Restaurant Review: Gennaro's Italian Deli in Ocala, Florida

A Taste of Italy at Gennaro's Italian Deli: A Wonderful Find in Ocala

There is a gem hidden behind Route 200 called Gennaro's Italian Deli. Located in the strip mall at 4701 Southwest College Road in Ocala, hidden behind the Walgreens. At Gennaro's, you will not only find a large sandwich and salad menu, but an array of imported Italian goods including pastas, cookies, and meats.

They are open Monday 11am - 5pm, Tuesday - Friday 11am - 7pm, Saturday 11am - 4pm, and Sunday 11am - 3pm.

Upon entering their establishment, you will see great attention to detail in their fantastic Mediterranean themed decorations, as well as the care in which their food and retail products are displayed. The aroma of fresh herbs will make your stomach growl.

The hot specialty sandwich menu includes: "The Balboa" - hot roast beef, provolone cheese, sautéed peppers and onions on garlic bread, and "The Southern Guido" - barbeque chicken breast, melted American cheese, bacon and ranch dressing. As tempting as those selections sounded, my husband and I both ordered from the cold specialty sandwich menu. I ordered "The Corleone" - breaded chicken cutlet, roasted eggplant, fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers, sliced black olives, with garlic, oil, and balsamic vinegar. And, my husband ordered "The Tuscan" - prosciutto, herbed goat cheese, roasted red peppers and fresh basil.

The sandwiches are made to order, with the freshest ingredients. The current lunch special is a bag of chips, a can of soda, and an 8 inch sandwich for the very economical price of $6.99. Alternatively, they also offer the special with a 12 inch sandwich for $8.99 each. In addition to the hot and cold specialty sandwiches, they offer hot heroes like "Eggplant Parmigiana" and "Sausage and Peppers"; wraps, like "Chicken Caesar" and a "Turkey Wrap"; delicious salads; sides, like cheese fries and mozzarella sticks; and burgers. Think that sounds like a big menu? Well, there's even more to choose from, as they offer hot specials daily. There is definitely something for everyone at Gennaro's Italian Deli in Ocala.