European style center-stage at new Grayslake deli

An Italian family recently opened an authentic European deli in Grayslake.

Highlighting old family recipes, Mamma D's Deli & Pizzeria operates at 15 Commerce Drive, Suite 100.

Lena DiPietra and her sons, Domenic and Tony, operate the business, which debuted earlier this summer. Lena, known as Mamma D, grew up in the coastal mountains of Sicily, cooking with her grandmother. It's the recipes she learned then that the owners now use at the establishment.

There have been many favorites, including the Italian beef sandwich that sells for $5 for a 6-inch and $8 for the footlong. Another popular pick is the arancini, a deep-fried stuffed rice ball with meat, sweet pesto, mozzarella cheese and marinara.

There is also an array of healthy salads, as well as a grilled vegetable sandwich or the buffalo chicken sandwich.

"We don't buy anything prepared. We make it all here, which is hard to do these days," Domenic said.

The eatery also features a European deli similar to what you'd find in Italy, Domenic said. Cannoli and tiramisu are favorites here.

Lena has been in the food industry for about 20 years. Until about four years ago, she ran her own business manufacturing pasta in Wheeling. For the past several years she has been doing catering and other odd jobs.

"We really wanted to get back into the food industry," Domenic said.

"We want to bring our true Italian family recipes to the Grayslake area."

Lena and her husband, Tony, reside in Arlington Heights. Tony has owned his own barber shop in Skokie for about 40 years.

Mamma D's is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and is closed on Sunday. For more information, check out mammads.com.

Kim Mikus covers retail and small business. She welcomes comments at (847) 427-4567 or kmikus@dailyherald.com.