Mortadella. Prosciutto. Provolone. Craving the Italian deli classics but looking to eat healthier or stick to a plant-based diet? Not a problem anymore if you live in New York. Galioto’s Delicatessen opened in December 2020 on Mulberry Street in the heart of Little Italy, and it’s considered the first and only vegan Italian delicatessen in New York City.
Galioto’s is the creation of Nima Garos and Koorosh Bakhtiar, co-owners of the plant-based restaurant Jajaja Mexicana, Manny Del Castillo (Nueva York Coffee), and Nicole Galioto, Garos’ sister. “The entire concept is based on grab and go, which came about because of the challenges facing the pandemic,” Garos tells La Cucina Italiana. “So we opened New York's first authentic plant-based Italian delicatessen on Mulberry Street. We wanted to create an experience of favorite deli food and make it accessible to the plant-based palate."
Galioto's is located in New York City's Little Italy.
Galioto's is putting a plant-based spin on the traditional Italian deli experience with Impossible meatball subs, pastries, pasta, and a selection of pantry items made by local businesses. Inside, there's a branch of the Alimentari Flâneur, a curated vegetable stand run by Daniel Soares, a fourth-generation member of the Balducci grocery family. The small shop also features olive oils and vinegars from Noho Italian restaurant Il Buco, pickled vegetables from the Pickle Guys, milled flour from Scarr’s Pizza, and other products from New York-based businesses.
Popular sandwiches like the meatball parm, the Caprese, and the Portobello are made with dairy-free cheese and Impossible meats in place of the beef, veal, and pork often found in Italian specialties.
Galioto’s is named in honor of the siblings' late father. Nicole and Nima grew up in Little Italy and they say that their shop is made in the style of the markets that once dotted the neighborhood in the early 20th century, before they were replaced by the more tourist-centric restaurants that exist today. “Mulberry Street was all one big marketplace,” says Garos.
For the morning crowd, a selection of vegan pastries made by Brooklyn-based French bakery L’imprimerie and coffee by local shop Nueva York are also available. In addition to a food menu, Galioto’s also sells a variety of Italian pantry items that can help you cook plant-based Italian at home.
Galioto's
131 Mulberry St.
New York, NY 10013
212.518.7046