Mystery Diner: Capitano Deli brings hearty meals, sweets to Yorkville

While most of the country was out shopping on Black Friday, I was in the office. Not intending to miss out on the national day of spending money, I decided to take a guest to visit Capitano Deli & Sweets in the heart of downtown Yorkville.

Located right on Bridge Street (Route 47), steps away from the intersection with Van Emmon Street, Capitano is an Italian-style deli, featuring freshly made sandwiches with Boar's Head meats, cheeses and breads, as well as charcuterie boards, desserts and soups.

Parking was easy, as there is an expansive lot located right behind Capitano, and the entrance to the shop is on Bridge Street. Entering the deli, I was greeted immediately, and went right into the comfortable atmosphere. The shop is simply furnished, with dark wood booths, tables and chairs.

After perusing the menu for a short minute – and a thank you to the employee who helped me identify the new sandwich I had seen on the deli's Facebook page but couldn't find on the menu – my guest and I made our orders. For him, a small bowl of clam chowder and the Yorkville Broil: London broil, provolone and mozzarella on garlic buttered sourdough. For me, a small bowl of tomato basil soup and the new sandwich, the Mahunga: oven-roasted chicken, Italian herb-crusted mozzarella cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo and bacon on a baguette. Each sandwich came with chips, and my guest ordered a moscato, while I chose a root beer.

Our soups were brought out first. My guest praised the clam chowder as rich and filling, very good and thick with plenty of clams. My soup was delicious – not overly salty, slightly sweet from the basil and tomato, and not overly seasoned. It tasted very natural and was incredibly filling for a small-size serving.

Both sandwiches were incredibly filling. The high quality of the Boar's Head cheese and meats on both sandwiches elevated them both to something well worth the cost. Neither sandwich was overloaded with condiments or additives, which also helped to allow the quality of what was used to make the sandwich shine through.

The Mahunga was juicy, subtly flavored with the Italian herb cheese, and I liked the crunch of the baguette. The Yorkville Broil, according to my guest, was juicy and enjoyable, with the garlic flavor of the bread a pleasant taste that lingered but was not overpowering. Each sandwich was large enough to be cut in half, and when paired with the soup, made for a very filling meal.

When we completed our meals, we took a step into the next room and visited Piccolo e Dolce, the candy shop located inside of Capitano. Something I really love about Piccolo e Dolce is that it's a showcase of the owners' desire to provide work opportunities to young adults with special needs. The candy shop features a job skills program for those young adults, and I offer my thanks and appreciation to the young man working in the shop that day. He was on the ball, helping my guest and I make our choices, cleaning up, and making sure that every candy was displayed properly.

Capitano Deli and Sweets is a strong addition to downtown Yorkville, bringing big flavors into Bridge Street. The deli's unique sandwiches and soups are delicious and filling, well worth a visit on their own. However, a stop into Piccolo e Dolce is also worth a visit, both for the candy, and to support the great initiative behind the shop.

• The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at the Record Newspapers. The diner’s identity is not revealed to restaurant staff before or during the meal. The Mystery Diner visits a restaurant and then reports on the experience. The Mystery Diner is not intended to be a restaurant critic but does highlight the parts of a dining experience that he/she can recommend.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Capitano Deli & Sweets

WHERE: 220 S. Bridge St., Yorkville

HOURS: 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to ​Saturday; 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday

INFO: 630-882-9173, info@capitanodeli.com, www.capitanodeli.com