DOMINGO’S ITALIAN DELI
THE ‘LITTLE ITALY’OF THE VALLEY

A family-run mainstay beloved for its handmade sandwiches, sausages, ravioli, sauces and breads in an intimate deli and mini market, Domingo’s Italian Deli is the legit Little Italy of the San Fernando Valley.

Dozens of antipasti are prepared fresh daily, including the grilled artichoke hearts, marinated mushrooms, fire-roasted marinated peppers, marinated eggplants, brick-oven roasted brussel sprouts with toasted pistachios as well as a very enticing pasta salad, along with potato salad and tempting eggplant caponata.

Serving authentic dishes from traditional recipes, this little gem of an Italian shop isn’t fancy or expansive, instead it offers delicious comfort food in a charming and intimate setting where the grocery store shelves are filled with imported Italian specialties. This is the place to come to find first-cold press olive oils to 25-year aged Balsamic vinegars, organic San Marzano tomatoes and different varieties of hard-to-find pasta cuts as well as traditional Italian spices, grains and ingredients. 

Refrigerators display premium Ricotta cheese, mozzarella and mascarpone, specialty sauces, novelty charcuterie, as well as an assortment of fresh pastas and freshly-made tapenades and spreads. From a spectrum of homemade classics such as pumpkin ravioli, gnocchi, manicotti, stuffed shells to conveniently fresh-frozen packaged entrees, beef, eggplant or veggie lasagnas, eggplant parmigiana, chicken cacciatore, marsala or piccata are the perfect and comforting replacement to instant dinners.

During our recent visit for a variety of bites, we enjoyed a wonderful Fried Ravioli with homemade cheese-filled crispy ravioli with house marina sauce. Likewise, the Calzone with homemade pizza dough stuffed with ricotta and mozzarella hit the spot—as did the mighty beef meatball.

Must-have dishes includes the Potato Croquette with mashed potato crispy roll, Italian ham, and mozzarella, and the Arancini with Bolognese and mozzarella rice ball served with marinara sauce.

Other favorites included the delectable Butternut Squash, along with the Della Casa Pizza with house pepperoni, sausage, parmigiano, and mozzarella. Now that was a pie!

Veggies are also a specialty and the Stone Roasted Brussel Sprouts with pistachios and olive oil was fab. I’m no eggplant fan but I did find the Caponata with eggplant, tomatoes, onions, olives, mint, celery, vinegar and pine nuts to be very pleasing.

And don’t forget about dessert at Domingo’s as the cannoli with whipped ricotta, chocolate chip and pistachios are first rate, as are the sfogliatella with sweet ricotta cream, pastry shell and powder sugar.

I’m so happy to have found his gem, which has been a valley favorite since 1948. Believe me, it’s worth the trek to Encino for fine and first rate Italian cuisine.

Domingo’s Italian Deli is located at 17548 Ventura Blvd in Encino. Open Sunday 10am to 4pm; Tuesday thru Friday 10am to 6pm; Saturday 9am to 6pm. Closed Monday. Call 818-981-4466. Order available via Postmates.

Story by Jose Martinez

Photography courtesy of: Domingo’s Italian Del