Restaurant Review:

I was introducing a friend to the joys of capicolla in the deli department at Lucci’s, when she spied a cash register in the back of the deli and market.

She asked me what it was, and I told her that it was the restaurant. After getting a sample of the Italian spicy ham, she was ready to have some capicolla on a sandwich.

This is a favorite lunch place of mine, though they serve into the dinner hour as well. Each day features a different bargain. Monday is all-you-can-eat spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread, and at $7.99 it is a perfect, simple dinner that would be ideal for families.

The other specials include beef stroganoff Sunday, fried chicken dinner Tuesday and a 12-ounce prime rib Thursday.

The menu has a wide variety of pasta and sandwiches.

The sandwiches came on a 7-inch Italian roll or wheat, rye or sourdough bread.

My friend went right for the capicolla and cheese on a roll. The sandwich came with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar and oil. I like that no sandwich is more than $7.95.

The other cold sandwich selections include turkey breast, roast beef, salami, tuna, egg salad and liverwurst.

Boars Head is one of the meats used, and the other brands are just as well known for their quality.

The hot sandwiches, though, might be more of a favorite of mine. The chicken Parmesan is moist and flavorful. The meatball with provolone is one of my favorites, but I also can be talked into the Italian sausage on a roll.

The sandwiches come with macaroni or potato salad and both are acceptable, but I like substituting for chips.

They are noted for are the torpedo sandwich. On this, they are not as liberal with substitutions, so you are held with mortadella, cotto salami, Italian salami, ham and provolone.

There are also grilled selections such as Philly cheese steak, patty melt, a Reuben and cheeseburger.

Though the menu said the pasta dinners are available after 4 p.m., I was told I could order one for lunch if I chose.

This was good because I was totally in the mood for linguine and clam sauce. I didn’t see it on the a la carte menu, but was told it was available on that menu as well.

The dish is filled with plenty of clams and I liked the sauce, though there was a lot of it. The white wine-based clear sauce has olive oil and a touch of basil with Romano cheese.

The menu is surprising in its selection and variety.

There are the usual Italian dishes like fettuccine Alfredo and eggplant Parmesan, but there are also dishes such as stuffed shells and paradise pasta, which has chicken breast, broccoli, basil, olive oil, garlic and Parmesan cheese.

The lasagna is tremendous as well. The generous portion is stuffed with meatballs and sausage with a choice of meat or marinara sauce. I liked the meat sauce over the slightly sweeter marinara sauce.

Lunch or dinner here has no frills attached to it. Paper plates and plastic utensils were what the food came on, and you are filling up your soda or ice tea.

But the place is clean, quick and the staff friendly. Lunch or a casual dinner work here and should definitely be checked out.

Besides, the bakery, which is filled with Italian pastries, is a short walk away and you have to pay up front anyway, so you might as well get something to complete your meal.

Lucci’s

Address: 8911 Adams Ave., Huntington Beach

Phone: (714) 968-4466

Website: www.luccisdeli.com

Cuisine: Italian

Specialty Dish: Spaghetti

Alcohol Served: Wine

Entrée Price Range: $5.95 to $12.95

Family Friendly: Yes

Credit Cards Accepted: Discover, MasterCard and Visa

Rating: ***

More Online

For links to local restaurants, a calendar of local restaurant events and quick links to dining reservations, go to www.hbindependent.com/ dining.

JOHN REGER reviews local restaurants and may be contacted at [email protected] or P.O. Box 2984, Seal Beach, CA 90740.