January 4, 2023
As much as we go out of our way for great food, there is no doubt that sometimes convenience takes precedent. It’s rare that people travel far for pizza and subs. They eat what’s nearby, and DeNo’s Pizza & Subs is near my work. Because it is, I’ve eaten there, a lot. Because I’ve eaten there a lot, I know what to order.
DeNo’s isn’t much to look at, but the food is better than the decor. Let’s start with the pizza. I recently ordered a bunch for an office Christmas party. Given that they were devoured, I’d say they are pretty good. I recommend the “Aiden” with steak, feta, and sliced tomato. Also good is their buffalo chicken pizza. In addition to traditional NY style pizza, they also have Sicilian pan pizza. The “Sicilian Sampler” is 28 slices with Roasted Pepper, Mushroom, Pepperoni, Broccoli, Eggplant, Meatball, Sausage, or Onion, a different topping every few slices. I go for the sausage. This was a party hit. On Monday and Tuesday there is a special where you can get a deal on two slices of pizza, if you are looking for a cheap lunch.
Then there are the subs. The roast beef sub is solid, and so is the buffalo chicken sub. I get the chicken parm a lot, it’s always good. Today, I got the meatball parm, which comes out really quick if you want a hot sub in a hurry. If you read my Ken’s NY Deli post, you know I’m going to like he chicken kabob with feta and greek dressing. Two turkey subs that are a little different which I enjoy are “The Stuffa” a traditional thanksgiving sandwich with turkey, cranberry sauce, and lots of stuffing and the Russian Turkey Melt which is topped with bacon, cheese, and Russian dressing.
If you aren’t in the mood for pizza or a sub, DeNo’s has a good cheeseburger. They also have North Shore-style roast beef sandwiches which I get from time to time. And if you have a bigger appetite, let me suggest “The Bobby.” It’s a chicken cutlet panini with mozzarella, sliced tomato, and balsamic glaze. My two coworkers introduced me to it, and I’m glad they did.
Like many sub shops, things can be hit or miss. The Bobby pictured above was a little over pressed and you can see the difference in the burgers from one day to another. But most days, things are good. As you can see by the number of pictures, I’ve been there a lot and no matter how convenient someplace is, I won’t go there if the food isn’t worth eating.
Concord Culinary Lyceum 