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Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Owners Mike and Joanne Mansch operate the newly opened Alotta's Deli Cafe with the help of daughters Melissa and Jaclyn. The Cupertino location is the family's second restaurant.
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Deli prepares 'Alotta' really delicious food
By Michelle Ku
Fifteen years after Alotta's Delicatessen and Catering opened in Los Altos, Joanne Mansch's dream of operating a Cupertino location came true last week with the opening of Alotta's Deli Cafe on De Anza Boulevard.
Mansch and her husband, Mike, Cupertino residents for 23 years, have always wanted to have a restaurant in Cupertino.
"About eight years ago, we looked around for locations [to expand to]," Mansch said. "We found one in the Santa Clara area, but my heart was in Cupertino."
When Armadillo Willy's switched locations on De Anza, Mansch decided it was time to expand Alotta's to Cupertino. Alotta's opened its doors on Aug. 9.
The restaurant specializes in fresh, homemade food, Mansch said.
Everything on the premises--including the oven-roasted turkey breast, bread and lasagna--is made fresh. Since the food is prepared daily, the menu items are constantly changing.
The deli's hours and menu will continue to change until the Mansch's learn what local residents want. "This isn't a cookie-cutter operation," Mike said. "We have to custom the menu to this area. Every neighborhood is different and our final menu won't be out until we know what people want."
Alotta's makes a traditional Caesar salad tossed with teriyaki chicken and croutons for $5.95. The deli features a different salad of the day, including coleslaw, potato, macaroni and cabbage.
Popular items include the turkey breast sandwich topped with bacon and Swiss cheese for $5.95 and the veggie supreme sandwich with roasted peppers, cheese, tomatoes, avocado and cucumber prepared with dill dressing for $5.25.
Sandwiches are made with the customer's choice of sour French roll or nine-grain wheat, swirl rye or sliced Italian bread. Every sandwich comes with a serving of the salad of the day.
"We try to make a good sandwich at a good price," Mansch said. "Our sandwiches are pretty large--they are a quarter pound."
Alotta's boasts a meatball sandwich topped with melted provolone cheese for $5.25. Beef and spinach ravioli served with meat sauce and topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese is offered for $5.95.
Alotta's is not yet catering or making deliveries out of the Cupertino location, but the Mansches plan to once the deli establishes itself in the city. "We want to get our feet settled on the ground first," Mansch said.
Alotta's Deli Cafe is at 10235 S. De Anza Blvd. in Cupertino. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The deli takes faxed lunch orders from 9 to 11 a.m. at 725-2569. For more information call 725-0299.
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Cupertino, California Since 1947
