A few weeks ago I wrote about some of the great meals we enjoyed while wine tasting in Walla Walla, Washington, this spring. I waited until this week to share our favorite meal of the weekend. It was a small, family-run place a bit off the beaten path that we had only recently heard about, but it delivered in spades in taste, service and atmosphere. I’m pretty sure we’ll be making a stop at Cugini Italian Imports & Deli on every future trip we make to Walla Walla.

My husband had read about Cugini’s on TripAdviser, noting it received high ratings and good reviews, so we made it our lunch stop on Saturday. Located on the far western edge of town in a semi-rural, semi-industrial neighborhood, Cugini’s resides in a small, unassuming building with parking out back next to what appears to be a shipping container used for storage. Some picnic tables shelter on the east side of the building, out of the predominantly west winds, which were kicking up pretty vigorously that day.

Once inside, we knew we were in for a treat. Shelves of imported canned goods, olive oil, vinegars, dry pasta and flour stood along the left wall,   and to the right was a large refrigerated case holding an assortment of take-home products including tortellinis, raviolis, lasagna, meatballs and assorted sauces. Straight ahead, separating the kitchen (buzzing with activity) from the public area, stood large glass deli cases holding a wide assortment of meats, including house-made salami and Italian sausages, and imported and domestic cheeses. (Cugini carries over 100 varieties of cheese — mind-blowing!)

The chalkboard menu hung overhead, listing an assortment of paninis, sub sandwiches and pasta dishes.   Subs and paninis run $17 and include a green salad and a scoop of spumoni ice cream if you dine in. Pastas include a variety of tortellinis and raviolis ($13) and lasagna ($17) and come with salad and crusty bread (gluten-free options are available). Everything sounded delicious, but we zeroed in on the garlic chicken panini, deciding to share the meal since we had more eating and drinking ahead of us that day. Even if you are pretty hungry, I would think most couples would find sharing a satisfying choice.

We had originally planned to eat in our car, as there were just a few small tables inside, but, happily, one opened up as we were waiting to place our order, so we nabbed it, ensuring we’d get that scoop of spumoni   to go with our sandwich and salad. The sandwich was divine, with a generous heap of chicken on perfectly grilled bread, slathered with tangy aioli and a rich pesto sauce, finished with a slab of provolone and fresh tomato slices. The salad (fresh greens, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh Parm) provided a nice counterpoint, and we fell in love with its thick, sweet-spicy dressing.  When we learned they sold it, we snapped up a bottle and also got a bag of 00 flour for our son-in-law, who makes a mean wood-fired pizza.

As we ate, we enjoyed observing the action in the kitchen and the back-and-forth between the customers and the employees. Clearly this is a favorite spot for in-the-know locals who stock up on those take-home items while grabbing lunch. It’s also obvious that the folks who own and operate Cugini’s enjoy their work and each other. As I said, we’ll be back for more great food and the great vibe . . . and, definitely, more of that salad dressing.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor