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    Original Gonella's

    4.5 (138 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Order Original Gonella's Takeout or Delivery

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    ORIGINAL GONELLA'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Jayson D.

    Wow! It pays to visit the original. Gonella's packs all the noms you could ever want to satisfy your fresh-made deli cravings. At Gonella's the subs rule. And it ain't about the meat and cheese; it's HOW MUCH meat and cheese! You order by the layer, ranging from 6 to a WHOPPING 18. Top it their way, or do your own thing. It's all made fresh before your eyeballs. The meat and cheese are savory, and the bread holds up to the bite. And you're in the D, so wash it all down with a Detroit made Faygo. I came all the way from Holland. How about you?!

    12 Layers Meat, 2 Layer Cheese Sub
    swedish c.

    I've lived around this store my whole life and I've never been to Gonella's and one day I thought to myself might as well give it a shot. The service is quick, even with a long line you won't spend more than 8 minutes in here. The sandwich shop also doubles as a store that specializes in Italian snacks and such. Overall good experience and I have returned a few times already

    Outside of establishment
    Jim O.

    WOW- glad I finally tried this 75 year old establishment! Ordered a six layer sub.,thinking it would be subway sized - nooooooo . Could only finish 1/2 of it. Was delicious!. Fresh! Friendly staff. Aroma is like a throwback old Italian place. Lots of homemade relish,sauces, etc. loved it !

    Nichole M.

    What a unique place to grab a sandwich. It's inside a grocery store. When you walk in it looks like you are going grocery shopping but instead you stay to the right and follow the incredible smells. Baking bread, olives, meat, cheese all of it just lingers in the air. There is a sign to get in line next to the food case., and the menu I. The wall. I got the right layer Italian and provolone sub. Picked out chips and a drink. We are dealing with people who can hussle. That sandwich was made fast and efficient. People were coming and going. Wish I had room for a cannoli. Those looked amazing!

    14!!!!!!!!
    Mike G.

    great little Italian market in detroit. well known for their sandwiches which are bought by the layers!!!!!

    Sub Menu
    Fred M.

    Gonellas is well known for their subs. During the weekday lunchtime the line can get really long. The service is good. I always get a 6 or an 8 layer with everything. They have bigger subs as well and also some side dishes like potato salad and pasta salad. I recommend this place I usually eat here 1x a week.

    18 Layers Meat, 3 Layer Cheese
    Daniel M.

    Probably the best Italian grinder I have ever had. I got the 18x3 on a soft roll. So huge I had to gnaw at like a rat but was fun eating.

    Order counter
    Lisa O.

    Been wanting to go here for a bit ... finally went and did not disappoint. I only bought a 6layer Italian -- so good. The bread is fantastic. The dressing is really good. I could easily have split my sub with someone. Also picked up a selection of olives that had. Definitely recommend. There was a line when we got there, but went fast and service was friendly. Kinda in the middle of nowhere and there is no seating at location. Perfect for a picnic. It is close to the historic Fort Wayne

    Sub
    Marielle M.

    The best sub for your money in Detroit. The meats are great and I love the hot peppers. I'll definitely be a repeat customer. They've also got a great selection of local and imported products.

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    6 months ago

    Great food and amazing quality! Love this place and especially the stuffed peppers, will always come back

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    11 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Gonella's has the best Authentic Italian subs, the 8 layer is my go-to. It's the perfect lunch and worth going out of your way to get.

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    10 months ago

    The sandwiches are outstanding! Great service and I'm so glad they stayed in the neighborhood!

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Great sandwiches. Service is top notch. Get your best sandwich here. In and out quickly.

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    Page 1 of 4

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    Liberati's Italian Deli & Bakery - GREAT sauce and meatball sub!

    Liberati's Italian Deli & Bakery

    4.3(45 reviews)
    4.4 miDownriver
    $

    I was sleeping in rather than eating breakfast at the hotel--it was a Saturday!--so after my dad…read moreand brother finished eating there, they stopped by Liberati's to pick up food for lunch later since we wouldn't have time to go out for lunch between watching the Notre Dame football game on TV and attending the Notre Dame women's basketball game in person. I didn't even see the place (although I did choose it), but my dad really liked it. It reminded him of one of the Claro's Italian Markets in Southern California. I was looking forward to my slices of cheese pizza, but my brother called from the deli to inform me that they only had pepperoni by the slice. Look, I get it. Most people want pepperoni, and when you're serving by the slice, you can't try all these random combos that people might not eat. But no cheese? As in the most basic pizza option? That feels wrong. When I had my veggie sandwich a little later, it was very good. My brother had persuaded the guy to throw in some additional mushrooms. The bread was top notch, and I enjoyed the sandwich. For the price, it should have either been larger or included more vegetables, cheese, all of the above, anything. My dad really enjoyed his sandwich, but my brother was left wanting by his meatball sub. The local-brand potato chips were a nice touch. They use way too much plastic wrap.

    Wow, what a great find today! Local area Italian bakery/grocer/deli that offers a lot of great…read moretasting food for quick carryout along with a large deli and bakery. We tried several items and would easily get all of them again: Pizza slices - generously sized square slices $2.69/slice; crunchy crust, small cup pepperonis, not too greasy and all together a great tasting slice but could use a few more pepperonis per slice Meatball sub- GREAT sauce and meatballs, and I am picky about eating anyone else's meatballs other than my own Off the Boat Hoagie: spicy capicola and other spicy coldcuts and cheese (couldn't remember them all) baked inside an extra large soft roll, served warm. It was VERY GOOD. At first seemed like a lot of bread in proportion to deli cuts, but it was a perfect ratio given the spiciness of the coldcuts inside. Cannoli - light shell and filling, not overly sweet. Really liked that they used a dusting of chocolate powder (not bitter cocoa) on the ends vs hard chocolate chips. This has become my new favorite bakery for cannolis! Definitely coming back here to try more of their hot and cold subs and dishes like lasagna, pasties, soups and pasta. Other than those fantastic cannolis they have other delectable pastries, breads, cookies and desserts to try. They also carry specialty Italian grocery items, a large deli with a good selection of meats and cheeses and cold takeout fridges with pastas, whole pizzas and lasagna to bake at home. Very friendly staff, consistent stream of customers picking up subs, pizza slices, breads, and 3 small tables with chairs in the store to sit and enjoy the food if you can't wait until you get home.

    Photos
    Liberati's Italian Deli & Bakery
    Liberati's Italian Deli & Bakery - Wrapped Italian Sub

    Wrapped Italian Sub

    Liberati's Italian Deli & Bakery - Baked Goods Counter

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    Baked Goods Counter

    Nuts Now

    Nuts Now

    4.7(21 reviews)
    3.6 miDownriver

    Nuts Now is amazing. Upon entering you'd feel as if you…read moreentered into a tasty treat heaven ala Willy Wonka. I was just amazed at the nostalgia of an old candy shop, I felt like I was young again. Candy coated, honey dipped, plain, or roasted, any nut treat you can imagine is available at Nuts Now. The candy selection is also phenomenal. They have lots of homemade chocolates, chocolate cover nuts, chocolates, clusters, milk, dark, and white. Also available are hard candies, penny candy, and a plethora of other treats. It's just amazing. I have tried the chocolate turtles, and nuts covered in chocolate covered, the viral Dubai chocolate, and dates. I've also had a Dubai chocolate pistachio croissant, that was delicious. My gym is right down the street from Nuts Now. I try very hard not to stop by every time I go to the gym. The family is warm and welcoming with excellent customer service is definitely a gem. The brightest spot on Allen Road. Highly recommended!

    The place as concept is great, which has a lot of variety of choices from nuts, sweets. Anything…read morethat you would like to pick it would be there however, recently, the quality hasn't been superb especially for the nuts. They don't taste as fresh and if you're getting their chocolate, the chocolate is not like premium or nice chocolate, however as a concept is a great place to go and there's a lot of imports from Middle East and Turkey Products that you could experience but lately nuts you got got to watch out of the quality. from my recent experience the last time I've been going, the quality hasn't been suburb even the chocolate the so famous Dubai chocolate is not tasting as good as supposed to be. For that price, it doesn't meet the price and the quality. Don't buy this brand

    Photos
    Nuts Now - Cheese coated cashews

    Cheese coated cashews

    Nuts Now
    Nuts Now - More nougats and special treats

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    More nougats and special treats

    La Bodega

    La Bodega

    4.0(5 reviews)
    2.4 miDownriver
    $

    La Bodega is a small Dominican store with groceries and prepared food. There are 3 small aisles of…read moregroceries - one with mostly drinks and refrigerated proteins, one with sauces and dry goods, and the last with some cleaning supplies. Towards the rear, there are racks of spices, a very small frozen food section (one freezer) and some produce. I'm guessing they don't actually sell any of the produce - it's probably just there as storage until they cook everything? The real magic of the store is in the back, where there's a small counter serving all sorts of delicious goodies. On a Saturday for lunch, there was a steady stream of customers picking up orders and eating. Just be aware that this is a family owned establishment that takes time to prepare food - lunch was supposed to start at 11:30AM, but they didn't have most of the menu ready until around 12:30PM. For people who are less patient, there is a prepared food counter with various meats and stews and a display with some fried foods. We opted for a couple of items: Fritura Mixta ($18.50) - Wow, this is a giant plate of fried meat and tostones. Deep fried beef, pork, chicken, longanisa, each one seasoned and drained well. Not greasy or oily at all. This is seriously a meat overload, in retrospect, we should have ordered a couple of additional sides because, to be honest, we aren't huge meat eaters. Still delicious. It took about 20 minutes to come out because everything was fried fresh. Cheese Bollitos ($2.50) - Think of a fried mashed potato croquette with a slightly different yucca flavor profile. These fried pastries aren't fried to order - instead they are probably fried in the morning and stuck in a heated display cabinet until they are ordered. They don't have the best crisp exterior and aren't exactly piping hot, but they are still good. Chicken and Cheese Empanada ($3) - These were definitely differently shaped vs. other empanadas I've had. Quite a long half moon filled with well seasoned chicken and rich cheese. Similar to the bollitos, these are not fried to order. We went back a couple of weeks later for some of the items on the dinner menu (only available after 5PM) that aren't served during lunch. It took around 25 minutes this time for the food to come out. Chimi de Pierna ($13) - This sandwich consisted of pulled pork, red cabbage, onions, and tomato on a super pillowy bun. The ingredients were heavily seasoned with a sweet and somewhat vinegery sauce that was quite similar to a bbq sauce. Be careful eating this one - since the bun is so soft, the ingredients start spilling out with every bite. Mofongo ($20) - Super garlicky, pretty classic mofongo mashed with chicharrones. Our meat of choice was additional chicharrones - super well fried with a great crisp and chewy fat. It came with two small containers of sauce that was not a normal mojo de ajo. It was limey, porky, very fresh, and paired perfectly with the carbs and proteins. I would definitely get this again. As a side note - they charge a 4% credit card fee. La Bodego is a great addition to the area. Definitely stop by to get some good Dominican food!

    This is a small business that is excellent in taste and service! You can call to get a delivery…read morewhich makes things convenient. The owner is community orientated and likes to give back to the youth that need it. I love supporting businesses that put their money towards causes and initiatives that help build people up. The feel inside the shop is welcoming and feels like home. It is clean and bright. The location is in a nice friendly neighborhood. You can tell the meals are prepared with love and aren't made with bulk ingredients instead they are all fresh and savory. I would highly recommend supporting small businesses and especially this one! Go in today to get authentic Dominican cuisine you will not be disappointed! I recommend the empanadas they are great!

    Photos
    La Bodega - Front Counter

    Front Counter

    La Bodega - Mofongo

    Mofongo

    La Bodega

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    Fredi The PizzaMan - Fresh out of the oven pizza

    Fredi The PizzaMan

    4.6(251 reviews)
    2.0 miDownriver
    $

    My family are big fans of thin crust New York style pizzas. As soon as I saw a pic of the pizza at…read moreFredi the PizzaMan, I knew we had to try it. It's a small restaurant but runs pretty efficiently. There aren't a lot of great seating options, so I think carryout is probably the way to go here. Or else arrive at opening or go during a non-holiday period. This place, despite the size, has a lot of personality and clearly a lot of repeat customers. In my short visit, I saw several people borrow one of the silver sharpies on the counter to write a message on the bricks, walls, counter, etc. The whole restaurant is covered with people's graffiti, which is kind of great because it just shows how much it is loved that people want to be part of it. Staff was very helpful and friendly. I ordered a medium pepperoni pizza, which was big enough to feed three people with light appetites. All three of us were very pleased with the quality and quantity of the pepperoni. The pizza was also served with fresh basil, which is a very nice touch. I personally think the crust and sauce could be a bit more flavorful, but it was still a very good pizza overall. I highly recommend Fredi the PizzaMan but caution that there might be a bit of a wait and/or lines.

    First off let me start by saying this is not my 1st rodeo at this establishment. As an avid fan of…read moreFredi's style of pizza I would have to say these two pies were delicious, but definitely not my go-tos. If you enjoy no cheese pizza (which I sadly found out I did not) then try the New Haven. Despite no cheese it had a nice crunch to it and the sauce was fire so I will give it that. Now where shall I begin on the Johnny Ola. This thing was crafted with care. The white pizza game here went crazy for real and the spinach was top notch quality not that bunk stuff you find at Meijer. As for the ambiance of the location let's just say it is always packed. They opened at 2pm , and people were already there at 1:45pm so that threw me off. It took almost an hour to order because there was a lot of families ahead of me but if you are willing to wait you will not be disappointed. Definitely a gem in Melvindale because before Fredi The PizzaMan you would never catch me out there doing anything. I will for sure be back, again!

    Photos
    Fredi The PizzaMan - Very small inside, don't expect to sit at a table on your own

    Very small inside, don't expect to sit at a table on your own

    Fredi The PizzaMan - A true New York style.

    A true New York style.

    Fredi The PizzaMan - Menu.  Study before pulling a ticket to order

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    Menu. Study before pulling a ticket to order

    Original Gonella's - delis - Updated May 2026

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