Ioannoni’s Specialty Sandwiches opened our doors in 2005, and we’ve quickly become the go-to sandwich shop for customers who are looking to break free from eating run-of-the-mill subs and cheesesteaks.
Owned and operated by New Castle, Delaware native Michael Ioannoni, Ioannoni’s leverages culinary expertise and old-world Italian culture dating back to the 1930s. Michael’s great-uncle and great-aunt, Michael and Mary Ioannoni, along with their son Angelo, operated an Italian deli and grocery for 50 years in New Castle. The shop offered fresh Italian meats and common household groceries and became a gathering spot for the local community.
Michael’s experience of growing up in a strong Italian household within a strong Italian community ignited his passion for Italian food. As a result, he wanted to bring traditional Italian specialty sandwiches to the masses. He knew that many local residents traveled to Philadelphia to get traditional roast pork, roast beef, and chicken cutlet sandwiches, so he wanted to give local residents a reason to buy and eat local. What’s more, he wanted to show Philly that Delaware Italians could offer exceptional Italian specialty sandwiches. To be successful, Michael knew that he needed to prove that his sandwiches could compete with — and top — the sandwiches of the established shops in Philly.
Looking to create the best Italian specialty sandwiches, Michael experimented with some of his grandmother’s recipes and researched ways to make them even better. Through trial and error, he made the recipes his own, and the taste exceeded his — and his customers’ — expectations. All of his creations provide that extra flare that makes his sandwiches stand out from the rest. Ioannoni’s chicken cutlets are breaded fresh daily with our own breadcrumbs. Our subs are prepared with the finest locally bought meats and produce. Our broccoli rabe, fried hots, and roasted reds are prepared every morning to enhance the flavor of any sandwich you couple them with. Our steaks are made with rib-eye meat that is sliced here at Ioannoni’s. And our unbelievable roast pork is seasoned and cooked overnight, allowing it to create its own juices for the tastiest gravy.
Michael’s goals are to bring extraordinary service and high quality to his patrons, and he takes pride in preserving the reputation he has worked so hard to build.