I love a good sandwich. Who doesn’t, right? There’s something beautiful about a well-constructed delicatessen sandwich, and the folks at Genova Delicatessen have elevated the construction of the sandwich to an art form. I’ve been eating at this Oakland institution for years, and have never been disappointed.

Now that I’m writing this, I realize there isn’t all that much one can write about this place. I mean, it’s a delicatessen. Sure it’s a great one, but beyond telling you that their sandwiches taste significantly better than those of other delis, well– I’m at a loss for words.

Let’s see– the sandwiches come with all the normal extras, i.e. tomatoes, lettuce, and so forth, as well as some mild wax peppers and oil and vinegar. There are numerous side dishes available, all of which are delicious. Both the potato and macaroni salad are superb, as is the calamari salad, and pretty much everything else. They also sell deep-fried, breaded artichoke hearts. If you can get them when they are still warm, they are beyond scrumptious.

One other thing– Genova is a well-stocked Italian market. You can find numerous imported cakes and canned goods, along with a full assortment of pastas and so forth. They make their own raviolis, which are sold in local supermarkets, and have a vast assortment of salami and other meats for you to choose from.

If you go at lunch time, take a number and be prepared to wait awhile, as this is a very popular destination at that hour; it is well worth the wait.