Three’s The Charm For Newtown Deli & Catering

The décor cries out “Country!” but the flavor inside of Newtown Deli & Catering at 70 South Main Street is 100 percent New York-style deli. Patrons have been enjoying the extensive menu of 18 specialty sandwiches, hot sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads, and a full breakfast menu since the doors to Newtown Deli & Catering opened in 2001. Colorful bags of chips and snacks, and specialty items like Michael’s pasta sauces from Brooklyn, San Pellegrino sparkling water, and handcrafted dried gnocchi are neatly stacked on racks in front of 26 feet of deli cases filled with hot and cold deli offerings and Boar’s Head products. Another case houses made-on-premises frozen entrees and fresh specialty raviolis. The deli also offers a selection of cakes, bars, cookies, muffins, and biscotti from local bakers and from New York City, packaged individually for quick pickup at the register.

Art Praino, who has been in the food business since 1988, is a self-taught chef and businessman who trained under a well-known deli owner in Queens. He is pleased to share the South Main Street space with Butcher’s Best, owned by Steve Ford, a relationship that echoes the service, quality, and specialty items for which Newtown Deli & Catering is known.

Since May 2010, customers have also been enjoying the same great food found at the Newtown Deli at Art and Annie Praino’s Sideline Café, located in Newtown Youth Academy, 10 Fairfield Circle South, in Fairfield Hills. And as of March 29, the owners of the popular deli and its offshoot have welcomed customers into the third and newest addition to their family, Sandy Hook Deli & Catering, at 102 Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook Center.

The Sideline Café focuses on healthy offerings, for takeout or to eat in, all prepared at the South Main Street location. Hot soups, breakfast wraps and sandwiches, pasta salads, coleslaw, and potato salad are served, along with lighter fare, protein shakes, yogurt parfaits, and protein bars. Organic salads have been popular with Sideline Café clients. For the small fry, The Sideline Café features a frozen drink machine, a hot dog machine, and Mom-Made natural baked goods.

The Sideline Café offers patrons the option of opening a private prepaid account. “After a work out, they can order their protein shake, have their card punched — buy five, get the sixth free — and have it deducted from their account,” said Mr Praino. “Parents find it useful for their kids, as well.”

Sandy Hook Deli & Catering combines the best of both worlds, with an equally extensive offering of the sandwiches, soups, and salads, as well as the full breakfast menu found at Newtown Deli & Catering. The new location features panini sandwiches, as well, such as the turkey and bacon panini with avocado and a chipotle chili sauce. Organic salads by Nature’s Nosh are sold at the Sandy Hook location, joining newer green salads like the grilled Asian salad and the vegetarian salad. Customers ordering the grilled Asian salad will find a bed of spinach and lettuce topped with carrots, almonds, snow peas, oranges, and crispy noodles. The vegetarian will satisfy with broccoli, edamame, carrots, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and apples on top of a crisp bed of spinach and lettuce.

For customers in a hurry, the Grab & Go unit at Sandy Hook Deli & Catering is filled with ready-to-heat prepared meals, sandwiches, salads, yogurt parfaits, and other snacks. Need a half-gallon of milk or a dozen eggs? One section of the wall-sized beverage cooler is devoted to dairy items to take home. Specialty raviolis and breads from Bronx bakeries are available for purchase at the new Sandy Hook Deli & Catering.

Dessert lovers will be satisfied with a selection of gelato ice cream from Gelato Guiliana, or a homemade cannoli.

A full coffee station with cappuccino and flavored coffees, as well as a juice and tea bar and a slushy maker give customers plenty of self-service beverage options at the Sandy Hook Deli & Catering.

Sandy Hook Deli & Catering joins Newtown Deli and the Sideline Café in providing catering for onsite parties of any size. “People will find the same great food,” said Mr Praino, “and lots of other options appealing to a wide variety of tastes.”

The catering menu includes appetizers, salads, and cold cut platters for parties of all sizes. The delis are happy to help out by providing even just one item for a party. “There’s always that one thing that takes a lot of time, and that’s something we can help with,” Mr Praino said.

Annie Praino, utilizing all of the resources their deli businesses offer, heads the Food Tent Committee for the Relay For Life event. “Last year, the food tent sold $2,500 worth of items, all donated,” said Ms Praino, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Relay For Life. “This year, we hope to be even more successful. This town really pulls together for the event,” she said.

The Prainos count themselves lucky to have a supportive staff, and a very involved family. Mr Praino’s father and mother can be found in the kitchen or behind a counter. “We are truly a family business,” said Ms Praino.

 They look forward to meeting more members of the community at Sandy Hook Deli & Catering.

Newtown Deli & Catering, 79 South Main Street, is open Monday to Friday, 6 am to 6 pm; Saturday from 7 am to 5 pm; and Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm. To place a takeout order or for catering call 203-364-1218. The Sideline Café, 10 Fairfield Circle South, Fairfield Hills, serves 7 am to 9 pm, seven days of the week. Sandy Hook Deli & Catering, 102 Church Hill Road, Sandy Hook, is open Monday to Friday, 6 am to 8 pm; Saturday, 7 am to 5 pm; and Sunday, 8 am to 3 pm. To place a takeout order or for catering from Sandy Hook Deli & Catering, call 203-304-9656. Ample off street parking is available behind the Sandy Hook Deli & Catering.