Armandino's Salumi

Since opening in 1999, this charcuterie/deli/eatery has become almost as much of a pilgrimage site as the Space Needle. Owners Gina Batali (Mario’s sister) and her husband, Brian D’Amato, use centuries-old techniques to produce delicious, flavorful cured meats and sausages, which are available in delectable sandwiches (try the special summer prosciutto, fig, and goat cheese combination on olive-oil bread). You can try every salami in the house with the excellent cold cured meat plate, or just ask for free samples until you find one you like (we love the mole salami made with chocolate, cinnamon, and ancho and chipotle peppers). A few tables, including a long communal one, crowd the tiny space, but don’t count on sitting down.

Tip: Although you’ll likely find a line out the door even before it opens (Salumi has limited hours, Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.), don’t despair. The line tends to move fairly quickly, and if you try to avoid it by coming late, the shop may well have run out of everything you want.