Danbury Top Business Nominee: Capers, Too! Delicatessen

DANBURY, CT — It takes no small amount of spunk to buy a deli at the height of a pandemic, in one of the state's hardest-hit cities, but spunk's a side order Capers, too! Delicatessen & Catering in Danbury serves up in generous portions.

Chef/owner Debora Dividino, a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education in Manhattan, acquired the deli on June 22. Capers, too! has been a fixture at 18 Great Plain Road for years, but the new team completely renovated everything except the menu.

They didn't want to "shake things up too much," according to the eatery's spokesperson Jessica Simao, Chef Debora's sister-in-law.

That hesitation didn't stop the team from making a few additions to the menu, however. In fact, it is the new selections, particularly the Portuguese and Brazilian dishes, that are causing the stir.

Capers, too! can't technically call itself a bakery, according to Simao, but it's clear the eatery's fresh baked treats are a big draw.

The bolas de Berlim, Portuguese filled pastries, are killer, and sell out very nearly the moment they leave the deep-frying skillet. If they sound too decadent (they are), try the caldo verde, a Portuguese green soup. (It's decadent, too, but it's soup, so you won't feel as guilty.)

Some Patch readers let us know the deli has developed a reputation for giving back to the community, and that quality is at its highest profile in the "Mayor Mark" sandwich. It's turkey and Swiss — the city's chief executive's favorite sandwich — and Capers, too! donates two dollars to the United Way for every one sold.

Readers also raved about the deli's cleanliness, no small feather in a cap during the Age of Coronavirus.

"We take COVID very, very seriously," Simao said. "We've put a ton of precautions in place."

None of those seem to have hurt the business's bottom line too much.

"It's been interesting," Simao said. "We've been getting a lot of curbside orders, a lot of online orders. I have to say, we are doing very, very well."

Not every deli or fast food place in the city has been able to adapt to the pandemic restrictions, and some downtown are just barely holding on. But at Capers, Too! the cash register continues to ring.

"We are constantly busy, which is excellent!" Simao said.

Here are some excerpts from the nominations received:

• "This deli is the best in the area. Since Debora has taken over, there has been since a change for the better. Her and her staff always go above and beyond for me and my daughter when we visit. We are always greeted with big smiles from Debora, Isabella and Jessica. Food is always outstanding. They have turned this deli into a second place for breakfast a couple times a week." ~ Jeff Goslee / Briana Goslee
• "A wonderful place to eat, very friendly staff, really clean place and the food is amazing." ~ Helena Andrade
• "The customer service is immaculate and their food is always fresh!! The atmosphere, everything about Capers, Too is amazing, especially chef Debora." ~ Isabel Henriquez