Chatsworth Deli Selected Among the Best in L.A.

When it comes to great Italian delis and groceries, there are but 17 in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and only seven in the San Fernando Valley, according to the experts at L.A. Weekly. One of them has become a Chatsworth institution, San Carlo Italian Deli and Bakery, 10178 Mason Ave.

Family-owned since Giovanni  Roberto bought the business in 1975, San Carlo has operated in Chatsworth since 1992, when the doors opened with a blessing from Monsignor Charles Hill. It was a potent blessing. The business has prospered ever since.

"We've been very fortunate. We have a lot of very loyal customers," said Pasquale Roberto, one of Giovanni's three sons and the next in line to operate the business.

As he spoke, midday customers clamored for one of the store's tasty subs or distinctive pizzas.

Pasquale remembered, as a boy, being picked up by his mother from Ste. Genevieve Elementary school and doing his homework at a corner table. In those days, the deli was in Panorama City. That shop burned down during riots in April 1992. Four months later, Giovanni reopened in Chatsworth.

Like many family-run businesses, the Robertos  find themselves putting in 12- to 14-hour days, six days a week. Their bread is baked fresh every day on the premises, starting at 4 a.m.

"Sometimes we work Sundays," Pasquale said. "We try to avoid it but if we have to, we come in. We take a lot of pride in what we do and we try to make everyone walk out happy with a quality product."

Just that morning, a customer saw Pasquale preparing a sub sandwich that looked to be at least four feet long. The customer asked if he could get a couple of them for his child's soccer game that day.

"It takes two hours to make the bread," Pasquale said, "but, you know what, we put something together for him. I had an order for those sandwiches later in the afternoon so I sold him the ones we made and made more bread for the afternoon order. We try to make everybody happy."

Over the years, it hasn't been all biscotti and spumoni for San Carlo. Many of the large factories in the area have closed and, with them, employees who used to be regular customers. "We saw a little decrease in business from that but we've got a loyal following. We see some people every day," Pasquale said.

Popular items on the menu include the San Carlo sub made with four different meats. Pizza-filled turnovers have become a favorite. Catered events often include large pans of lasagna and homemade sausages. Their pizza occupies a niche between thin New York and thick Chicago styles. "Most people say once they've had our pizza, they can't go anywhere else," Pasquale said.

And then there's the eggplant parmesan. "People who don't like eggplant love our eggplant parmesan," he said.

For a time, in the years before San Carlo relocated to Chatsworth, Pasquale worked in the computer industry. When the new deli opened, he joined it full time.