Sandwich a Day: The #4 at Genova Delicatessen in Napa, CA

In this great country of ours, one could eat a different sandwich every day of the year—so that's what we'll do. Here's A Sandwich a Day, our daily look at sandwiches around the country. Got a sandwich we should check out? Let us know. —The Mgmt.

[Photograph: Carrie Vasios]

There are only so many vineyards even the hardiest drinker can visit before they need to stop and pad their stomach. Many of those wine-tasters end up at Genova Delicatessen, which means perennial long lines at this Italian-style deli. If you have the patience to wade through the crowds of semi-drunk people who seem to have particular difficulty with the deli's number system, then Genova is worth a stop.

These are not the best sandwiches I've ever tasted, but they weren't bad either. The best of the bunch was the Number 4 ($8.49), mostly thanks to its shockingly large layer of prosciutto. I've never seen prosciutto layered on a sandwich like sliced turkey but, especially after a morning of wine-tasting, I appreciated the full on blast of salt and meat.

The mozzarella was also good: while it could have used some salt, the texture was on the creamier side. The mozzarella gets topped with fresh basil and sliced tomatoes, then finished with a heavy pour of vinegar. Despite its good ingredients and satisfying size, this sandwich was a bit off-balance and overwhelmed. (Which might not be a bad thing, when that also describes the clientele.)

Genova Delicatessen

1550 Trancas Street, Napa, CA 94558 (map) 707-253-8686
www.genovadeli.net

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