2 for $25: Calabresella

The small Genoa Salami Sub with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and hot and roasted red peppers. (Credit: Katharine Sidelnik)

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Calabresella Importers

2 people, 1 restaurant, 25 bucks

Meals for people with big appetites and small wallets

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My college friend Victoria, a self-described "loose vegetarian," was visiting from California for the weekend, and where did I take her? Straight to the meat-laden deli counter at Calabresella Importers in Gates, a family-run grocery/restaurant that opened in 1975 and specializes in authentic Italian and Greek food. But she was a good sport — that's how we've stayed friends.

The mood
Homey. Half cozy grocery store and deli and half no-frills seating area, Calabresella is the real deal. When the owner's mom (who was an original owner with her husband) noticed we'd chosen an uncomfortably small table, she led us to a larger one and even helped move our plates.

The food
Victoria, who figured she may as well embrace her inner carnivore, ordered a "satisfying and fresh-tasting" small Genoa Salami Sub ($5), with lettuce, tomatoes, hot peppers, extra onions (25 cents) and a generous helping of roasted red peppers ($1). A big fan of roasted red peppers, she was impressed that they accounted for one-quarter of her sub's thickness.

I went with the small Roasted Chicken Salad Sub ($5), topped with lettuce and tomatoes, after seeing it promoted on a counter sign. Despite my usual worries that any chicken salad other than my own will taste more like mayonnaise than chicken, I enjoyed this one; it was a bit heavy on the mayo but had enough shredded chicken to keep it off my expanding "never again" list. And the roll — both of our subs arrived on tasty, soft white bread — was what you'd expect from a place that bills itself as a New York-style deli.

We split a package of Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream chips (99 cents). Subs and wraps range from $3.99 to $7 and include the "Colon Kicker" with grilled capicollo and steak ($4.50 for a mini to $7 for a large).

Calabresella sells Zweigle's, Red Osier and Abbott's products, offers an array of fine cheeses and pastas, has an on-site bakery, and ships anywhere in the country.

The drinks
Several refrigerated cases of water, juice and soda. Victoria drank a Vitamin Water Multi-V Lemonade, and I had an agave melon-flavored Snapple Antioxidant Water ($1.89 each).

The damage: $17.30

Next time ... I'm getting the Dominator, which ranges from $5.40 to $7, depending on size. The description is simple enough — grilled roasted turkey — but I dig the name.