NoonEats: Antipasto Salad at Cioffi's

While Springfield baked in 100+ degree temperatures last week, my ideal lunch consisted of a simple antipasto salad: crisp romaine lettuce with an assortment of meat and vegetables. For that, I visited Cioffi's Deli and Pizza on Mountain Avenue.

Like Springfield's other comparable establishments – Antonio Mozzarella Factory and Marino's Fine Foods – Cioffi's is family owned and operated, with a long-standing presence in the township—three generations, in the case of Cioffi's.

No one dared sit on the outdoor tables and chairs early last week, but on more mild days, they're an appealing spot to enjoy lunch. I opted for the indoor, air-conditioned counter. Though it was next to the large pizza oven, it remained cool.

Eating inside Cioffi's, it was clear that "family owned and operated" was more than just a saying on the menu and the door. The man working the pizza oven used his only free moment to clean the oven – a sign that this place is run well and with pride.

A customer sitting across from me ordered a chicken parmigiana sandwich. Served on a long seeded roll and heated in the hot oven behind the counter, it looked appetizing, even on this hot day. It must have been good, as it was wiped out in less than half the time it took me to finish my antipasto. Having eaten a chicken parm sandwich down the street and been disappointed, I look forward to trying one at Cioffi's.

But on the lighter side, my salad started with a base of romaine lettuce – all fresh and crisp. This was topped with sliced tomatoes and bell peppers, large black olives, pepperoncini, marinated cauliflower and carrots, roasted red peppers and six spirals of ham, cappicola, salami and cheese. The salad was fresh, colorful and full of a good mix of diverse flavors. My only complaint – if I were to have one – was that the dressing had a little too much vinegar.

The $8.25 price tag sounds steep for a salad, but you get what you pay for here – a fresh, generous helping of meat, cheese and veggies.

I returned to Cioffi's later in the week, after the temperature had dropped. I had just eaten a leftover grilled chicken breast that I had brought from home, and a small salad ($4.25) from Cioffi's seemed to be a good addition to that lunch. I gave into temptation and also grabbed a bag of Ruffles potato chips and a can of San Pellegrino aranciata soda. I could have also grabbed some imported Italian groceries to take home.

Again, the salad dressing was on the tart side, but I still enjoyed it. The vegetables – in this case, romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes and onions, and black olives – were fresh out of the deli case.

Check out the photos above. Yes, these salads really are as good as they look. And they make a perfect lunch on these hot summer days.

I can't wait to try that chicken parm.