Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Ralph's Italian Delicatessen

    4.0 (53 reviews)
    InexpensivePizza, Delis, Italian

    Ralph's Italian Delicatessen Photos

    RALPH'S ITALIAN DELICATESSEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    More like Ralph's Italian Delicatessen

    Recommended Reviews - Ralph's Italian Delicatessen

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    The Traditional Works Cudighi. A subtle but unique UP treat!
    Ryan B.

    I was excited to go to Ralph's and even more excited when I arrived and found that it is a small eatery nestled inside a delightful deli/grocery just in the edge of the UP's largest historic Italian community. Yes to all of it. Alas, I came for the Cudighi and it delivered. I've been so intrigued by this Ishpeming specific sandwich and it lived up to the hype. Part meatball, part sausage, part burger, part hoagie, part pizza - all delicious! - it's certainly a thing all it's own. The sausage is mild, maybe even a bit sweet but it's flavor is certainly subtle. The texture was hearty but succulent, kind of like a large tender meatball. I ordered it Traditional Works-style being my first time and all (ketchup, mustard, chopped onions and fresh deli-style mozzarella cheese on a crispy crust but chewy white bread hoagie-style roll. There are a variety of styles to order by and I couldn't resist getting a side of pizza sauce. The Traditional was strangely great. Hard to describe ... just great. Like a sausage burger sorta but also kinda like a meatball sub ... but not. I loved it. It's a humble sandwich served in a charming and humble place that oozes the sense of "homemade." Ralph's isn't a restaurant as much as it is your neighbor's kitchen. The sandwich was served in a basket with a handful of out of the bag potato chips. Again, simple and charming. We also got the special, a nice portion of homemade lasagna with one juicy well seasoned meatball all floating in a bowl of chunky garlicky marinara sauce. It was delicious. And we topped it off by grabbing a small pepperoni pizza to go, which boasts a nice crispy, slightly chewy crust, a blandish subtle tomatoey pizza sauce, modest cheese and fresh sliced pepperoni. All in all, everything was great and I was more than happy to pick up a few things from the deli, including some fresh cuts of sopressa and calabrese, Ralph's own house made hot giardiniera, and some Trenary Cinnamon Toasts (another apparent UP specific delight). I'm officially a Cudighi fan. If I find myself in the Pictured Rocks or Marquette area again, I'm definitely making a trip back to Ralph's! Though, next time I think I'm ordering it pizza style.

    The hot cudighi, minus ketchup.
    Kaitlin K.

    I ordered an Italian grinder and a cup of minestrone. The minestrone looked and tasted a lot like chicken noodle. (I assume they ran out.) The grinder was delicious. I didn't realize that a cudighi is a UP special, so I came back the next day and ordered one of those. It was also pretty good. I picked up a jar of hot giardiniera from the attached grocery store to take home. I wish I had bought more of that!

    Outside of building

    An excellent special sandwich would eat here again any day. I so wish I lived closer to frequent often as this place would be a go too

    Cheese Ravioli in Meat Sauce

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Ordered a tuna sub with Mayo and lettuce. They used miracle whip and it ruined the whole sandwich.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    I Loooove the Italian Hero ans the Cudighi is Phenomenal! And their Antipasto is Amazing!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Best cudhigi around, great pasta and subs. Something for everyone here which can be hard to find for my family.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marc V.
    251
    116
    75

    7 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jamie H.
    44
    131
    38

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Steven M.
    116
    76
    16

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Don't try to reinvent the wheel. Go back to the real Ralph's pizza. Very disappointing after waiting so long to reopen.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lake C.
    0
    145
    59

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah C.
    28
    35
    34

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Wen B.
    60
    148
    25

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rebecca B.
    1
    128
    862

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Easily my favorite place for cudighi! Grab a couple of pounds of spicy, some buns, and a pepperoni stick as you head out the door.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bat M.
    75
    61
    21

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Hands down the best Italian pizza around! Everything is so fresh and the cooking time is very short. If you like pizza, you'll love Ralph's!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eva F.
    10
    109
    9

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of T R.
    0
    19
    1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Great pizza & anti-pasta salads! Not much for ambiance but great to pick up and take home.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Ralph's Italian Delicatessen

    You might also consider

    Mama Mia's Italian Restaurant - Stuffed shells

    Mama Mia's Italian Restaurant

    3.8(50 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    Mama Mia's Italian Restaurant is one of the few long-running restaurants in Ishpeming that…read moregenuinely feels tied to the town rather than just located in it. The place has been around for decades, and the experience reflects that kind of stability and familiarity. On the food side, I ordered the Lasagne Dinner, which is a verified menu item, along with garlic bread. The lasagne is exactly the kind of old-school Italian-American comfort food that works best in a place like this. The layers hold together properly instead of collapsing into sauce, the cheese has a rich baked texture without becoming oily, and the meat sauce has a slow-cooked flavor that feels consistent rather than rushed. The garlic bread also deserves mention because it comes out with a crisp edge and soft center that actually complements the heavier pasta dishes instead of just sitting on the side untouched. Service is one of the restaurant's strongest qualities. The pacing feels experienced rather than scripted. Staff know how to handle regulars, larger dinner rushes, and slower tables without making the room feel chaotic. Refills, check-ins, and food timing all happen naturally, which gives the place a much more relaxed rhythm than newer restaurants trying too hard to feel upscale. The ambiance is a huge part of why the restaurant works. The interior has that older Italian restaurant warmth with dimmer lighting, darker furnishings, and a dining room that feels lived-in rather than renovated for trends. It is comfortable in a way that makes people stay longer than they planned to. The atmosphere feels personal and local instead of corporate or interchangeable. Overall, this is one of the more complete dining experiences in the area. The food is deeply consistent, the service feels experienced and natural, and the atmosphere has enough character that the restaurant stays memorable long after the meal is over.

    When Yelp hands you a challenge, you do not decline. That Italian restaurant badge was flaunted in…read morefront of me and we decided that it was a mission to get it! As luck would have it, I chatted with a new local friend a few days before and 'got the lowdown' on Mama Mia's. Her words and advice were spot on! She gushed over the bread - so good! - and mentioned how she and her mom often shared plates because the serving sizes are so generous. She also said that they used to make their own spumoni and, admittedly, I hoped that was still true (I didn't confirm one way or another). There was a 20 minute wait. Our hostess was running a tight ship and we were confident in her forecast, so we chatted and looked over the carryout menu, planning our meals. It was pointless, of course, because it was still hard to decide! Our server Missy took great care of us, from fetching a craft beer menu to boxing up our leftovers. The restaurant was busy yet we never felt a moment of neglect. The hustle is STRONG here, with servers weaving intricately between the tables with food and beverages. It was a bit like dinner and a show! I had the tortellini Parmesan dinner, which started with one of the best bowls of minestrone that I can recall. The vegetables were on point, firm with no mush. The dinner salad had a lot of lettuce but also a nice collection of 'stuff' including cheese, meat and olives. I loved the tortellini; straightforward and not smothered, it let the pasta shine. Smokin'Hubster had the stuffed shells a la carte and added some meatballs. Everything was well-presented and prepared, super tasty and, well, it tasted like it was made with love. Nonna would approve! Because I had the dinner, I had my choice of ice cream. While I had hoped for the spumoni, the option I chose was amaretto Mackinac Island and it was divine. If they didn't make it on prem, they have an amazing partnership. I can't recall the last time I had ice cream after dinner and I certainly don't ever think that I've remembered it so fondly a week later. Trust me, it's THAT GOOD! In the best Italian tradition, the leftovers were even better the next day. The value cannot be overstated. We were fat, dumb and happy twice with this dinner. Crazy as it sounds, Smokin'Hubster was already planning a carryout order because he wants to try some other dishes (as do I)!! Start to finish, it was the best date night! Lots of street parking and easy to find in the burgeoning metropolis of Ishpeming. Get yourself here and enjoy la dolce vita!

    Photos
    Mama Mia's Italian Restaurant - Minestrone Soup (w/Oyster Crackers)

    Minestrone Soup (w/Oyster Crackers)

    Mama Mia's Italian Restaurant - Amaretto Mackinac Island ice cream

    Amaretto Mackinac Island ice cream

    Mama Mia's Italian Restaurant - Garlic bread!

    See all

    Garlic bread!

    Huron Mountain Bakery - Ishpeming - Lemon-filled paczki; have you ever seen so much filling?

    Huron Mountain Bakery - Ishpeming

    4.5(30 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    No surprise; as soon as Smokin'Hubster and I moved to the area, we had to figure out who had the…read morepaczki. The bakery is amazing and it would be hard to select what to taste, except that I was a woman on a mission. I stopped in the week before Fat Tuesday. Placing the order was easy and took only moments to complete. I returned for Mardi Gras and the bakery was understandably busier. There were folks that failed to plan ahead, so their paczki pleasure was impacted. Me, I walked in, the same helpful person was retrieving orders and I picked up my pre-paid dozen quickly. The paczki were amazing and brought me right back to Michigan. The paczki we had in MN were good, but they aren't the same. And I've honestly never had paczki that were SO filled. And the fillings were so fresh, so perfectly balanced with the pastry. We tried six varieties (oof, yeah!) and loved them all. The prune paczki is an easy favorite, being traditional, but that Bavarian Cream was sublime. I was completely spoiled. It was fun that my first visits here were for 'holiday shopping,' which makes me look forward to coming back and trying more yummy baked items!

    Wonderful neighborhood bakery with friendly caring staff! Everything from fresh baked breads,…read morecroissants, donuts , pastries and delightful bagels. Coffee and excellent gourmet sandwiches at a very reasonable price! Wish we had one in Cape Coral!

    Photos
    Huron Mountain Bakery - Ishpeming - Behold the Paczki!!

    Behold the Paczki!!

    Huron Mountain Bakery - Ishpeming - Cupcakes and cookies!!

    Cupcakes and cookies!!

    Huron Mountain Bakery - Ishpeming - Cupcakes, cookies, and candie!

    See all

    Cupcakes, cookies, and candie!

    Tino's Bar & Pizza - Small Pepperoni & Sausage Pizza w/extra sauce on the patio.

    Tino's Bar & Pizza

    3.8(25 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $

    Great pizza. This is truly just a pizza place. No salads etc. Pizza or cudighy(Italian sausage with…read morea twist). So if your into pizza and a beer, this is a great Upper Peninsula local treat

    We took Tuesday Night Social Club (aka Date Nite) to Tino's and were not disappointed. It was funny…read moreto be the 'new locals' and overhear the banter between the regulars. The line to pick up pizzas is no joke, so be prepared to wait for your pie. That said, it's totally worth the wait! Madi handled the details at the bar expertly. She hustled all night, bringing drinks and taking phone orders while coordinating table service and pickup orders. She's the best and pretty fun to talk to (when she gets a moment to do so). The ingredients are fresh and diverse, especially when you build your own pizza. That's what Smokin'Hubster and I did, with the intention of taking home leftovers for lunches. He built a fun pie with pineapple (don't judge!), sausage and bacon. I was a bit more classic and understated with onions, pepperoni and extra cheese. Oh. My.Cheese! I totally stringed that out; SO YUMMY! Add that we are now known as the "Couple by the tap" and it's easy to see how much fun we had. We each brought home 1/2 a pizza, which reheated perfectly at 375 degrees for 10 minutes on the pizza stone. Yes, you could ask 'Chef Mike' and nuke your food in the microwave, but then you miss the chance to make your house smell fantastic. Keep it old school and you can't go wrong!

    Photos
    Tino's Bar & Pizza - POP-A-SHOT

    POP-A-SHOT

    Tino's Bar & Pizza - Meat and veggie pizzas while sitting outside

    Meat and veggie pizzas while sitting outside

    Tino's Bar & Pizza - Pizza On The Patio

    See all

    Pizza On The Patio

    Jasper Ridge Brewery - Reuben melt, glamour shot

    Jasper Ridge Brewery

    3.5(68 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    The food is always cooked perfectly. The staff is super friendly, too. We usually get take out now…read morebecause I have some medical issues that I can't sit up in a regular chair for long without my pain getting worse We order all the time from them and we are never disappointed!

    Jasper Ridge Brewery feels like it should be a solid sit-down brewery experience in Ishpeming, but…read morethe execution across the board did not match expectations. On the food side, I ordered a Reuben Melt. The sandwich came out unevenly heated, with the corned beef leaning dry in parts and the rye bread slightly over-toasted on one side. The balance of sauerkraut and sauce felt inconsistent, which made the overall flavor feel flat rather than cohesive. It was edible, but not well executed. Service was slow and lacked structure. There was a noticeable delay in initial table attention, and once the order was in, there was very little communication or follow-up. The pacing of the meal felt disorganized, like the kitchen and front of house were not fully in sync. The ambiance does not really elevate the experience either. The space has the layout of a brewery-style restaurant, but it comes across more chaotic than inviting, with noise carrying unevenly and the dining area feeling a bit worn rather than maintained in a way that enhances comfort. Overall, this was a disappointing visit. The food was poorly balanced, service was slow and inattentive, and the atmosphere did not make up for the gaps in execution.

    Photos
    Jasper Ridge Brewery
    Jasper Ridge Brewery - A pint of their blueberry wheat! It was pretty good!

    A pint of their blueberry wheat! It was pretty good!

    Jasper Ridge Brewery - Windy City hurricane, Buffalo traditional wings and battered mushrooms.

    See all

    Windy City hurricane, Buffalo traditional wings and battered mushrooms.

    Ralph's Italian Delicatessen - pizza - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...