I remember an Italian deli in San Diego that was like that. They made real deal minestrone soup too. It was never the same, always made with leftovers like it should.I'm hankerin for a place that bakes their own bread in house each day and uses the higher tier deli meats and cheeses.
The best one I've been to out west was attached to an Italian restaurant so you were getting the same level of ingredients as the people next door paying $30/plate but the deli part was super casual and you could walk in and order a nice sandwich for $8.
Well now I’m on the hunt. I need cured meats, olives, and peppers in my life.