I've been coming here for years and while it's not everyone's cup of tea, it really stands out as a great neighborhood spot for me.
My most recent visit was last night. I generally stick to the deli sandwiches as my main course, because they're stuffed and delicious. I got a ham and cheese sandwich, as I normally do, because they use a nice imported ham normally (Danish, I believe) unless you ask for honey ham, which is also available. My guess is that the previous reviewer that called it "slimey" ham either had a fluke bad ham sandwich, or isn't used to Danish-type ham. Without exaggerating, I have probably had over thirty ham and cheese sandwiches at Blasi's in the last eight years or so and I've never had one that was less than *good* so I stand behind that.
Italian, pastrami, and other specialty meats stand out as well as hearty and delicious options, especially on the fresh sub rolls!
Another gem of the menu is simply one component of a number of meals - the tomato sauce. It is truly a slightly sweet, slightly savory blend of fantastic ingredients. I could eat it by the spoonful without hesitation. While it's great, as mentioned in a few lousy reviews, this is one of a number of items that induces a bit of heartburn. The fact is, though, that many of these homestyle recipes they use for stuffed peppers or tomato sauce don't pull any punches to make it mild or easier to eat. Some people should take Zantac, others don't need to. I love spice, and I've rarely had heartburn from Blasi's. My fiancee has had it a few times, but she also has a more sensitive stomach and takes something whenever she anticipates an issue in order to avoid it. This is reasonable, I'd say. You wouldn't rip an Indian restaurant because their curry was too spicy, right? Just how I see it, I guess.
My fiancee often orders the eggplant rollatini, and swears by it. it usually looks and smells amazing despite my dislike for eggplant. I tried it a while back and it was decent. It's served over spaghetti or penne.
We had the calamari appetizer again yesterday, as we had in the past, and it was great. Not the best ever, mind you, but great. We've had calamari twice already in the last week so it's hard to not compare. It was better than Remick's but not as good as Summer Shack. But damn near close. The breading was the best I've had on calamari in recent memory, but the texture was just shy of amazing. The tomato sauce served with it made up for that though, since I literally mopped up every drop of the stuff with the table bread!
Service is pretty lousy here but I tell a lot of friends that pick on this point that it's a matter of expectation. In many circumstances, including mine, this is a neighborhood place with a lot of regulars and I know a handful of staff. When you see your friends, they're going to run to the other customers but not feel stressed out to check on you, usually, knowing that you're not going to walk out or complain. It's not a great scenario, but I don't need a lot of attention. Legal Sea Foods or Top of the Hub, this is not. I won't need special silverware or hand towelettes... I just need my food and a non-empty drink. They seem to generally be on top of those.
The bar is usually mobbed with regulars, laborers and local blue-collar workers tossing back a few beers, keeping up on the Sox, Celts, Bruins and/or Pats. It makes it hard to get a beer without a wait sometimes... but it's nothing you don't run into elsewhere.
Also... the wings here are great. And there is a kids menu too!
There is ample on-street parking and there is a store lot across the street that is probably *technically* not for patrons of Blasi's and Fat Belly Deli but... I've never gotten a ticket.
We've taken a number of friends and family to Blasi's over the years, well over a dozen, and we've only had one guest have a problem. Her tuna melt was not hot enough so they re-made it quickly and she was pleased. On the other hand, I routinely get text messages and Facebook posts from a pair of cousins in Phoenix saying they want Fat Belly Deli or can I mail them a sandwich from Blasi's... so... that might speak for the quality of the deli sandwiches if nothing else!
A great neighborhood spot. No frills, nothing fancy, no foie gras... just good sandwiches, accessible homestyle entrees (mostly Italian), and some standout sides and apps. Worth a visit for sure. See for yourself! read more