Neil S.
Yelp
Getting a good Italian hoagie (or sub, depending on your metro area of origin) outside of the Northeast poses a challenge. More often than not, one encounters soft and sweet bread, sloppy construction, and suspect topping choices. As a Philly native, I take my sandwiches seriously. Furthermore, I rarely get to savor them since my wife doesn't care for cold cuts, so when I do they must meet the standard.
Capo Deli offers a reasonable option in Northern Virginia to get your Italian sandwich fix. I've gotten takeout from the small storefront near Tyson's a couple times, and have been pleased with the product on offer. The main component to get right with a hoagie is the bread. While Capo's loaves won't win any awards back home, they are at least requisitely crusty and lack the cloying sweetness that most area breads possess. The Italian meats arrive thinly shaved and decently portioned. The construction of the sandwiches themselves warrants merit, as the hoagies remain intact and evenly seasoned with each bite. The flavors here stick to the classics, so you won't encounter any surprises in terms of flavors when ordering.
I do find that Capo offers a poor value. The small sizes start at $14 and while the quantity of meat is solid the sandwich is a little too small to make for a satisfying meal. Larges run around $18. As such, after tax you are looking at close to $20 for lunch, a difficult regular proposition. As such, while Capo's hoagies do a decent job of scratching the Italian itch, the subsequent dent in the wallet renders them solely occasional treats for me.