Salami, Mozzarella and Sun-dried Tomato Sandwich at Marino's

Part fish market, part Italian deli, in Echo Plaza has been a favorite in this area for generations—in Springfield for the last 16 years and in Hillside before that.

Last year, during the Catholic season of fasting and abstaining from meat on Fridays, . They made the practice of not eating meat on Fridays seem more like a treat than a sacrifice.

Located at the intersection of Route 22 and Mountain Avenue, Marino's has tables and chairs for a few dozen people, and the dining area always has a good crowd. The tables are covered in green and white checkered tablecloths, a pleasant change from the usual red and white—and the green serves as a comforting reminder that spring is not far off.

Take a seat, look in any direction, and you realize you're surrounded by Italian and Italian American culture. To my right was a signed photograph of James Gandolfini. Above that, a clock with Lavazza stamped across its face. To my left was a long row of Italian groceries, from Nutella spread to boxes of De Cecco macaroni.

This year, I'm sampling a salami, mozzarella and sun-dried tomato sandwich. But first, on this cold Friday, I started with a cup of the soup of the day: split pea.

The crunchy croutons on top tasted like toasted bread—certainly not from a box on a grocery store shelf. As soon as I dipped my spoon in to give it a stir, steam began rising. The soup was a smooth, thick puree, a little smoky and a perfect way to warm up.

My sandwich was brought to my table. The Italian roll was a little soft—not crunchy on the outside. The salami had a little spice to it, like the Genoa salami I grew up with. The mozzarella was soft and creamy, but not wet. The balsamic was tame, not pungent or overly sweet. The sun-dried tomatoes stole the show, in an overpowering way. I would recommend skipping them and going with roasted peppers instead.

Assembled together, this was a great sandwich, enough to rival the Italian deli on the other side of town—. But on my next trip, I'll go back to the fish. It's what built this business over the years and what makes Marino's a unique spot in Springfield.

As I enjoyed my sandwich, I also took notice of the customers. Some were on workday lunch breaks, others were likely retired and just enjoying a leisurely lunch. Every single one was well-dressed, another reminder of Italian culture.

Across from me sat a man wearing a long-sleeve dress shirt and vest, reading the Daily News and sipping a Snapple while he waited for his entree—a plate of sauteed fish, topped with marinara and a side of potatoes and a side of spinach.

Clearly retired, he was a throwback to a my grandparents' era, when people dressed well just to leave the house, whether it was to go to church or to the grocery store. An era when everyone ate fish on Friday, year-round.

And so Marino's not only offers satisfying meals, fresh fish and Italian groceries—but also a slice of tradition.