Bites Near Us: Fratangelo Gardens

is more than just a grocery store -- it has some of the best lunches in town.

The deli is at the back of the Brodhead Road store and offers tasty made-to-order sandwiches and salads for a quick and easy lunch.

The eatery is known for its hearty sandwiches served on 9-inch hoagie rolls. Sandwiches cost $5 to $7. Hot favorites include the Philly steak, hot/sweet sausage and the "poor woman," which includes sweet sausage, scrambled eggs, peppers, onions and provolone cheese. Cold favorites include the Italian; Fratangelo’s finest, which is thin slices of prosciutto, salami, sopresatta and aged provolone; and the "poor man," which consists of Isaly’s chipped ham and American cheese.

Salads, including a chef salad, steak salad, antipasto salad and chicken salad, are $7.25. Wraps, such as the fish wrap and crispy or grilled chicken wrap, are $4.50 and served with french fries. Pizza is $2.25 per slice. Side dishes include antipasto ($4.49 per pound), roasted red peppers ($5.49 per pound) and fruit salad ($3.99 per pound).

Every Friday is Fish Friday at Fratangelo’s, when deep-fried, batter-dipped cod sandwiches are on special. A small sandwich is $6.50 and a large is $8. Platters, which include fries and coleslaw, are $8.75 for a small and $9.75 for a large.

The little store doesn’t offer much seating except for a circular table attached to a pillar, which has a couple of high stools around it, but while you wait for your sandwich you can peruse the aisles for imported goods, spices and freshly baked pies.

Fratangelo’s is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.