Finding The Perfect Sandwich: Mitola

Route 10 is home to many chain food establishments such as McDonald's, T.G.I. Friday's and Boston Market and it seems that nothing really stands out.

But, there is an exception, even if it doesn't look that way.

At the intersection between Mt. Pleasant Avenue and Okner Parkway, sits a small and nondescript building that could easily be mistaken for just another convenience store.  

Yet, upon entering the store, customers discover that Mitola is quite the opposite (it's easier to enter through its rear entrance on Old West Mt. Pleasant Avenue to avoid the congestion and traffic of Route 10). This family-owned deli since 1970 serves homey and fresh sandwiches, soups and salads as well as a variety of comfort foods.

The breakfast menu has many traditional items such omelettes, French toast and various breakfast sandwiches.   Making things even better is that all breakfast plates and sandwiches come with a complimentary cup of coffee.

The lunch board is filled with a multitude of options: triple deckers, Sloppy Joes, paninis, Reubens and specialty sandwiches such as the Italian meatball parmesan sandwich.  Also, sandwiches are highly customizable and customers can choose from a wide variety of breads.

Not in the mood for a sandwich? No problem, as Mitola offers soups and hearty chili, too. There is also a grill for those who prefer burgers. A plain hamburger will run you $3.75, whereas a cheeseburger is priced at $4.25. A side of French fries and coleslaw can be added to any burger choice for $2.00.

Most people order take-out, but there are tables inside and outside.  Also, if you're pressed for time, one unique service that Mitola offers is online ordering. You can order lunch directly from your computer or smartphone and have it delivered to the front door of your home or office.

One weekday afternoon my friend Matt and I decided to stop in Mitola and give their sandwiches a taste. It was the first visit for the both of us, so we didn't know what to expect.

I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich with sweet peppers and mozzarella cheese. At the sandwich maker's suggestion, I had him add some of the deli's balsamic vinegar, which turned out to be a good thing; the balsamic vinegar was mellow and countered the sweetness of the peppers rather nicely. Had I not ordered the vinegar, I think that I would have been missing out on a key ingredient that made the sandwich stand out from a standard grilled chicken sandwich.

The potato salad was surprisingly very good. I wasn't expecting all that much because in many cases, a deli's potato salad is nothing more than diced potatoes smothered in mayonnaise. But  Mitola's homemade salad was different as it had just the right amount of creamy mayonnaise along with sliced carrots and celery. 

The service was excellent, too. Although there were a number of customers ahead of us, the line moved swiftly. Although there was a bit of a crowd, the cashier was very friendly and took her time to meticulously place our order in a bag to ensure that our sandwiches didn't get ruined on the way home. Prices were modest, too.  The sandwich cost $7.50 while a side of a half of pound of potato salad cost only $1.50.

Matt also had a chicken sandwich and he thought the meat was fresh and very tender. The bread for the sandwich was moist but wasn't too thick, he said, which allowed him to fully taste the chicken and the peppers.  The sandwich was large, too, always a bonus.

Overall,  Mitola Deli was a real treat. We really didn't know what sorts of food to expect heading into the restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised by the vast number of choices of not only sandwiches but the soups and burgers.

Next up on the quest to find the best sandwiches is to try is the ever  popular Subway restaurant in the center of the Livingston Mall's food court.

Mitola Deli

Address: 639 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston

Phone: (973) 740-1460

Date Reviewed: June 18, 2010

*This story has been updated.