This New Jersey Italian Market Serves A Sinatra Sub So Good Customers Have Been Coming Back For Years

You do not just eat this sandwich. You experience it.

The Sinatra sub has achieved legendary status around here, and people have been coming back for years to get their fix.

Layers of imported meats, sharp provolone, and a drizzle of oil that soaks perfectly into the crusty bread.

One bite and you will understand the loyalty.

This New Jersey Italian market looks humble from the outside, but inside it is a treasure chest of old school charm and even older school recipes.

No flashy signs, no gimmicks. Just decades of doing it right.

Have you ever tasted a sub that makes you close your eyes while chewing? That is the Sinatra effect.

Customers drive past a dozen other sandwich shops to reach this one. They know what waits for them.

So should you.

A Family-Owned Story Worth Knowing

Behind every great market is a story, and this one starts with two brothers who knew exactly what they wanted to build.

Gary and Stephen Mazzella opened their Mountainside location in February 2015, bringing with them over 15 years of experience running a successful Italian market in Jackson, New Jersey.

That background shows in everything from the way the deli counter is organized to the quality of ingredients they choose to carry.

Running a family business means personal investment in every single detail, and that pride is something you pick up on the moment you walk through the door.

The community has responded with the kind of loyalty that only comes when people genuinely trust a place.

Long-time customers who have been shopping there since opening day still return regularly, not just out of habit but because the standard never slips.

There is something really special about a market where the owners are deeply invested in the experience of every person who walks in.

The Sinatra Sub That Started It All

Some sandwiches are just sandwiches. The Sinatra is something else entirely.

Named after the legendary Frank Sinatra himself, this cold sub has earned a reputation that stretches well beyond Mountainside, with fans calling it one of the best Italian subs in the entire tri-state area.

Packed with deluxe ham, genoa salami, and provolone cheese, the Sinatra gets layered with fresh lettuce, tomato, and onion before a finishing drizzle of oil and vinegar ties everything together.

A pinch of black pepper and oregano adds that unmistakable Italian deli flavor that feels both classic and deeply satisfying.

What makes it so memorable is the balance. Nothing overpowers anything else.

The bread, sourced from a Staten Island bakery, holds up perfectly without turning soggy. Every bite feels intentional.

People who try the Sinatra once tend to come back for it again and again, sometimes making special trips just for this one sub. That kind of loyalty says more than any menu description ever could.

Fresh Mozzarella Made the Old-Fashioned Way

There is a difference between fresh mozzarella and really fresh mozzarella, and Mazzella’s sits firmly in the second category. Made in-house, their homemade mozzarella has a soft, milky texture that packaged versions simply cannot replicate.

It is the kind of cheese that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about a caprese salad.

Paired with their prosciutto bread, it becomes one of those simple combinations that just works on every level. The bread is airy and slightly chewy, the mozzarella is cool and creamy, and together they remind you why Italian food has stayed so beloved for generations.

Customers who stumble onto this pairing for the first time tend to make it a regular order. It works as a snack, a starter, or an easy lunch when you want something satisfying but not too heavy.

Fresh mozzarella like this is also a reminder that good ingredients do not need much help. Sometimes the best food is the simplest food, handled with care and made with real skill.

The Butcher Counter That Meat Lovers Dream About

Walking past the butcher counter at Mazzella’s feels like a small event. Prime cuts of meat are lined up behind the glass, some ready to cook at home, others already marinated and prepped for the grill.

The selection is impressive for a market of this size, and the quality is immediately obvious.

Steak teriyaki, chicken, and other prepared options make it easy to pull together a dinner without spending hours in the kitchen. For anyone who has ever wished a butcher shop and a meal prep service were the same place, this counter is a pretty satisfying answer.

What sets it apart from a standard grocery store meat section is the attention to sourcing. The cuts here are not an afterthought.

They are central to what the market is about, which is bringing together the best possible ingredients under one roof.

Whether you are picking up something for a weeknight dinner or planning a weekend cookout, the butcher counter gives you options that feel genuinely elevated without requiring any extra effort on your end.

Artisan Bread That Holds Everything Together

Good bread is the foundation of a great sandwich, and Mazzella’s takes this seriously.

Their hero rolls come from a Staten Island bakery and have exactly the kind of structure you want from a sub roll, sturdy enough to hold generous fillings without falling apart, but soft enough that each bite feels effortless.

Beyond the rolls, the market carries an impressive range of artisan breads including focaccia, prosciutto bread, and pepperoni bread. Each one has its own character.

The focaccia is golden and slightly crisp on the outside with a pillowy interior. The stuffed breads smell incredible from across the store.

Bread this good tends to disappear quickly, so arriving early on weekends gives you the best selection. Regulars know to grab a loaf or two alongside their sandwiches, because taking home a fresh prosciutto bread for later is never a decision anyone regrets.

It is the kind of detail that turns a quick shopping stop into something you look forward to all week long.

Prepared Foods That Make Dinner Effortless

Not every evening has time for a full home-cooked meal, and Mazzella’s prepared foods section feels like it was built with that reality in mind.

The selection rotates with the seasons and the days, but you can generally expect to find Italian seafood salad on weekends, along with an array of cold salads, stuffed mushrooms, and hot entrees ready to take home.

The quality holds up even after reheating, which is not always easy to pull off with prepared foods. Everything tastes like it was made that day because it was.

There are no mystery ingredients or shortcuts hiding behind a label.

For anyone hosting a gathering or just trying to feed a family on a busy weeknight, this section takes the pressure off completely. The variety is wide enough that vegetarian and gluten-conscious options are usually available too.

Customers who discover the prepared foods section often end up planning their weekly meals around it, stopping in on their way home from work and picking up something genuinely delicious without any of the usual dinner-time stress.

Catering That Turns Any Party Into a Feast

Planning food for a party is stressful enough without worrying about whether the catering will actually be good. Mazzella’s has built a strong reputation for catering that removes that stress entirely.

From birthday parties to milestone celebrations, the market has handled events of all sizes with a level of care that goes well beyond just delivering trays of food.

The menu options are extensive, covering sandwiches, prepared entrees, salads, stuffed breads, and more. Dietary needs including vegetarian and gluten-free options are accommodated thoughtfully, so no guest feels overlooked at the table.

Working directly with the owners on a catering order means the planning process feels personal rather than transactional. They help narrow down choices based on the crowd and the occasion, making the whole experience feel collaborative.

Guests at catered events consistently rave about the food, which says a lot given how hard it is to impress a room full of people with different tastes. When the feedback is this consistently positive, it is easy to understand why so many customers return to Mazzella’s for every special occasion they host.

Focaccia Sandwiches Worth the Special Trip

Focaccia sandwiches occupy a different category than your standard sub, and Mazzella’s versions remind you exactly why. The bread itself is a big part of the appeal, golden and slightly crisp on the outside with just enough chew to make every bite satisfying.

What goes on top and inside is where things get really interesting.

Combinations like fresh mozzarella with arugula, bruschetta, and prosciutto finished with balsamic bring a brightness and freshness that feels almost restaurant-quality.

The chipotle chicken focaccia goes in a completely different direction, smoky and bold, but equally well-constructed.

These are sandwiches that feel like they belong on a menu at a sit-down restaurant, yet you can grab one to go and eat it on a park bench or at your kitchen table.

The daily specials board near the far end of the counter often features a rotating focaccia creation worth checking before you default to your usual order.

Trying something new here rarely leads to disappointment, which is a pretty rare thing to be able to say about any food spot.

The Market Atmosphere That Feels Like a Real Find

Some places feel like a chore to visit. Mazzella’s feels like a reward.

The market is compact enough to feel intimate but stocked well enough that you always find something new to take home.

Shelves carry imported Italian products alongside house-made specialties, and the whole setup has a warmth that bigger grocery stores just cannot manufacture.

The staff moves quickly during busy hours but never makes you feel rushed.

Questions get answered with genuine knowledge rather than a shrug, which makes a real difference when you are trying to decide between two cheeses or figure out which prepared dish to bring to a dinner party.

Customers who describe the atmosphere as reminiscent of Italy are not exaggerating for effect.

There is a specific feeling in a well-run Italian market, a combination of smell, sound, and energy that signals quality before you even reach the counter.

Mazzella’s has that feeling in abundance. It is the kind of place that makes a regular errand feel like a small adventure, and that is not something you stumble across every day.

Why Customers Keep Coming Back, Year After Year

Loyalty like this does not happen by accident. Mazzella’s has held an amazing rating, and the pattern in that feedback is hard to ignore.

People come in once, leave impressed, and then find themselves back the following week. Then the week after that.

Part of it is the food, which consistently delivers on its promise regardless of what you order. The sandwiches are fresh, the prepared foods are reliable, and the specialty items like homemade mozzarella and artisan bread give the market a distinct identity that sets it apart from generic delis.

But a bigger part of it is the feeling that the people running this place genuinely care. That care shows up in the details, from the way orders are handled to the consistency of the product over years of operation.

Finding a place where the standard never drops is genuinely rare. When you find one, you hold onto it.

For a lot of people in and around Mountainside, Mazzella’s is exactly that place.

Address: 856 Mountain Ave, Mountainside, NJ