They have great sandwiches! They are big and they as tasty. For me, there is usually enough to save for later. I really like their meatball sandwich. Big meatballs and a bun that is not like the rest. This is a place to enjoy! Make sure you check their schedule, because their storefront isn't open certain times of the year. Worth the wait until they're open! read more

Huge sandwiches and decent taste, but nothing mind blowing. The food is good but average. I honestly don't get why this place has so many 5-star reviews. read more

i get their Focacia breads at farmers Market in Downers. So Good. Wish the restaurant was closer so I could experience their entire menu!

My favorite part of coming here a second time was knowing I need to take a picture of that cross section. As always amazing!! I have a recommendation and I found the sandwich needing a little more sauce and talking to my friends they also believe this is the case maybe adding the sauce to the top and the bottom might help. There is so much meat and bread that the sauce gets lost. But outside of that amazing! I will continue bring people here! Service as always is amazing. Current ranking on best sandwiches and desserts 1. Fatso 2. Rose 3. Salvatore Dessert 1. Lemon cookie 2. Strawberry lemon cookie (seasonal) read more

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I went in on a whim and got the Julius Cesar sandwich and it was amazing! The bread was so good, it was dressed perfectly and the chicken was so flavorful. The staff were so friendly as well. I can't wait to go back. read more

Tried the spinach and berry salad and it tasted like summer. Berries were sweet and fresh, and the feta gave a nice salty contrast. The nuts added crunch and the balsamic glaze was a perfect touch. Really loved the combo of textures and flavors. The café had a calm and airy feel, great for sitting and enjoying a quiet meal. Staff were friendly and made sure I had everything I needed. Will definitely get this again. read more

Elena's Cucina - Delis Near Me - Roselle, Illinois

Best meatball Stromboli I ever had. Also the focaccia pizza was so fresh and delicious with fresh tomatoes and mushrooms.

As always Ellenas never disapoints!nice place ,nice people get in here if you havent yet !! read more

Elena's Cucina - Marios sub - Delis Near Me - Roselle, Illinois

This place has the best Italian subs around. I have a few well known Italian Delis by my home such as Frankies (which is Mediocre at best). Elena's is by far the best, and the people are extremely polite. The chicken parm sandwhich is excellent. Check them out! read more

Homemade deli in Roselle. They only open 3 hours a day on Saturday for the whole week. Inside you'll see the home town feel with the pictures on the wall. When you order it does take about 5-10 minutes, which is expected with everything being made fresh. I got the meatball sub with mozzarella, it tasted very fresh but I loved the bread the most. Would recommend! read more

Elena's Cucina - Meatball sandwich - Delis Near Me - Roselle, Illinois

The pizzas here are fabulous . I also purchase them at the Downers Grove Farmers market : True Sicilian style .. LOVE the following pizzas : - Pepperoni -Sausage -Meatball - Soppressata & Spicy Honey - Goat Cheese ~ Be your Pizzetta read more

Amazing sandwiches! I was surprised I've never heard of this place before. I work in the area and will definitely be back. Loved the decor and feel of the place. Focaccia is homemade and looks great. Definitely try that next time. read more

Omg! The Bourdain sandwich with calabrian chili spread was Fantastic!!Must say I almost died and went to heaven on my birthday!!!

The food here is top-notch. I've had the focassia in the past, and it's the best I've ever eaten. My son and I went in for sandwiches and a salad recently, and they were also great. You can tell this place makes everything they serve with love and care about their business and customers read more

Amazing ! I recommend the chicken parm sandwich and the jersey sandwich! Also if you want ravioli but theirs - they were amazing - I purchased them and got like 40 ravioli for 35.00 ( cheese ) read more

Love this place... New to the area and was very excited to try this place. Everything I have had is wonderful. Just very sad that they are hardly open. read more

Delicious food, loved talking them as well, excellent family run business, wish there were more of these around.

Excellent food all around Been a customer for years! Great service Quality products read more

Overall the service was quick and the food selection was really nice. The quality of the sandwich I ordered was delicious and everything was fresh. The friend I was with thought the same of his lunch. Definitely will go back for lunch or even carry out a dinner selection. read more

Growing up eating Italian food, this place always exceeded my expectations, putting my family classics to absolute shame. Could not recommend more. Moved out of state and am planning a 1,000 mile trip to Illinois for this food. Too good for words. Just try them. Amazing service. Classic ambiance. read more

I love this place. Mario and his family are amazing and the quality of their food is top notch. Best little hidden gem i only wish they had another location more visible so they can get even more business. They are super friendly and have build a great following from showcasing at farmers markets as well. The location is small and only has one small table inside to eat so it's more of a order and go. You can see to the kitchen and watch how the whole family is busy working creating magic. Great place food and people. Their Italian subs are the best. I will always keep coming back. read more

Elena's Cucina - Italian Sub - Delis Near Me - Roselle, Illinois

3 main takeaways about my trip to this deli: 1. This place smells amazing. 2. The woman who assisted me was really helpful and kind. 3. Although there aren't a whole lot of non-sandwich food items, what I ordered (meatballs and spaghetti with sausage) was awesome. The meatballs were top 3 meatballs I've ever eaten. Like ever. Very moist and packed full of flavor. I am definitely coming back just for those suckers. And while the pasta itself was a little overcooked, it didn't stop me from devouring it. I don't doubt that the sexy looking apple pie in the corner of the display case is nothing short of outstanding. I will come back to try that and the seafood pasta, which looked 10x better than any seafood pasta from a grocery store. read more

Elena's Cucina - Delis Near Me - Roselle, Illinois

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I have been driving by this place for at least 10yrs regularly and all I can say is I regret not stopping in over that time. The sandwiches are so delicious, so filling, and so addictive that I can't NOT stop by when I'm driving by during lunch hours. The worst part is I live nearby and here the whole time I could have been getting crazy awesome authentic Italian fare from an outstanding local family owned business. Elena's Cucina has a new, and very hungry, superfan! Thanks for the excellent food!!! read more

After hearing and seeing reviews I had to stop in and try for myself. This place is a gem and been recommending to everyone. Went with the Bourdain with the spicy chili spread and the turkey and cheese for my kids. Everything about the food was amazing and the service was great too. Will be back to try all the other things on their menu. read more

This place was a hidden gem, came for lunch today and split a meatball sub and a chicken parm sub with my brother. They were both great. Tender flavorful meatballs, juicy chicken breast crisp and seasoned up proper, the most savory and fresh red sauce I've had in a while, and very reasonable prices. Came hungry and left happy all under $12. Can't complain. I will probably come back often, especially because it's only 7 minutes away from my office. read more

Elena's Cucina - Meatball and Chicken parm, awesome! - Delis Near Me - Roselle, Illinois

This cute little delicatessen is family owned and they are very friendly people. Very clean, and inviting atmosphere. The aroma is even better. It has only a couple of tables with chairs to sit out in the front area so sometimes it is best to order your food to go. My husband and I have always been fond of their Italian sub sandwich, the bread is so delicious! Family It is best to call in your order because they are usually very busy especially around the holidays . It is my understanding that they do most of their business through catering. However, it is so nice, they have a little store front there they even have homemade Italian pastries. read more

I have to admit I was apprehensive. It was 2:30 when I arrived and there weren't many items left to consider. I got what was left of a sausage, potato, and peppers dish along with a serving of 3 cheese lasagna. I also purchased an Italian sandwich and a prosciutto sandwich. We had the sandwiches for dinner. They were absolutely delicious. Every component was good. The bread, the meats, even the dressing was great. Tonight we had the sausage and potatoes and the lasagna. Once again, tremendous. The sausage was well seasoned and lean. The lasagna was tender and the cheese flavorful. I didn't really think the food would be all that good. I was wrong, it was delicious. I'll go earlier in the day my next trip there. read more

Had the seafood salad which was okay and an Italian sub. The bread was outstanding, tasted home made and fresh. They were very stingy with the meat, cheese, tomato and lettuce. There are a lot better eateries around for the money. Not over all impressed. read more

Food 3-3.5 Service 4 Since they're Italian & family owned I'll add 5. Reviewing Italian spots is always a tough one because I'm Italian also and tend to analyze & nit pick. Although not Sicilian or Napolitano like the owners of Elena's, I know what I like and grew up with mom's gravy, meatballs, focaccia, eggplant parmigiana..etc. etc. So there's that. I had Elena's bookmarked forever not realizing it's just a hop, skip and a jump from me. My yelp friends highly rated this spot. So I finally stopped in. Just off of Lake but not the easiest to find nestled in a very small strip mall near industrial space. Interior is also small with two cases of home made Italian specialties & sweets. Two tables inside. Very small order counter. Seems Elena's does very well with catering and probably the bulk of her business. Large kitchen & busy workers you can see from order counter. First, I have to give them major props for their house made Italian bread. They sell them by the loaves. Really good crusty, hearty bread. Perfect for dipping in sauce or olive oil, it's a meal in itself and makes for great table bread. Here's what I tasted: Mario Italian sub 6": Good quality capicola, genoa salami, mortadella & provolone. Shaved lettuce with a balsamic dressing. Loved the bread, but for me it was too heavy (chewy) for a sub. It overpowered the tasty meat and I didn't seem to get much of it. Dressing was stronger in flavor. I ate half. 3.5 stars. Eggplant parmigiana sandwich: Love that they thinly slice the eggplant and lightly flour. Just how I like it. 3 long thin slices covered in sauce topped with melted cheese and sliced bread on the side. Eggplant was good, but the sauce had an odd meat flavor, couldn't pin point it. I wasn't the only one who noticed this. I found it pretty salty as well. You may really like it. 3 stars. Side of meatballs: Not bad, pretty good. More binder than meat but good texture. Salty sauce. 3 stars. Margherita Focaccia: She grabbed a fresh one from the kitchen. As soon as it was handed to me, I noticed it was thinner than what I'm used to. But I didn't want to judge too soon. They add fresh tomatoes, basil & mozzarella. Reminded me more of a pizza than focaccia, BUT the bottom was oily with a slight crunch and what I'd expect from focaccia. Dough tasted slightly similar. I enjoyed Elena's version and they have many variations. 3.5 stars. Cases were pretty empty when I arrived later in the afternoon. I noticed they had Italian seafood salad...I could eat this everyday, but didn't try. Quarts (or gallons) of various pasta sauces to go, pasta salads, pastas, lasagna, hot & cold sandwiches. Next time I'll try the roast beef cause it looked really good. The enormous apple pie looked amazing among other home made sweets and cookies. Friendly service. Fresh ingredients. I'd come back for the bread and try that roast beef sammy. read more

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Food was amazing, definitely recommend. The employees were so welcoming and patient. They deserve your business!

Went yestarday may 11 2024 around 12pm. Customer service was okay that wasn't a problem but when I started to eat my Bourdain sandwich all I tasted was burnt bread and burnt meat the whole sandwich was burnt and so salty I was very disappointed. My daughter got the Julius Ceaser sandwich and it was smothered in Ceaser dressing not in a good way and the chicken they used was chicken tenders which I was not expecting from an Italian deli. We got 3 sandwiches came out almost 55$. After watching Philip review this Bourdain sandwich I was excited to try it but can definitely say I will never go back read more

It was very good but the prices could of been a little more cheaper but overall it was a great sandwich

Elena's Cucina is a phenomenal spot! Popular in this area and they are the best for me! I ordered their Mario's Italian Sub and their Lemon Cookies, everything was made to perfection, worth trying, and very unique. It was my first time trying that kind of sandwich they offered to me and it was a mind-blowing experience. It tasted like it was really made by a pro cook or senior chef, I really want to try it again soon. This restaurant is very accessible, cozy, and relaxing place. Would definitely recommend them to all the people I know. Thank you Elena's Cucina. read more

This place is hard to find but worth the effort! Wonderful smell of Italian pastries greets you as you walk in the door. I ordered a Mario's Sub and they sliced EVERY piece of meat and cheese fresh, for everything that went on the sandwich. I want to come back on a morning when they have more baked goods left. Try them out. This SO beats any chain restaurant sandwich. read more

Found this place by Yelp... Was in the mood for a good sub and as we all know it's the bead that makes for a good, tasty sandwich. This place didn't disappoint!! Even with them giving us Veggie Subs instead of the Fried Chicken we ordered it was still amazing!! Don't believe me... Well there's a reason I finished mine and didn't change it and when my nephew told them they corrected it in seconds and you can see the look on his face right before he tore into it!! Great lil cafe with awesome FRESH FLAVORS!! Give'em a try... I know we'll be back!! UPDATE!! They wouldn't let me pay?!? We finished their delicious works of art but since it wasn't what we ordered they were adamant not to accept payment... WHO DOES THAT!?! A family owned restaurant who's been in business for over a decade!! Love these guys & gals!! :) read more

Elena's Cucina - Nephew about to tear into his Fried Chicken Sub!! Damn Good!! #yumm - Delis Near Me - Roselle, Illinois

I cannot speak highly enough of Elena's; you NEED to order from Elena's! The food is great and it is also a good value for the quantity. But the SERVICE and commitment to their customers is the most important reason to give them your business. We've used their catering services several times for parties and they have ALWAYS gone above and beyond to (a) try to work with us (if they can) on special requests, (b) make delivery/pick up as painless as possible, and (c) have gotten to know our tastes from past orders to the point they can now make recommendations. They are DETAILED. Mario and the staff make the whole experience a great one, when many other shops, caterers, and restaurants are frustrating or careless. For instance, we recently had a catering order for a small, socially-distanced party. Mario asked how we were navigating the situation, what we were looking to provide, and then offered us options of what Elena's could do within that framework. It was extremely helpful and really above and beyond what they had to do. COVID-19 has made it even more complicated to host a gathering and coordinate food, but Mario/Elena's took our potential headache and made it absolutely painless. The food was fantastic (per usual) and our guests raved about the quality as well as care/safety of how everything was handled. I couldn't recommend them highly enough. Thanks again, as always! read more

Best quality ingredients.. order anything and I promise you won't be disappointed best focaccia I ever had I simply love this place!

Our first time was great. Fresh and friendly. You could tell this is a family business. Gave us lemon cookies for being first time customers. Will go again! read more

Elena's Cucina was very courteous in reading my first review and responding in a timely manner. So I will try to share the same courtesy toward them and immediately share my second lunch experience. I went in for my make up sandwich (The Mario) (he offered a refund, but I refused it) and boy, did they make up for the first time! My bread was spot on, soft and chewy with a nice, Italian crust. Perfect. Mario explained why some sandwiches have whole lettuce leaves and some don't (he is very well versed in food). I get it now. No big deal, especially with the explanation. Whatever the sauce is on the sandwich, they gave me a lot of it this time, and quite frankly, I think this is what made the difference. This sandwich was so much better and quite tasty (I ate the whole thing). Fresh ingredients. Why was my lemon cookie like the best I ever had? Oh my goodness! Soft, airy, and lemony...just good!!! (He also explained why the last cookies were off the mark. Very thorough.) Now I see why they have a lot of 5 stars! The sister gave me the evil eye when I was explaining what happened during the first visit, but I won't let her scare me because... "I'm coming back...'" (song by Lalah Hathaway) ...so I can try some more sandwiches :-). And to Elena's Cucina, I know you are a small business, but... "Keep rising to the top..." (song by Keni Burke) read more

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Great selection offered. Ordered Italian sub, stuffed artichoke, and a meatball. Found this place because there are not enough "real" Italian delis available for me. Didn't realize how far away this place is. Sub had great bread and lots of meat. I appreciate the balsamic on it. Maybe could use more dry seasoning on top? Just my preference. Sandwich was great though. Artichoke looks good haven't eaten any yet. Meatball was tasty. Def needs to be warmed up which they offered. They are the real deal. Read that they are from Naples. I wish them well. Wish they were close to me in the north northwest burbs. I will stop in when in the area again. read more

Elena's Cucina - Delis Near Me - Roselle, Illinois

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