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homerhorizondaily.com dining out
the homer horizon | March 19, 2020 | 27
The Dish
Ambrosino’s brings traditional Italian tastes to the table
Nuria Mathog
Contributing Editor
Renee Anderson has
been a familiar face at
Ambrosino’s Italian Market
and Deli for the past
decade. The longtime employee
has held various
roles throughout her time
with the shop, working at
the register, at the deli and
in the kitchen.
Today, the New Lenox
resident runs the show.
She took over the deli in
September 2018, following
the retirement of former
owner Peter Ambrosino.
“I like the small business
atmosphere,” Anderson
said. “I like the
family atmosphere. It’s
something I really enjoy
and have taken on. It’s
been part of me forever.”
Originally a Chicagobased
deli, Ambrosino’s
has been a staple of the
Frankfort community for
the past 23 years. The
shop specializes in authentic
Italian food, with
classic pasta and sandwich
dinners. It also is a
popular catering option
for the Christmas holidays,
graduations and other
milestones, Anderson
said.
“For me, personally,
I like the meatballs and
the lasagna,” she said.
“It’s just like the homemade
flavor. It’s what I’d
be making at home, and
I can pick it up and have
it here and know that it’s
just homemade.”
One the deli’s specialities
is its homemade Italian
sausage, which comes
in hot and mild varieties
and sells for $3.99 per
pound (or $3.79 per pound
in a 10-pound box). Other
signature items include
Ambrosino’s Italian
Market & Deli
20495 S. LaGrange
Road in Frankfort
Hours
• 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Monday-Friday
• 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday
• 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Sunday
Phone: (815) 464-
5002
Website: www.
ambrosinos.com
the hot sandwiches, many
of which are named after
Italian artists and composers
— for instance, the
Vivaldi ($6.99), a sausage
and beef combo; and the
Angelico ($4.99), featuring
hot corned beef with
Swiss on rye.
Ambrosino’s also offers
a large selection of cheeses
imported from Italy —
bestsellers around the
holidays, when customers
stop by the deli to pick up
freshly grated provolone
and Parmesan for their
family recipes.
In addition to deli
items, Ambrosino’s offers
an in-store market stocked
with Italian goods. Jars of
the deli’s homemade pasta
sauce — which comes
in marinara, arrabbiata,
vodka and fire-roasted varieties
— line the shelves,
along with boxes of pasta,
dipping oil and other staples
of Italian cuisine.
“We do get requests to
have them shipped,” Anderson
said. “We have a
lot of families who moved,
and they miss their giardiniera.
I’ve shipped a lot to
Florida and Arizona.”
Ambrosino’s started out
as a family-run business,
Ambrosino’s homemade Italian sausages come in hot and mild varieties, and are available for $3.99 per pound (or
$3.79 per pound for a 10-pound box). Photos by Nuria Mathog/22nd Century Media
and even with new management,
it continues to
fulfill that tradition. Two
of Anderson’s three children,
Lincoln-Way West
students Zachary and
Amanda, regularly help
out with the store, and her
husband, David, and college-aged
daughter Deja
also assists during the
holidays.
For Anderson, making
customers’ day is the most
rewarding part of the job.
“I like the customer
service,” she said. “I like
working with the people.
I like a happy, smiling
face when they get their
food.”
RIGHT: The deli offers a
variety of Italian cheeses.
On top is the pecorino
Romano ($10.99 per
pound) and on the bottom
is the Parmesan-Reggiano
($16.99 per pound).