U Mundu E Ca

Absolutely delicious. Thanks Unilocal for the great recommendation. Huge portions, excellent price

Great small family owned joint that serves as an Italian grocery store as well. Friendly people and awesome food. Open until 7pm weekdays. It’s worth whatever trip you have to make. Overnight crews need to come to this place.

In the last week thinking about what to write because not writing was not an option the thematic foundations had already been laid and all that needed done was the construction of some sort of halfway interesting superstructure. The theme for me was almost too obvious that a unique spot such as this could thrive in a landscape of plain common humdrum. I had thought that A Tree Grows in Brooklyn would be a suitable metaphor for a variety of reasons that I’ll spare you here because that’s not why you’re reading this review.
What was most striking to me and I think others who have written before is here, in a not-​unusual American landscape of predictable strip malls and plazas filled with the same cast of bland corporate characters again and again and again as if spooled for some old-​school cartoon backdrop, here sits this wrinkle in time of family Italian prepared foods and sundries tucked in the back off Olive Garden Red Lobster Starbucks Avenue. I’m not hating on these other places necessarily, so many people think they enjoy them I suppose they serve some purpose but still. They exist because those who finance and build this gruel don’t really care what it looks like or what it holds — the product is what the bank understands and the builder simply builds, fills, takes their money and gets out of town. We get to endure what they left behind and with each new plaza our collective soul dies just a little bit more.
Mi madre and I would not have had this pleasure but for the assistance of the handy red asterisk. There’d have been no way we possibly could have stumbled upon this driving Wolf Road away from the airport for all that filled our eyeballs were never-​ending breadsticks. So almost as large a debt of gratitude as that owed the proprietors of U Mundu is owed to Unilocal,because without you this happiness most certainly would not have ensued.
Mom said the spot reminded her of the Italian joint on First Avenue around 10^th Street where we’d go back in the day and I could put my hands in those big bags of beans and they were cool and slippery while she got a cannoli. The store is small. In back is the cold foods case with maybe ten fresh made salads and sides by the pound or to put on your plate next to a hot or cold sammy or something more substantial. The list of offerings is not exhaustive but sufficiently diverse to satisfy any hungry tummy looking to be filled with true Italian goodness. If you choose to dine at one of the four or so tables inside you’ll have time while you wait for the loving preparation to browse the racks of shelving in the center store or along the walls or frozen things cases. For a shoebox of a space they fill it with more you want to take home than any silly warehouse. We piled freshly frozen ravioli filled with garlic and broccoli and marscapone made only a day or two ago in Brooklyn where trees actually grow in abundance and took them home with the fresh sauce to give Pops a little taste of home.
For a fellow coming home for a week of Christmas love I tell you straight up — this put a positive spin on my top that hasn’t still stopped. Perhaps the rotation today a full week later owes a little to the fact that I’ll be at U Mundu again tomorrow filling my belly for the trip back across the land of Darden and Pepsico. I smile a smile of anticipation. You of Albany and Troy and Schenectady, you have something special here. Go as often as you can. Tell your friends. Keep this little tree growing and who knows, maybe the banks will decide to broaden their horizons and the builders will make us something different and cool the next time.

Cute little ma and pa Italian shop with all the fixins’! Since it was closed for a short break a while ago, I had not gotten the chance to return until now. From the outside walking into this dainty shop I could already smell the distinct aroma of what I’d consider true Italian spices. There are a few tables lined with red and white tablecloths for those who wish to dine in.
I headed straight to the back counter to order what I’ve been wanting to try and compare with other local Italian shops. I ordered the small sausage and peppers hot sub ($ 6.50) + the eggplant hot sub ($ 6.50). While there were a few more customers in line to receive their orders, I did some exploring around their shop to discover some nice items! They carry a few balsamic vinegars, Italian cakes and cookies, tomato sauces, and much more. I also noticed in the freezer aisle that there are boxes and boxes of ravioli for sale: mushroom, lobster (!!), cheese, pumpkin, butternut squash, and more. During the wait I also noticed that the customers at this peak lunch hour time are those who had come to pick up their orders they’ve pre-​placed ahead of time, which made it much quicker to grab and go. I was handed my orders packed in to-​go containers as requested and checked out up front where the register is.
I’m happy to say that even with transportation and the tightly packed to-​go container, my hot subs made it to the table no problem (approx. 10 mins?). The two hot subs were still piping hot inside and bread was nice and crisped (maybe a little overcrisped too). The eggplant was a tad mushier than I’d prefer but it was packed with flavor. Same goes for the sausage and peppers, not only stuffed but included onions, tomatoes, green and red peppers, slightly spicy sausage… all melded into one hot and tasty treat. I’d choose the sausage and peppers again, but might skip the eggplant here.
Good quality and decent prices. The small size was more like a medium to me, as I think I read that it is 6″. There will be a next time!

TL;DR — Tried delicious sandwiches from a small Italian market that gave my wife and I stomachaches.
What a difficult place to review. Wife and I shared 2 sandwiches — a panini w/​chicken cutlet, prosciutto, eggplant and fresh mozzarella and a «cold hero» w/​prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers and arugula. Loved them both! There was a bit too much olive oil on each, but we enjoyed them thoroughly. Would have been thinking 4 – 5 stars, but shortly after lunch our stomachs were bothering us for hours.
If I were ever spending any length of time in Albany, I would give this place another shot.
Bonus: there’s a signed photo of Brutus «The Barber» Beefcake hanging up!

This place is a great treat for a quick but fulfilling lunch! Fresh ingredients made right in front of you. They offer a wide variety of salads and always have 2 soups available. The specials are always delicious! I had the «Vin B» today and it was phenomenal. They also have Snapple flavors that are hard to find elsewhere!

Looking to get away from those everyday chains and enjoy some real food made fresh to order. U mundu e ca is the place to go ! It’s the closest thing to an old fashion dinner at home. Between the warm welcome from the older man at the pay counter to the wonderful woman behind the deli section.
This place deserves more than 5 stars and it is now my go to for all deli needs or if I just want a delicious sandwich.
PS. Nicole is a sandwich genius and will make anything you can think of ! Fresh mozz if the best in all of Albany!

Incredible Italian food made with love, incredible staff, amazingly fresh imported ingredients. I did not know a place such as this existed in Albany!

So delicious. When I venture out for more than a mile away from my building on my lunch break, this is the place to go. The store is filled with imported Italian goods that you probably won’t find anywhere else locally. Towards the back of the store is a counter to order subs/​paninis/​pasta dishes/​etc. Every time I’ve gone, I’ve gotten the same panini which contains chicken, eggplant, fresh mozzarella, and prosciutto. It always tastes amazing — grilled to perfection with the cheese oozing off of the sides of the fresh ciabatta bread it’s served on.
The store is family owned and operated so when you walk in, you feel a warm welcome and are always greeted with a smile. Their sandwiches are extremely reasonably priced as well. I’m perplexed at why people still patronize chains when you have local establishments serving an amazing product like they are! Do yourself a favor, and go!
Did I mention they also have cannolis?

Next time you’re on Wolf Road, skip the fast food and chain restaurants and head here. You can get a specialty sub with fresh ingredients in a similar price range.
I ordered the meatball sub and my fiancé (first time using that in a Unilocal review!) ordered an Italian. The meatball sub came on a fresh, soft roll with ample cheese. The meatballs were huge and packed solid. It was a close to perfect sub. My only wish is that the meatballs had a little more flavor or spice.
The service here is excellent. When we walked in, we were greeted promptly and had a nice conversation with those working behind the counter. Some higher maintenance customers came in behind us and were given the same great service.
It is casual dining, but food is served on real plates and delivered to your table. While you wait for your food, be sure to look around the store. There was a wide variety of products for sale.

First visit, but not the last!
I got one of the sandwich specials of the day, with help of Nicole. It was a spicy Italian sub with Soprosseta, Capicolla, provolone, onions, tomato, and roasted red peppers on a toasted hero roll.
Included was a choice of a salad and beverage. Nicole recommended the loaded potato salad. It was made with red potatoes, scallions, bits of bacon and cheddar cheese. It had just the right amount of mayo. Very enjoyable. And the whole meal was a good value at $ 8.95 for the sandwich, salad and drink.
I would definitely recommend this place!

I have been coming to this place for a while now and I have not had a bad experience. Whether I eat in at the big table with friends or take out back to the office, everything from hot subs to salads to cold subs are amazing.
There is a few things that really separate this place. It is authentic Italian in a NYC Queens type of way. The people there speak Italian and they cater to a clientele wanting a higher quality product who know the difference. You can get Brooklyn bread if you like as well.
When you order something simple as a cold cut mix, you get the highest quality cuts in the store. They don’t use one prosciutto for sandwich and sell the other good stuff, like other places. Anyone can watch them prep stuff and put it out, they are not hiding things.
The service is fast and accurate. They know that people around them have tight lunch schedules and work their asses off to make sure you are not there waiting too long. They have dishes that you may not see in other delis like the bacon sprouts in oil and vinegar that are amazing and I may not have gotten them anywhere else.
I prefer the cold subs but you really cant go wrong.
Additionally they sell high quality Italian and local products as well as frozen goodies.
I will continue to return and the price is good, you can get a massive filling sub under $ 10 that is of the highest quality, not just Boars Head boring stuff.

Their sandwiches are unbeatable! Such fresh ingredients and innovative combinations, if your in the mood for some Italian deli style sandwiches, omg look no further! Very comparable to «andys & sons» which I’m also very fond of.

Great local, family-​run Italian deli/​specialty store! High quality, fresh made items. They have an excellent selection of panini and sandwiches, imported products, meats, cheeses and salads. I particularly love their fresh mozzarella (typically available Fridays-​Sundays). Prices are very reasonable and portions are substantial. So happy to have found a place like this on Wolf Road.

This place is tucked in behind the Hannaford, so it is easy to miss — don’t make that mistake!
This is a deli & specialty grocery store with some really fine products on sale. My GF and I stopped in for dinner because we saw they offered a deal via the Entertainment Book. It took us a u-​turn on Wolf Rd. to find the place, but it was well worth it.
The ingredients were fresh and both of us had delicious sandwiches, with a really tasty sides. I am not normally a fan of cold cut roast beef, but I took a chance and the roast beef sandwich was excellent.
My GF had a chicken & prosciutto sandwich (of which I ate some), and that was excellent too.
The people were friendly, and with the coupon, everything was quite reasonably priced.
When I am in the area, I will definitely stop back in for another delicious meal.

Cute Italian outpost. Incredibly authentic complete with nonna, nonno and a telenovela in Italian playing in the background.
We needed some sustenance to keep us going on a rough day of long overdue «Spring cleaning» so we ordered a sub for takeout. My visit was brief but memorable. I walked in and high tailed it to the back counter to find the staff (and my food). Immediately I encountered 2 of my favorites things: fresh mozzarella and chicken cutlets displayed on the counter. My husband had placed the order under my name and I secretly hoped he had ordered a sub with exactly those ingredients… He didn’t, but he did order a turkey sub which could feed a small army (or just my husband and I after a long day of cleaning!)
I’ll definitely need to return to sample the rest of the menu and some of the goods they offer.

Really glad we looked through Unilocal as it was our first time in Albany, NY. This was a gem of a find and we’ll surely return if we are ever in the area. Great food, great value, home feel, super-​friendly atmosphere.

Absolutely the beat find! Authentic Italian with home cooked charm. They make everything fresh. Owner brought us a sampling of their mozzarella they just made… still warm! Speciality items from Italy line the shelves as you may your way back to the deli counter. Menu is unbelievable. Eggplant parm, sausage and peppers, lasagna, veal parm… FAB!

Fantastic little deli tucked just off Wolf Rd. So refreshing to find such a fantastic family run business in the commercial wasteland of Wolf Rd.
Sandwiches were fresh with very generous portions. Looking foward to trying some of their homemade raviolis in the case soon!

What a fun little mom-​and-​pop Italian deli/​grocery shop this is! I ordered the hot Italian love sub which was basically delicious chunks of Italian sausage in a huge sub with mozzarella and tomato sauce. You can’t go wrong with this combination. I also ordered a panini with eggplant, mozzarella and peppers. Also very good, needed a little more spice but very delightful. It took a while for them to make the subs but it was worth the wait. They also had eggplant parm and all the classic Italian dishes on the menu. While I waited for them to make my sandwiches I browsed the store and made a couple of impulse buys. Of note they have a small seating area in the front of the store if you want to eat here. Seems like this would be a great lunch place. I also heard people calling in orders for pick-​up if you are in a hurry. Give this place a try, you won’t be disappointed.