Had the chance to try the 36-foot chicken parm sandwich and it was honestly a showstopper. Perfect for a party or big gathering (who am I kidding, it was just for me and my friend). People were crowding around it as the staff handed it to me--handled with care . The chicken was crispy, the sauce had that classic rich flavor, and the melted cheese tied everything together just right. What I really appreciated was how consistent the quality was from end to end--no soggy spots, and the bread held up beautifully (which is key when you're dealing with something this massive). You can tell they know what they're doing when it comes to Italian bread and hearty sandwiches. I think they have patio seating available when the weather allows, which is a nice option, but it does get crowded. Calling ahead to order is definitely a smart move. Street pay parking up front and around the store read more

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We visited D'Amato's Bakery around noon on a Sunday, which may have impacted our experience. It was our first time, and we were excited to try both sandwiches and bakery items. There was a line out the door, which we didn't mind, but things became disorganized when staff asked everyone to move inside. It caused people to lose their place in line, and the ordering process felt very chaotic and rushed. Because it was so crowded, I didn't really get a chance to look at the bakery items and only ended up ordering a cookie and a cannoli. After ordering, we were asked to wait outside for our name to be called. It took about 15-20 minutes for two sandwiches, and the pickup process was also a bit hectic. The chicken parm sandwich was good, but the eggplant parm was underwhelming and had more breading than eggplant. Overall, for about $17.50 per sandwich, the experience didn't quite match the price for me. read more

D'amato's Bakery - Chicken parm - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Small, locally owned bakery in west town. D'amato's is a staple in the neighborhood and I'm glad I finally got to check it out for a weekday lunch. I called ahead to order the vodka chicken parm sandwich. It was delicious! Fresh basil, plenty of mozzarella, chicken cutlets, and good bread. I just wish it had a bit more sauce to dip it in. As soon as you walk in, the staff is very quick to help and take your order. They had plenty of Italian cookies and desserts, along with pizzas, focaccia, and other items. I will be back to try more! read more

D'amato's Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My husband was in the area and stopped by and picked up some cannolis to bring home. The taste was different from what I've had from other bakeries, but they were good. They're very good size. read more

D'amato's Bakery - Cannoli - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We tried both the viral vodka parm sandwich and the classic Italian. While we tried not to let the hype around this place set expectations too high, we still left a bit underwhelmed by the sandwiches. The Italian felt a little understuffed, and while the vodka parm was good, it didn't have anything that really pushed it to the next level. That said, D'Amato's is still absolutely worth a stop. Their fresh cannolis and homemade breads are fantastic. The cannolis are flavorful with perfectly crunchy shells and a generous filling. While they may not quite rival the cannoli scene in Boston, they're some of the best we've had in Chicago. read more

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Why 5 stars? Because I'll be thinking about the vodka parm for quite some time. --- --- --- My friend Issabelle recommended I visit D'amato's many moons ago, and I never forgot about it. I finally had the opportunity to stop in on my way back to the airport after a work conference and I'm so glad I did. The only issue with my plan is that I'd just had lunch a couple hours earlier and really wasn't ready to eat again. Plus, I'd probably be hungry again before bed if I ate "dinner" around 3pm, so I ordered my vodka parm and just let it hang out in backpack on my 70 minute Uber ride to the airport + another 20 or so minutes as I got through security and settled. And guess what? It was still amazing an hour and a half later? But yes, I absolutely took a couple bites when it was fresh and I truly fell in love. It's going to be hard to come back to Chicago without stopping in here. One of my favorite parts of the experience was after I'd gotten the sandwich and was hanging out inside waiting for my Uber for a few minutes. Hearing the most Chicago woman ever barking out, "waddya need", to each customer in that unmistakable midwestern accent... it actually made my sandwich taste even better. New York has the reputation for this kind of customer service, but don't sleep on Chicago! They're not being unfriendly - it's just their way. read more

D'amato's Bakery - Vodka Parm Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A wonderful Italian bakery with a great selection of baked goods. I ordered a vodka chicken sandwich which was a huge portion. It was fresh out of the oven and super tasty with fresh ingredients like the basil taste coming through. It comes with a bit of a wait and there is no seating in the shop. read more

D'amato's Bakery - Chicken Vodka Parm Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been meaning to come here forever!! The vodka chicken parm was everything you could want in a chicken parm sandwich. Be sure to eat it right away, as it WILL get soggy quickly otherwise. Also highly recommend adding giardiniera:) they gave us free cannolis while we waited and those were super crisp and stuffed well read more

D'amato's Bakery - Cannoli - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Their restaurant is being renovated, and is closed, but you can get food items across the street. Went there on a Sunday at 1:30 pm and it was mobbed, and there was nowhere to sit. I am going to stay away until they fix up their main place of business. They really ought to put this info on their website. The food is really good, but their place is a mess. read more

Another stop on the Chicago Italian Deli Tour, D'Amato's. I'd been wanting to check this place out for a while since it's over in River West close by to me and as someone from Jersey, I've got very high standards when it comes to Italian subs. I miss having countless delis around, so I had to see if this one lived up to the hype. Went on a Sunday afternoon and it was busy but if you know how an Italian deli works, it's not too hard to navigate. A bunch of people waiting around, tight space, classic deli chaos. I grabbed an Italian sub and a Diet Coke. The sandwich was only $10, which is a steal in the city. My order was ready in about 10 minutes, which was awesome given the crowd. Staff was super friendly, made ordering easy, and I decided to eat outside, they've got a nice little seating area out there. The sandwich itself hit the spot: fresh bread, solid balance of meats, and I went with hot peppers, which added the perfect kick and the portions were overall great. Overall, D'Amato's absolutely delivered. Great sandwich, great price, great vibes. Easily one of the better Italian subs I've had in Chicago would come back anytime. read more

D'amato's Bakery - Italian Sub - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Quick, friendly service, authentic Italian sandwiches and cookies. Chicago original Italian staple. We will be back to try the cannolis. read more

D'amato's Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We came in on the coldest Saturday of the year so there wasn't a ton of people thankfully. I know how packed it can get in here. The service is pretty quick and they have an efficient system down where 2 guys take the orders and someone brings out the orders from the back. I got a vodka chicken cutlet parm sandwich and a chicken cutlet Caesar sandwich w chips. I also got a box of Italian cookies. All the food is very on point. In fact, I came back a few weeks later to get the same meal. The inside gives very classic Italian deli vibes. They leave their loaves of bread just in the front window, which I find interesting. Parking is not great here and it's often very packed so I only come here at odd hours when the weather is bad lol do as you wish though! read more

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Came to get a few baked items from this local bakery. D'Amato's is a long time favorite among those who live around here. It also supplies a lot of the breads and pastries to restaurants in West Town. Get some things here to try them even fresher. The interior is kind of cramped but they also have a patio. Bakeries certainly have lots of breads, but that's not all you can get here. It's also got quite a few savory and sweet items. They have things for grab and go, as well as made to order specials. Most popular is of course the freshly baked breads. These go way beyond the usual Italian loaves. Focaccia is among the best of it you can find. You can also choose to stay awhile and have an actual meal. Get a seat in the dining area. They have smaller hand made pizzas, but big enough for a couple people. Also they have Italian ice. That's a great way to finish off. Has several flavors. There's also a pretty great selection of cannoli and other sweets. For sure it's one of the old school classics. It's located on Grand Avenue at May. They also do catering for events so call ahead and they'll bake up tons of things. read more

D'amato's Bakery - Pizzas - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Finally made it to this Chicago iconic venue. Sandwiches were great and service staff friendly and helpful. As others say it can get busy and may need some patience at times. Bread was outstanding. Classic food in a nutshell. read more

10 stars all around!! Stopped here with my partner and his very opinionated mom! I absolutely LOVE D'amato's and was a bit worried she may not love it. As a lover of cooking she hold very high standards for meals. We got her the Cesar chicken sandwich and she LOVED it!!! Actually ate the whole sandwich, I was shocked! Highly recommend the vodka chicken parm, add the peppers! My partner got the prosciutto and burrata and didn't mind it!! Their cannolis are amazing as well as the rainbow cakes!! I love the updated enclosed outdoor seating!! Service is great, highly recommend you know what you want when you go up to the counter! You may be shouting over someone's shoulder but they'll get your order right!! read more

I read about this place on a list of the best chicken parms in the country, this was Illinois' best and i have to say the article was right on point. I came here while visiting my folks and got the vodka chicken parm and to be honest, i dont think i will ever want another chicken parm again except this one. The sauce was bright and deep and flavorful. the chicken cutlet was tender and delicious, the cheese was perfectly melty. The bread offers a sturdy base to hold the yum. I will dream about this read more

D'amato's Bakery - Vodka chicken parm - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for a weekend lunch. Entered with no expectations but had heard many strong, positive reviews. The bakery is small and crowded. Must've been 30+ people waiting for food - a good sign? We ordered the chicken vodka parm and eggplant parm sandwiches, with two slices of pizza on the side. Came out to $40 which seemed high to me. The sandwiches were, to me, just average. Said another way - they tasted like any other parm sandwich I've had before. They're not bad but they were not special to me and not worth the price. Don't think I'll come back. read more

As soon as i walked in i was overwhelmed with the variety of food on display, instantly wanting to try everything in the restaurant. The interior for sure brings out the vintage bakery vibe. Ordering is fast paced so be sure to be ready when you order. Ordered the chicken caesar sandwich, pepperoni pizza and focaccia bread. The sandwich was delicious, the dressing was flavorful and the breaded chicken had a great texture. The pizza was soft with a bit of crisp. And the focaccia bread was flavorful with the sauce on top. Overall great experience and am excited to try more of their menu in the future. read more

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We've heard so many people absolutely rave about this place so we gave it a try. We showed up right before closing, but they still gladly were taking orders. We got paninis because they ran out of French bread and the sandwiches were HUGE! But also so delicious! They had a huge selection of cookies and sweet treats too! We didn't get any this time but would certainly return for some! I do think, like other bakeries, their prices for boxes of cookies are outrageous, but I guess this is now the norm. Since we got there so late, there weren't a ton of bread options, but would be curious to try this in the future! read more

This place was so packed when we walked in which was a good sign. They move quickly and there are multiple people taking orders. There is not much standing room so you may get confused by people waiting for their order. I got the chicken parm sandwich and it was amazing. I mean just take a look at the photo. The portion size is a bit small for me but I would go back. I really want to try their italian sandwich. There is no seating in the store itself but they have a patio next door with heaters and cover for winter. It was super nice and toasty in there but it can be hard to find a seat. read more

D'amato's Bakery - chicken parm - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I just had the best sandwich at D'Amato's! Chicken cutlet Caeser sandwich. De lish! Yummy

Everything is great there. I would give this place 6 stars great food and great service.

The local Italian bakery of my dreams! I loved everything about this place and I can't wait to be back. During lunch they get very busy so it's recommended to call and order ahead so you can just walk out to the counter and pick up. However, if you don't order ahead, they run a pretty efficient process where you go to the counter to order and pay and then wait for your food. I did not call ahead so I waited about 15 minutes for my subs to be ready around 12:30pm on a Thursday. They are known for their subs and bread, but in addition to subs they have pizza, and desserts (cannolis, tiramisu, cookies etc). I can't wait to be back to try more things on the menu. read more

D'amato's Bakery - Italian Sub - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I walked through the doors and felt transported back in time. An authentic cozy Old World Italian bakery. I went in for sub sandwiches, which were excellent. While waiting, I also bought Eggplant Parmesan from the refrigerator case. Yum! Then I picked up a slice of fresh made pan pizza, focaccia bread and scrumptious chocolate dipped almond biscotti as a gift. In addition to excellent food, the whole D'amato team demonstrated the kind of customer service you can't teach. read more

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I stop by for sandwich,cookies, ice tea and chips I order the muflata cutlet $19.75 6 cookies 6.42 Chips $3.35 Ice tea $3.25 Hot peppers .85 All really goid sre you soon read more

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Old school Italian deli known for it's sandwiches. Prices are super reasonable. Additionally there are the traditional Italian baked goods made fresh. It's a big if sensory overload as you step in. Everything is on display. The shop smells of bread and tomatoes. read more

D'amato's Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great shop! Finally got the chance to check it out. The Italian sandwich was good. A little too much tomato for the meat/cheese ratio. But they were tasty and fresh tomatoes at least! What really impressed me was the pizza and the baked goods. The pizza was fluffy in the middle (but not too doughy) and crisp on the outside. Really good sauce as well. Which was on the sweeter side. Luckily I went during Zeppole season and that was the best Zeppole I ever had. The lemon ricotta knots were good as well! read more

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Drove by this place and had to go back to check it out the next day. It's a small space, but has a steady stream of customers packing in like sardines! The people who work there are quick to get your order going. We just got some cookies, which were great, but I would definitely go back for some food! read more

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We finally made it in a couple of weeks ago and tried the veggie sandwich and the eggplant parm--both were delicious! We'd been wanting to check this place out since moving, and I'm glad we did. Even though we went midday on a Monday, the line was surprisingly long, and it took about 30-40 minutes from ordering to getting our food, which wasn't too bad. I was impressed by the variety they offer: fresh breads in all sizes, cannolis, pastries, Italian cookies, coffee, and Italian ice. The atmosphere had that charming, old-school Italian mom-and-pop shop vibe. The eggplant parm was hot and saucy, while the veggie sandwich tasted fresh. They had run out of arugula by the time our order was up, but substituted iceberg lettuce instead. Overall, definitely worth the visit. read more

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100% Classic, authentic, old school Italian deli. Long lines, crowded space, lots of shouting but mostly just Excellent sandwiches. They don't do special requests. Gotta order off the board. Look at handwritten signs for specials. Order ahead. read more

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Takes credit card with service fee Often busy with people, the middle aisle is where you place your order. Give your name and they'll call out your order If want to avoid the wait, can call in the order to limit wait time If busy, it can be a long wait. It was a 60 min wait for the food after I ordered. Vodka meatball Parm ($13)- the sauce has good flavor. Large meatballs. The meatballs were okay flavor. Add gard/pickles ($0.80) Vodka chicken Parm ($15)- get this! This was so good. The chicken with sauce was so good. Chicken was soft. Add gard/pickles ($0.80) Chicken Caesar Sub ($15.00)- this was average. Chicken cutlet was chicken breast. It was nice to have lettuce. The Caesar dressing sauce was good. Pistachio Cannoli $3.75- there was chocolate chips in the Cannoli. The pistachios look real, but some say they use colored almonds. They have Italian ice and can buy premade pasta to go. read more

D'amato's Bakery - Premade pasta to order - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm on my 'tour' of best Italian subs in Chicago. Since D'amato's provides the bread for JP Grazianos (I believe), I was curious about D'amato's Italian sub. The shop itself is so cute and definitely gives the nostalgic Italian bakery vibe. I love that they offer so much from baked sweet treats, pizza slices, bread, deli sandwiches, pastas and even italian ice and tiramisu! I got the classic italian sub with giardiniera. This sub was good, however, I felt like it was lacking moisture - more oil? vinegar? I'm not sure. It could've also used more giardiniera. Overall, not my favorite Italian sub, but the bread is good obviously! I'm curious about other offerings like the baked goods so definitely returning to check those out. Service is also pretty fast considering how busy it gets! read more

11,000+ mile summer foodie road trip. Ordered the Mafalda Cutlet (chicken cutlet, capicola, arugula, burrata, red peppers, oil, balsamic glaze, and seeded bread). I couldn't ask for much more out of the sandwich! The chicken was tender and crispy. The Italian meats added flavor. The balsamic and arugula cut the saltiness of the cured meats. It had flavor, girth, and texture! One of my favorite bites of the entire trip! read more

D'amato's Bakery - IG: @mmmashterchef mafalda Cutlet (chicken cutlet, capicola, arugula, burrata, red peppers, oil, balsamic glaze, and seeded bread) - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Chicken Caesar is simple but one of my favorite sandwiches I've ever had. It has a very Chicago feel - gets really busy on weekends & lunch time, but they do a great job of taking orders and moving fast. Love this place 10/10 read more

Been coming here for 25 years. Just amazing and always on point. Cookies, pizza, sandwiches all AMAZING!!!

Love this place. Everyone talks about the pizza or the chicken Caesar sando, but I always get the mafalda. Fried chicken cutlet, gabagool, mozz, peppers... it's the best Italian sandwich in the city, good and quick service and classic little Italy vibes read more

D'amato's Bakery - Mafalda - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Some places serve great food. Others serve memories. D'Amato's does both. D'Amato's is more than just a place to eat for me -- it's a piece of my family history. My Papa and my dad worked for the City of Chicago as concrete masons, and this was always their go-to lunch spot. Anytime we had family parties growing up, someone would bring food from here. When I was little, I actually thought the place was called "Grand and May" because that's the intersection it's on -- and that's what my Papa lovingly called it. In our family we'd always say, "Who's bringing the Grand and May?" Of course, it was really D'Amato's. Now that I'm 48, it's been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My Papa loved food and he loved family, so this place will always bring back special memories for me. Yesterday my boyfriend and I stopped in on one of those rare, beautiful early spring days in Chicago (March 8). There was a line out the door, but everyone waiting was friendly and excited to be there, and we happily stayed because we knew it would be worth it. They even had zeppole for St. Joseph's Day, which I always look forward to every March. Inside, the place runs like a well-oiled machine. Every person working there was kind, patient, and welcoming. We ordered two subs and two zeppole, and everything was absolutely delicious. If you want the freshest, most incredible bread in Chicago, this is the place. Authentic, traditional Italian food made with love. What really made the experience stand out was the kindness we experienced. I wanted one of their D'Amato's t-shirts in green, but they didn't have my size. An older gentleman, who I believe may be the owner, mentioned they had other colors, but I said that was okay and I'd grab one next time since we definitely plan to return. A few minutes later, after I stepped aside to hold our place, he quietly handed my boyfriend a t-shirt in my size and asked him to give it to me -- completely free. Just a simple act of kindness that meant so much. You can truly feel the love and pride that goes into this place. It's been a Chicago staple for years, and places like this are rare. Places like this are the heart of Chicago, and I'm grateful my family -- and now my boyfriend and I -- get to keep the tradition going. read more

We ordered the vodka parm and chicken caesar sub and a can of soda...total was $40.37. When I asked what each sub cost, the guy couldn't give me a straight answer and just said "under $20". The subs were good but his shady answer didn't leave me feeling as though he was being honest as he knew we were visiting from out of town. So although the subs were yummy, you never want to feel like you're being taken advantage of and there are no prices listed for these "special" subs as there are for the standard subs. read more

I've visited D'amatos plenty of times, they're on most of the lists for the best sandwiches in Chicago, for a reason. Be prepared to wait in a line most days and be a little cramped for a minute before getting your food. You'll see why it's worth it. While you're there, pick up some pastries. They have a great assortment of Italian desserts. They make it really difficult to not want to order something because everything looks so good. After many visits, I tried the pizza, which was pretty unremarkable to me, but we went towards the end of the day, so that's probably why. The sandwiches are all great - I highly recommend their typical Italian cold subs, but they also have warm subs like the vodka chicken parm and vodka meatball. The bread is always super fresh, but the sandwiches can get messy! Be prepared with some napkins. They have a few seats inside, and now they have a few tables outside too in a heated patio area. Team is always super friendly and they do their best to get everyone in and out quickly! read more

D'amato's Bakery - Pepperoni & giardiniera pizza - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A staple. In so many ways. And it feels that way as soon as you walk in. The history. The smell. It screams "welcome home". The line was out the door on a late Saturday afternoon. With barely any room left in my stomach for more food I refused to pass the opportunity up. And boy was it worth it. Established in 1970 known for their vodka chicken parm and chicken Caesar cutlet sandwiches, Italian cookies, cannolis, pastries and pizza. Basically their entire menu. We dabbled in a little bit of everything and my best advice is try a sub. Their Italian bread is made in house and worth every bite. Be sure to add a Pistachio cannoli to your order, if they haven't already run out. If there is one mistake I made is not having their Italian ice. Rookie mistake, I know. I hope to come back just for that. 5 stars all around *chefs kiss* read more

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