Situated conveniently off Interstate 80 between Sacramento and San Francisco, La Borgata Italian Deli is tucked into historic downtown Vacaville. The shop was opened in 2010 by Marianna Iuliano Schiavone, who had already published her cookbook “La Bella Molisana” sharing her family’s traditional Italian recipes. That book gave her the confidence to finally open the deli she’d been dreaming about, and now she runs it alongside her family.

Walking in, you’ll find a real neighborhood spot where you can grab a handmade sandwich loaded with high-quality meats—some local, some imported from Italy. Their selection includes prosciutto crudo, prosciutto cotto, mortadella, salami, and plenty of other options. If you’re stopping by with your dog, you can order at the counter and take your sandwich to go, or sit outside on the sidewalk in downtown Vacaville where the atmosphere is relaxed and walkable. The salads are fresh and made to order, not the pre-made variety sitting under glass.

Beyond the sandwiches, the family also sells freshly sliced meats by the pound if you want to stock up for home. They make a proper cappuccino too, and they’ve got desserts on hand—the kind that makes sense after an Italian sandwich, not the overly sweet stuff. Everything here reflects Marianna’s approach to food: quality ingredients, traditional preparation, and the kind of care that comes from actually knowing what you’re doing in a kitchen.

It’s the type of place where regulars have their usual orders and the staff remembers them. The vibe is genuinely welcoming without feeling forced. If you’re traveling between the Bay Area and Sacramento with your dog, this is a solid stop for lunch that beats chain restaurants by miles. Grab your sandwich and eat it at one of the nearby parks or benches around downtown.