Nardelli’s Grinder Shoppe

I’ve eaten Nardelli’s several times at this location and a couple of their different ones for years (love their eggplant parm!) … but after having this Danbury shop cater a party for me for a second time now this past weekend, I felt I should finally write a review. I ordered the assorted grinders and wraps sandwich option for 25 – 30 people for the graduation party I threw. I also had several specifications (no red meat, etc.) and pretty much customized the entire thing to mine and my boyfriend’s liking/​food preferences. They gave me no trouble at all for doing this. Although Nardelli’s is closed on Sundays, the gentleman I placed my order with (I believe his name was Jamie) volunteered to go in early in the morning on his day off just to make my entire order fresh for the party later on that afternoon. He also did not charge me extra for all my customizations (he honored the original $ 129.99 price on the catering menu… which is very reasonable for the amount of food you get). We got three huge trays full of delicious, super fresh sandwiches, containers full of olives and pickles, and all the mayo and mustard we could ever need. They loaded it into my car with extreme care to make sure the sandwiches would stay as good looking as they did. They looked great, were absolutely delicious, and HUGE. They served way more than 25 – 30 and we had a ton of leftovers. I don’t eat meat, just fish/​seafood, so finding a place to do great sandwiches everyone including myself will love can be difficult. The seafood salad was super fresh and all the guests absolutely loved the grilled chicken ones. Such a nice change from typical, salty deli meat gross sandwiches you find elsewhere. I was so appreciative and it’s really obvious that they care about what they do there. Will recommend them to anyone and will absolutely have them cater again in the future.

Italian combo was unbelievable! Wow. Everything in the deli case looked so colorful and so fresh i wanted to try everything!

I went to this place during lunch time and wanted salad, it was grab and go which was convenient but you still had to wait in line for the cashier because it seemed like she was also doing kitchen and cashier which was understandable but would’ve probably made the line go quicker had she just done that and that’s why I don’t give it a 5 star. The food was awesome, I got the Italian mixed salad and it didn’t even need dressing it had all these natural flavor a that mended perfect to each other and the guys behind the counter were eager to make a fresh one or specific one if I was unhappy with the grab and go selection! Will definitely go back!

The only problem with this place is the bread. The bread is alway stale and dry at least 1 to 2 days old. If I wanted old bread I would make my own sandwich at home for a fraction of the price. Rule of thumb a successful deli always has fresh bread.

I do not see what all the fuss is all about. I’ve tried this place a few times and every time I am disappointed.
This whole concept of pre-​making the sandwich fillings without the bread and keeping them in the fridge causes a lot of problems. First of all they make them too small so when they place it on the sandwich there is a ton of extra bread. Second, this causes everything to get soggy from the sauces and the cheese. This is especially bad for things like their breaded chicken.
The actual preparation of the sandwiches is just as bad. If you get your sandwich warm, it’s microwaved, and this makes the sandwiches even more soggy and chewy. Gross. And this whole pre-​made «everything» concoction makes the vegetables soft and not crisp like they should be. And finally, they have McDonald’s level employees making their sandwiches who have no clue how much of each ingredient should be put on the sandwich.
What started out as a nice local sandwich shop has turned into a chain that I would categorize as a Subway with a few poorly executed frills. Even the no-​name chips they sell are gross.

Got this for take out when we were driving through Danbury and I was amazed at how large the sub was. Very delicious!

I ate at Nardelli’s with a few friends two weekends in a row and had a great experience both times.
The food is delicious and the service is quick. Our group tried the prosciutto hot pepper chicken, meatball parm, and other grinders, as well as lasagna, various salads, and desserts. Everything we tried was good. And the half-​size grinder is good sized, even for a big appetite.
I’ll definitely go back if I find myself in the area again.

My experience was very nice. I went with the Unilocal recommendations and ordered a half Italian with everything. I am glad I went with the half as they are quite large. Service was very prompt and friendly. I had glanced at their menu before going in and was tempted by the desserts. When I saw them in the display, I could not help but to add a cannoli to my order. The shell was one of the better ones I have ever eaten, however the filling was quite a bit sweeter than I expected. It was still good, just unexpected.

Have tried many places off of 84 travelling from NH to NJ. Feel like we have pulled off at every exit along the way. Pass through Waterbury and see the Nardelli’s every time and the Danbury location is just very convenient to get off and back on. Sandwiches/​subs were good. The bread was excellent. We didn’t test them much as we had some very pedestrian orders. Next time I would want to try the way that they recommend fixing up a sandwich rather than eating the stripped down versions that my kids insist on. I would like to try the eggplant parm. Need to do some more reading on Unilocal before the next visit.

Excellent grinders!
Their staple Italian Combo is very tasty and even the half is hugely portioned with plenty of meat.
Their sausage and peppers grinder is also very good, to the point that you forget you are eating a sandwich.
The bread they use is fantastic as well.
The locale is inviting, with many choices on the board and many specials sprinkled about.
We also tried their cheesecake burrito dessert but the ratio was off, having far more tortilla than it needed, instead of more cheesecake.
I will make this a regular place to visit, because with 7 bucks or so, you can fill your belly with some good stuff indeed.

This place is awesome. The food quality and variety is on point. The service is exceptional. The prices are definitely reasonable and the wait time is minimal. Without a doubt the best sandwich shop around.

I eat here every time I have a hankering for a samich. I can’t get enough of their Italian combo. They also have a great section of desserts and stuff so so good.

Stopped on my way thru the state and I WILL stop again! Friendly staff and decent prices for what I got.
I had the large buffalo chicken grinder and it was a large fresh roll loaded with 2 large chicken breasts, great sauce.
I look forward to trying other grinders.

Very impressed with how beautifully the display case is put together… someone there takes pride in this and it shows.

We have passed this place many times in the past while in Danbury. We decided to go in. The atmosphere was very nice. Staff seemed very nice and the line went quickly. The sandwiches were just OK. Nothing to really go crazy about but very good sandwiches. Cost was about $$$.

Good food and friendly service, a solid three-​star restaurant. I ordered the Italian combo «with everything» and it was tasty. The roll was fresh and the sandwich was loaded with meat and fresh vegetables. I have to say that I was expecting more based on the other reviews, but I was satisfied with my sandwich.

Every time I come home this is my first stop. Their Italian combo haunts my dreams from a 1000 miles away and will always embody what home is to me.

Thanks to Unilocal when I was starving I found this fan favorite and got an awesome Italian Grinder. It was excellent and so big I had leftovers for later. The bread was quality with a slight chewiness to it… perfect. All the ingredients were fresh, perfect dispersal of toppings and sandwich craftsmanship. Definitely recommend.

I cannot visit this area of Connecticut without hitting the Nardelli’s on Newtown road. Everything is consistently delicious, freshly made, and really appealing. I have a really tough time making a decision. My favorite however is the pastrami loaf thingy. I will always stop on my last day and grab one to go, nobody else does pastrami like this.
There is always plenty of parking and the dining area is large enough for even the busiest lunch days.
The counter people are excellent and never miss a trick. Great selection of other items like chips, drinks, and sweets. Lets not forget the fantastic sides and salads.
Nardelli’s is a slam dunk for area visitors as well as the lucky locals.
I’m a big fan!

I don’t stop by Nardelli’s too often, regardless of how close it is to my place, but when I do, I’m always satisfied (and full) with what I order.
Nardelli’s prides itself with its huge sandwiches and quick and friendly customer service, which always seems to be top notch every time. I’m a fan of the staff double checking if you want everything included in «the works» or just partial of what it is. I know a lot of people in previous reviews complained about hot sauce being added to their sandwich, but personally, I think it’s great. Nothing like a little tangy/​spicy sauce to kick up an Italian combo grinder.
I normally go with a full grinder when I come in, but I had a rather large breakfast and a large coffee earlier that morning, so it seemed a little overwhelming. I settled with the half Italian grinder instead with some chips. I’ve had the tortellini salad before which is pretty delicious and simple, the best kind. From ordering, to paying, to leaving, I was in and out in within around five minutes. No complaints.
The Italian combo was delicious and filling as always. I also love how they don’t assault the sandwich with hot sauce, it’s just enough for it to be significant, but not too much to the point that it’s all you taste. It’s enjoyable. I’ll be back again when I start having withdrawals.