Armani’s Italian Market of Vero Beach Review

Visiting, experiencing, and now reflecting upon Armani’s Italian Market in downtown Vero Beach isn’t just an opportunity to share my perspective, it’s also a bit of a homecoming.

Let’s be honest, one glance at my last name will have you assuming correctly that a mom-and-pop Italian market is somewhere my heart feels happy and at home. But, beyond the obvious, there are deeper layers of significance that have quickly endeared this community treasure to me.

When my husband and I first moved to Vero Beach, Armani‘s Cucina — the adjacent restaurant also owned and operated by the mother-daughter duo — was the first place we ever dined. So right off the bat, my visit to the Market felt familiar, like coming full-circle. But the way it married my native roots and Italian-American heritage to the Treasure Coast I now fondly call home, ended up tugging at my heartstrings in an even bigger way.

A homecoming of flavor

Relatively new, but born with an old soul, Armani’s Italian Market recently celebrated its first anniversary. And, with that vital operational milestone now in the rear view mirror, the Market has visibly hit its stride. Stepping inside, I was greeted and instantly surrounded by all the sights and smells that a traditional Italian market brings to mind. The vibrant colors of product packaging — both foreign and familiar — seemed to jump off the tidy, organized shelves, drawing me in and encouraging me to explore. The oversized deli cases teemed with freshly prepared foods and all things delicious, ranging from sausage made on the premises — cheese & parsley rings, sweet, hot and fennel — to entrees and salads, like my favorite Eggplant Caponata, a traditional savory Sicilian chutney.

Like the proverbial kid in a candy store, I found my eyes bouncing from one pleasant surprise to the next — one minute admiring the homemade rice balls and potato croquettes, the next noticing the array of imported olive oils, condiments and slow-dried pastas.

Finally, my eyes registered the familiar striped packaging and bold, branded letters that spelled out Pastosa^®️. Practically an Italian American household name in ravioli, Armani’s gets them shipped directly from Brooklyn.

The Market’s homemade to-go selection changes daily, but some constants you can always count on include Sausage & Peppers, Breaded Cutlets, and Broccoli Rabe — all of which I got to taste fresh, case-to-sandwich.

A homecoming of authenticity

I could write a laundry list of the authentic items lining the shelves and refrigerated cases of Armani’s Italian Market, but I could just as easily pinpoint what I’d place at the top: The Bread. Toasty Italian bread with a light, crispy crust baked to perfection, and a soft pillowy interior. The kind I would extract with surgical precision as a child, leaving behind a fully intact, albeit hollowed-out husk of a loaf for my unassuming parents. I was a most underappreciated sleight of hand magician back in the day. Armani’s “imports” their bread par-baked from Staten Island, and I’m told it’s the only place in all of Indian River County where you can find Seeded Semolina and Italian Bread of its kind. I suppose there really is something to be said about New York water after all, because the difference is tasteable.

Speaking of bread and sandwiches, I sampled three of the Market’s signature subs — a bold trifecta of quality, freshness and flavor:

In the food world, few things are as comforting to me as a simple, but expertly-prepared chicken cutlet. So, as much as I love eggplant, my answer to Armani’s question, “What Came First — The Chicken or the Eggplant?” was without hesitation the Chicken. Topping their lightly fried cutlets with house-made mozzarella, roasted red peppers and a drizzle of balsamic glaze is standard for this order, but I also opted to add Broccoli Rabe — something you can do to any sandwich for a modest upcharge that I’d swear under oath is worth every penny.

The Royal kicks a classic Sausage & Peppers into high gear with the unexpected but “yes please!” addition of Capicola and melted Provolone. Amping it up even further with a bold pop of temperature contrast, is the crisp lettuce, tomato, onion, olive oil and vinegar on top. The result is an explosive best-of-both-worlds combination of flavor and texture, deserving all the majesty of its name.

The Don is an elevated twist on the classic Italian. The Market certainly offers an Italian Sub — in fact, they proudly brand it with their name. But, while both sandwiches include thinly-sliced salami, provolone and the same veggie accoutrements, The Don boasts layers of Prosciutto and Mortadella in lieu of The Italian’s Ham and Capicola. And, unlike the other two subs served on long seeded semolina rolls, The Don comes on a classic Italian loaf. Both breads hit the spot, but I found their classic Italian bread to be especially *insert chef kiss here*. So, so good.

Other signature sandwich standouts include The Godfather that’s loaded with Porchetta, Provolone and Arugula, and the Paulie Walnuts, which tops a breaded eggplant cutlet with chunks of imported provolone, broccoli rabe and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Deli Meats and Cheeses are sliced fresh to order, and available to purchase by the pound.

A homecoming of tradition

Good sandwiches and icy cool drinks go hand-in-hand, but I didn’t expect to discover Foxon Park sodas from my old stomping grounds chilling inside a Vero Beach fridge. The nostalgia moved me. When folks hear that I’m originally from New Haven, they’ll quickly acknowledge that I hail from the Pizza Capital of the world. Right they are, but what’s not as widely known about Wooster Street — Connecticut’s most historic Little Italy — is that apart from slinging the world’s best coal-fired pies, something all those famous pizzerias have in common is the soda they serve. From Sally’s and Pepe’s to Modern Apizza, Foxon Park soda out of neighboring East Haven is the niche, but mandatory, beverage of choice. I have to admit that knowing I can grab one at any time here in my new hometown feels like both a gamechanger and a gift.

A homecoming of family

Armani’s Italian Market is a family affair. Owned and run by mother and daughter, Angelina and Tara, and named after Tara’s young (but growing fast!) son Armani, the Market can’t help but remind me of my own family. My grandfather owned and operated an Italian Bakery in Brooklyn, so I was delighted by the familiar variety of Italian confections and cookies available for purchase. It didn’t take long for me to spot their Sfogliatella — my all-time favorite pastry. Pronounced “shvee-ah-dell” and meaning “small, thin leaf,” this delicate, clamshell-shaped dessert is composed of layers upon layers of thin, curly pastry surrounding a rich custard center that’s infused with the subtle but magical citrus essence of candied orange peel. Not only does the pastry remind me of my grandpa, it’s also one of my favorite flavor profiles of all time. But, I suspect those two things have something, if not everything, to do with each other.

A year ago, the family behind Armani’s Cucina took a leap of faith, and I’m so glad they did. Hoping to fill an existing culinary, grocery and retail void, they took a chance and succeeded in bringing something new, needed and different to our community. As the adage goes, with great risk comes great reward — and in this case, I think we all reap the benefits. Whether we choose to shop, pick up lunch, or do both at the same time, we’ve gained the wonderful convenience of an authentic Italian Market and Deli right here in our Treasure Coast backyard. And, I for one, couldn’t be happier to have a downtown spot where I feel right at home.

Armani’s Italian Market
Address: 1930 14th Ave | Vero Beach, FL 32901
Phone: (772) 217-2179
http://armanisitalianmarket.com

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