste the butter but don’t want the super sweet and/​or salty that goes along with it. Especially for a light breakfast, L’Appetito is a memory of wonderful times far away!

This is a volume business taking advantage of a very good location.
The pizza is all bread… seriously, all bread.
The sandwiches, same… the bread to (in this case) sausage was ²⁄₁. You could have easily put two pieces of sausage in that bun and still have room for the peppers et al.
The bakery is acceptable, but outsourced. The arancini are extraordinarily bland. How these people stay in business is a complete mystery.

My family and I often get sandwiches at the deli here because we live so close.
But today I went in there at 6 PM (they close at 6:30) and the two staff members behind the deli were incredibly rude to me and two other customers. They had already closed down most of the deli and turned off the appliances (meat/​cheese slicers, panini press, etc.) and were in a SERIOUS rush to get out of there. They said we could not order half of the menu because they were closing up and we weren’t allowed to order anything hot (despite the fact that there was half an hour until they closed). They rushed us and gave us lots of attitude like we were the ones being rude. They were especially insulting to the kind woman ordering next to me. Any questions we had seemed like an enormous burden to them.
Very disappointed and unsure if I will return.

Love their Oatmeal Chocolate Walnut cookies. Every time I’m able to stop by I get some for my office and everyone RAVES about them.
I like their sandwiches but the consistency isn’t always there. But, overall, it’s a good quality. Hence ⁴⁄₅ though.
It’s the kind of place I’d recommend for people looking to find lunch that’s not on the main radar of typical loop restaurants. It’s a great casual shop!

Great spot for a quick lunch and some very basic groceries. The deli sandwiches do seem a bit pricey but they are delicious and huge so I find them to be worth the price. The guys behind the counter can be a bit slow in making the sandwiches, but I’d rather them take the time and give me a great sandwich instead of quickly throwing one together. I wish they stayed open a little later, but other than that, no complaints!

I just enjoyed my first meal at their new Lakeview East location; got to meet Tony the owner.
They’re not quite all the way open and are still — literally — putting the menu up.
I had a fantastic sandwich which featured meat hand carved in front of me, I couldn’t resist getting some of the cookies that looked like they just came out of the oven either.
Everyone was really nice and it was a fun experience, I will be back many times I suspect!

I love this little Italian café. They have a deli, gelato and wonderful espresso. I have been coming here for years, I’m kind of upset at myself that I am just now writing this review.
Just got one of there delicious Panini. #amazing

I agree with other reviewers that they have good food. We live in the building and have ordered subs from here on occasion. Quality is good and prices are reasonable given the neighborhood. That said, this review is about the horrendous service.
Specifically, the men behind the deli counter. They are so rude every time we come in that the last time we tried this place we left without ordering, and we won’t be back. I’ve stood there for a few minutes without being acknowledged, and when I try to ask a question about a sandwich they have attitude. They don’t move with any sense of urgency, it takes forever to get a simple sandwich, and there is no communication — they toss your order at you and continue to do… nothing. I leave every time feeling like I disturbed their day and that there’s something wrong with me. Completely atrocious that you treat people this way; I hope management takes note.

Fresh Cannolis made while you wait
Friendly staff for a neighborhood shop
What else do you want? A small market with things you actually need, a small sitting area to enjoy your pastry and an ideal location for said necessities. I highly recommend this establishment.

Go here on my way home for lunch and coffee. This is in a great little spot. Great sandwiches. I recommend for a good lunch. Love the coffee card they give you

L’Appetito is a solid Italian deli that hits that sweet spot of a $ 10 meal that provides enough quality and filling (a surprisingly hard bargain to find in Chicago, let alone in River North). The since-​shuttered Panozzo’s got me on a meatball sub kick, and while L’Appetito’s isn’t in the same stratosphere, it’s eons better than the dreck at Subway.
The meatball sub add L’Appetito is often a daily special. I believe it used to be $ 6 for the sandwich but it now runs $ 7. Cheese can be added, provolone by default, and I ask for giardiniera and extra sauce on the sandwich.
I’ve had other stuff there, too. The muffaletta is no great shakes, but then again, I’ve had one from Central Grocery in New Orleans, so all comparisons are futile. The pasta special, for $ 6, is a sweet takeout lunch deal. I’m also a sucker for the kolackis, which come raspberry or apricot flavored.

This place is awesome! Authentic, freshly made specialty sandwiches, soups, gelato and more! I ordered the Italian with hot peppers and it was piled high with soprasatta, capicolla, prosciutto, cheeses. SO DELICIOUS! ! A HUGE sandwich! I could only finish half. This deli is located in the beautiful, upscale Rivernorth neighborhood. Great food!

A good rule of thumb in Chicago is to always get an Italian Beef whenever you have the option. I didn’t follow my own advice on this at L’Appetito and was incredibly envious of the dude chowing down on one across from me. It looked amazing and seeing him sink his teeth into that beef, pepper, and dipped bread medley made the Muffeltto that I ordered seem a little less than spectacular.
Don’t get me wrong, it was a decent sandwich, but the bread to meat ratio was pretty in favor of the carbs. It’s big but not exactly in the way that you’d want a fatty Italian sando to be.
They do have lots of other options on their menu and pretty much everything is made to order so whatever you get you can count on it being fresh. Pricing is not the cheapest choice in town, but you’re definitely getting better than about any chain sandwich shop in town.