Mystery Diner: Josef’s meats and deli offers Geneva touch of Italy

GENEVA – Josef's Elegante Meats and Deli is a family affair. Married couple Pat and Nanette Falcone own the business, which operates as a butcher shop, gourmet deli and caterer. The couple employs multiple family members and even named the shop after each of their fathers, who also worked as butchers.

A slew of sandwich offerings make Josef’s a prime location for the lunching crowd. It’s also a one-stop shop for those looking for a fine Italian dinner to cook at home. More than 50 types of homemade pastas are available for purchase, as well as “heat and eat,” ready-to-go meals, such as veggie or meat lasagna, eggplant Parmesan (a specialty) and meatballs, according to Josef’s menu.

In the summer on Saturdays, a grill is rolled into the parking lot for a blacktop barbecue. Josef’s staff members flip preservative-free, 12-ounce, stuffed burgers, made using pure sirloin that is stuffed with bacon, cheddar and onion or jalapeño and cheese.

I was told by a staff member that “people come from all over” to savor the succulence.

Visiting the intimate butcher shop for lunch at the tail-end of winter, hot oven-grinder sandwiches were what we were after.

Upon entering the shop, we claimed one of the few café-style tables grouped in the center of the room.

Ravioli, tortellini and gnocchi were a few among the many pasta options lining the shelves of the refrigerated food section. If ever I was expected to “make” a home-cooked, authentic Italian dinner for out-of-town guests, family, friends or my spouse for a special occasion, I can skip out on prep time by taking a trip to Josef’s, boiling some water and presto! A “home-cooked” Italian dinner for two, four or more is ready for service. (A crucial part of that plan, of course, it to get rid of the containers and make a bit of a mess in the kitchen to keep up appearances.)

My dining companion opted to order the Oven Grinder, a hot, oven-roasted sandwich, but Josef’s also serves sub-like sandwiches served on nine-inch French rolls. I chose the Santa Fe sandwich, and for 75 cents apiece we ordered the macaroni salad and the very popular, old-fashioned potato salad. The shop boasts serving more than 15 different salads every day.

Boar’s Head luncheon meats, cheeses and condiments are used in Josef’s sandwiches. Daily sandwich specials include the Italian or cheesy-beef sandwich with melted mozzarella on Tuesdays; the barbecue pork or chicken Parmesan sandwich on Wednesdays; the Stromboli Italian sausage with peppers sandwich on Thursdays; and the Meatball sandwich on Fridays. The list of available deli meats is a long one, so customers have ample options to create their own sandwich concoction, as well; just ask.

The gargantuan sandwiches, which nearly busted from the seams with toppings, were served rolled in tin foil. It may behoove diners to share a sandwich or expect to take leftovers home.

The Oven Grinder was my favorite, while my dining companion preferred the Santa Fe, funnily enough. Juicy cuts of roast beef and Italian salami took center stage with the Oven Grinder, which also came layered with mayo, vinaigrette dressing, lettuce, tomato, onion, sweet roasted peppers and a generous portion of melted provolone cheese.

The Santa Fe came with Sausalito turkey breast – which was sun-dried-tomato and jalapeño-roasted – mayo, lettuce, sweet red peppers and jalapeño Jack cheese.

If you haven’t visited Josef’s Elegante Meats and Deli yet, put it on your list. The multi-purpose shop has been dazzling locals with a touch of Italy since 1998, and truly good things tend to stick around.

• The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at the Kane County Chronicle. The diner’s identity is not revealed to the restaurant staff before or during the meal. The Mystery Diner visits a different restaurant every other week and then reports on the experience. If the Mystery Diner cannot recommend the establishment, we will not publish a review.