In my opinion, Highland Avenue in Waterbury should be mentioned in the same breath as Franklin Ave. or Wooster Street when it comes to Italian cuisine.

In the glorious 80s and 90s, Town Plot was simpler. A few great delis and markets dotted the neighborhood. One of my mainstays, then and now, is D'Amelio's, I love their food, always have.

In the 1990s, the D'Amelio family decided to transform their very successful deli into a sit-down restaurant. I was devastated. My favorite grinders slowly disappeared over the years. Avventura's on America Street semi-filled the void, until they recently folded up shop and got out of town.

The old saying "When one door closes..." comes into play here.

D'Amelio's owners, Gianni and Justine, recently announced that they have purchased the building that formerly housed Avventura's, and the plan is to have their son Gianfranco bring back the old school D'Amelios grinders at the location under the new moniker, Noochie's Deli & Cafe as of January 1,2019.

I'm so looking forward to this new venture. The D'Amelio family has been feeding generation after generation of Waterbury families. Their cooking and cuisine is incredible, and I can't wait to see how this next generation takes it to the next level. Salut!

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