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    Lover’s Deli

    4.6 (104 reviews)
    ModerateSandwiches, Pizza, Delis
    Open 11:30 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Lover’s Deli Takeout or Delivery

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    me n stuff
    Sinehan E.

    banger sandwich wish it was toasted tho, i got the house bread and the super meaty one i forgot what it was called (just ask for the one with the most meat). best part for me was the food wasn't made to be hyper palatable like a lot of places trying to make the sandwich taste as "best" as possible which can lose the fuel factor of food. service was amazing, loved the two sweet humans working the register, fast and nice. wish i had money for a tip lol. ambiance was AMAZING, even the bathroom was clean af and stylish with this cool graffiti style, i wonder how they did that (see picture spoiler alert). movie decor everywhere too, loved it a lot. very clean place with good service and solid real food, love to see it esp in this day and age

    Jake B.

    Huge, huge fan of this sandwich spot in Merced. The Jack & Rose was a perfect sandwich. Really large, perfectly constructed, and soft delicious bread. Will absolutely be back!

    Kishaun T.

    Service was great. Sandwich was fresh and tasted great! Location was right on the main road. I would go back!

    Minimal turkey more lettuce
    Brenda C.

    This place is usually always packed. Great sandwiches and pizza. 5/5 . My only complaint is the wait time (I've personally had to wait up to 30 min for a sandwich) and also if you come during the lunch rush hour you risk getting a sandwich that has minimal meat. Not worth the money or time. Otherwise, I still really enjoy this place

    Jack & Rose
    Gabriela F.

    Merced is going up!! It was my first time here and I will be back like next week lol! I tried the Jack and Rose sandwich on a dutch crunch bread, solid 10/10! I have no comments on what they could do better. Now the pizza is another 10/10! The cheese pizza has a really good sauce. It's not too much. I also ordered the Members Only pizza and DANG! It tastes more like a chicken bake than a OG chicken bake. They nailed it with this one. I can't wait to try others, but hope this one stays around. You order, pay, and wait. The employees are nice and quick! They said it would be a wait but we probably only waited 5-10 minutes. Great service! They also had some cute pictures around of relationships/friendships. It gives character and fits to the name.

    Closeup on Bambino-- vodka sauce, cup pepperoni, fresh shaved parm
    Jennifer S.

    FINALLY some great pizza within driving distance of Yosemite. I'm obsessed. This is one of my new go-to spots in Merced. The pizza is primarily sold as slices, but can also be ordered as whole pies. Most slices are $4-6 each. The first night that I stopped by, they were running a special on cheese slices for $2 each. The pizza menu changes on a daily basis, with the exception of three core flavors: cheese, pepperoni, and seasonal vegetable. None of those flavors interest me, but, on top of those three staples, there are also two rotating flavors which change from day to day. So far, I've tried three of their slices: 1)Bambino-- vodka sauce, cup pepperoni, fresh shaved parm 2)Maui Wowie: A shameless revamp of the Round Table pizza by the same name 3)Frank White-- sesame seed crust, white sauce, ricotta, gouda, bacon, caramelized onions, shaved parm I can't say enough great things about this pizza. The bread is good enough to eat on its own, as it should be. The sauces are house made, and they slap. The toppings are all premium brands and quality. For a small fee (I think it was 50 cents), you can add ricotta or hot honey to any slice of pizza. As an Italian American myself, whenever I make pizza at home, I always have ricotta, pesto, hot pepper oil, and sometimes hot honey on the side-- this is the first time I've ever seen a pizza place offer them as toppings like this. I think it's a great idea. The crowd is mostly college kids from UC Merced, so, it does get packed and loud, but the wait isn't too long, and the pizza is worth it. I love everything about this place. Bomb.

    Jesse A.

    Sandwich I had was amazing!!! The cheech n chong I think its what it was called. Pizza is also tasty. My friend and I basically had a slice of pizza each and then split one sandwich since they're a pretty big size.

    Danny & Sandy
    Nicole C.

    This is a cute little sandwich shop. All the sandwiches are named after movie couples and they have movie memorabilia and VHS tapes throughout the store. My husband had the Danny & Sandy and he really enjoyed it, especially the hot honey. I had the Romeo & Juliet. The flavors were good but the Calabrian spread was really spicy! I was expecting a little kick but it was much spicier than I expected, which was not indicated on the menu. I think if they toned down the spread or added a vinegar or other acidic ingredients to the sandwich that cuts the heat then the sandwich would be delicious and balanced. The employees were nice, but it took a long time to get two sandwiches to go.

    The front counter....and pizza ovens
    Alyssa T.

    The place is too cute. It has all kinds of "oldies" pictures on the wall of known couples through out the years. It has a memorabilia wall and an old school VHS tape/TV that they alternated videos while we ate. The service felt slow but we were there during dinner time. We ordered two sandwiches, which were good but I felt like mine was missing something. I bought a piece of pizza - but ended up giving it to the homeless dude who was out front asking for food/money- so that's definitely something to be aware of, if you are not familiar with the area. I will be back with the intent to try the Pizza! (It looks good)

    Menu
    Leslie Q.

    Came to Lover's Deli because the pizza slices and the sandwich offerings looked so good. We came the day after Thanksgiving after spending the afternoon watching our friend race on the dirt tracks a couple miles away from this establishment. Located in downtown Merced, Lover's Deli gives off 80's-90's nostalgic mall food court vibes with the bright white walls contrasted against the squiggly green, VHS of wrestling throwbacks on the little CRT TV above the cashier, and wood tables with cheese and pepper shakers. We were greeted at the counter and the guy was really nice to answer any questions we had. The SO and I ordered a few things - Half-Baked slice: this was like a creamy baked potato on a slice of pizza dough. I liked the crispy crust. - The Pest slice: pesto on a pepperoni pizza. So good! - Rocky & Apollo sandwich: wanted to get it on the focaccia but they were out that day, so settled on dutch crunch. Super filling and tasted great! We also got a side of their sweetheart sauce, which is their house hot honey and had a lot more texture (chili pieces). Super delicious and better than Mike's Hot Honey (which they also offer)! The only thing is if you have leftovers, they only give you a white paper bag for it, so the pizza had to be precariously dropped in to avoid toppling over. Definitely want to come back and try their focaccia and monthly rotating flavors!

    Custom pizza of the week
    Avonna O.

    The pizza is absolutely amazing! All hand made fresh everyday and so tasty nothing like your typical pizza joint. This place has a pin ball machine fully fictional with VHS tapes that they play on an old school TV so crazy to see a VHS after so many years! The workers are chill and everything is very affordable! Bring your appetite for these large portions or share with a friend.

    Signage
    Nahsee Y.

    Great looking place. Perfect for families or a nostalgic 80s and 90s fan. There are older movie posters and VHS tapes. There's also an operational ninja turtles pinball. It can make noise and did rumble the floor a few times, so beware. Sandwiches are names of famous duos. Wishing there was additional seating but there are about four tables for larger groups, a small table for two and a ledge with additional seating up against the wall. We got there right around dinner time on a Saturday and waited for a table to free up. It can get really warm in the space, as the ovens are close, so be warned especially during the summer. Pizza is delicious and well priced. $5 to $6 a slice. We ordered two slices each and they were much larger than expected. It did take a fairly long time, as I ordered a eggplant slice (which is not as popular). The eggplant slice tasted like a delicious margherita pizza with eggplant. Husband had the BBQ chicken and pepperoni. Loaded toppings. Friendly staff. They apologized for the long wait. Would definitely revisit again.

    Cheech & Chong

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    11 days ago

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    28 days ago

    Si goood I have the limited edition frank ocean pizza with my soon to be lover so good and yummy maybe they could lover the price a bit tho

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    5 months ago

    Wonderful sandwich options. Great amount of food. Super cute inside. I wish they had fountain drinks, but besides that it is amazing!

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    5 months ago

    Great service and the pizza was amazing. Got the Bandito pizza. So fresh and taste.

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    10 months ago

    We got the Cheech & Chong and it was delicious!!! Can't wait to try them all!!! And 1 sandwich feeds 2 people with a side of course!

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    The Goods - Sandwich

    The Goods

    4.4(26 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    I stopped by here on a whim today after walking by several times and seeing both indoor and outdoor…read moreseating was full. I wanted a sweet treat and found this tiramisu, the best dessert I've had in a while. It's so light, fluffy, not too sweet and not soggy at all. I was intrigued by this prickly pear soda and it was the freshest tasting soda I've ever had. While looking at those, one of their customers urged me to try the daily fresh made pasta. The individual that helped us was very informative and super sweet making pleasant small talk. The pasta was again incredibly fresh and tasty, the pesto on it was amazing and my friend agreed; the best pesto we've ever had. It's an adorable shop with dishware and other trinkets and food for sale . 10/10, no notes, would definitely recommend. This is a Merced local gem. (I would add pictures but we have consumed literally all of what we bought)

    Over-priced sandwiches. Mostly bread, little meat. No option to customize. There was fresh pasta…read moremade but no sign to say it existed nor pricing. I asked what the portions and prices were and he seemed surprised I asked. I get what they're trying to do, to offer legit Italian meat, pasta, sweets etc. However Merced lacks the clientele to support this niche business. I appreciate the legit mortadella and prosciutto, it's been a year since we were in Italy. They need to make heftier sandwiches loaded with actual substance if they're gonna charge that much. Include a drink too. Lastly, I had no idea this place existed. My brother mentioned it to me and we checked it out. Need more advertising and food selection to match pricing.

    Photos
    The Goods - Such a cozy nook to eat your pastry and chat with friends!!

    Such a cozy nook to eat your pastry and chat with friends!!

    The Goods
    The Goods

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    Richwood Meat - Tri tip sandwich

    Richwood Meat

    4.4(53 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    The quality of everything at Richwood's Meat company is fantastic. Been coming here for years to…read morepurchase tri tips, burgers, briskets, steaks & sandwiches from the deli. Have used them for several functions. I love that they will cook and slice so you can pick up and go. Deli trays are also great. The service is another great part of this establishment. Enjoy the employees they are always willing to help you and assist you in anyway!! The store is always clean and everyone is an asset to Richwood's. Thank You!!

    I finally stopped by this local meat company and deli and it did not disappoint…read more The tri-tip sandwich was fantastic -- tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. The portion was extremely generous and piled high with meat. For $10, it's honestly one of the best values I've come across. What really stood out was the customer service. The staff was welcoming, patient, and very attentive when answering my questions about the menu and their meats. I had also inquired about their chili beans, which is made in house, and the young lady kindly offered me a sample, which was delicious! That will probably be my new side. If you're a fan of tri-tip (or meat), this place is definitely worth checking out. They also had precooked meat that you can purchase. I love that for a quick meal prep. Will definitely be back.!

    Photos
    Richwood Meat - Precooked Tri tip. Nice for quick meal prep

    Precooked Tri tip. Nice for quick meal prep

    Richwood Meat - Tri tip Sandwich combo $10

    Tri tip Sandwich combo $10

    Richwood Meat - Cooked ribs

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    Cooked ribs

    Jenny Nicole’s Old School House Bakery - Turkey sandwich and Portuguese Beans

    Jenny Nicole’s Old School House Bakery

    4.7(61 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    From the moment I walked in the door I felt at home. Everyone was friendly and helpful!! Jenny owns…read morethis place and her whole family is part of it. My friend and I were looking for a place halfway to meet. I found these guys on Yelp. Great reviews so I thought we would give it a try. It is a treasure! The place is cute. It's comfy with good oldies playing in the background. The food was amazing and seasoned perfectly. Their Portuguese beans is a family recipe and the best beans I have ever tasted. Biscuits and gravy was delicious. They are homemade and you can taste the love in it. We had the tri tip and like everything else - blown away how tender and flavorful it was. When in Merced, Stop by!! You will be glad you did!!

    As lovely as the Nearby Applegate park, you will find Jenny and her husband serving up family…read morecomfort food, pastries, cakes, parfait. I was out in Merced a little too early for a work meeting, and wanted some coffee, but not a chain place. Lucky me I was actually just down the street from Jenny's bakery. I was warmly greeted as I came in and immediately feel the family charm of this business. Oldies were playing on the radio, and Jenny's husband was getting things ready in the kitchen. When I found out the Portuguese breakfast was her family recipe beans, and a half order of biscuits and gravy, I was set on what I wanted. I was provided an colorful coffee mug and allowed to have coffee to my hearts content. I opted for the holiday blend. It had a lovely hint of spices, but was not overwhelming. I had no longer sat down than my nice pipping hot bowl of Portuguese beans was placed in front of me and I thought it was a half order. They say it's a half order but that is the huge biscuit and with gravy you would need a party of four to finish. The flavor of the beans were just wonderful. I filled myself up on those and then sopped up some of the beans gravy with the biscuits. My taste buds were very happy. My stomach was over full. I enjoyed some banter with Jenny and her husband along with some patrons that came in. They really try to make everyone feel so much like they're just walking into a family kitchen. I highly recommend a stop and introduce yourself and make some new friends and find yourself a lovely bakery. That's been there right around the corner from the park.

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    Jenny Nicole’s Old School House Bakery - Inside

    Inside

    Jenny Nicole’s Old School House Bakery - Side veggies soup

    Side veggies soup

    Jenny Nicole’s Old School House Bakery - Broccoli salad

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    Broccoli salad

    Lover’s Deli - sandwiches - Updated May 2026

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