In downtown Seattle, there are two restaurants that routinely have a long line of people waiting to get in. One is Sky City, the restaurant located at the top of the iconic Space Needle and a veritable magnet for tourists. The other is a little meat shop in Pioneer Square called Salumi, a popular fixture for locals who know where to get the best sandwich in town.

Armandino Batali, father of world-famous chef Mario Batali and grandson of Seattle's first Italian grocer, opened Salumi with his wife Marilyn after retiring from a long career at Boeing. He brings his home-grown experience of curing meats to the most stunning, tiny deli in the entire city.

The first thing that struck me when my segment of the line entered the shop itself is just how much Salumi smells like a real Italian home. Not a restaurant, not a store, but a home. The wonderful air inside Salumi brought me back to the days of visiting my maternal grandfather's family in Michigan where there was always something delightful happening in the kitchen. Behind a window just a few feet past the entrance, a variety of salami and other cured meats hang in a beyond-tempting display.

Speaking of tempting, patrons in line at Salumi are regularly treated to samples of the deli's signature salami, whether by a meal-teasing tray brought down the line by one of Salumi's employees or by the generosity of one of the meat-cutters satisfying a patron's curiosity about the alluring Mole salami. That in itself is another draw of Salumi. The staff are warm and friendly in the most genuine way possible. It's not about fake smiles and trained phrases, but a sincere dedication to quality products and customer service as a social art.

For newcomers to Salumi, I highly suggest trying the meat and cheese sample platter. For $15.00, an absolute steal for the quantity and quality of what you get, you can come home with six different types of salami, three different artisan cheeses, a handful of mixed olives and half a small loaf of hearty Italian bread. Along with the classic Salumi salami, my sampler came with Cotto (nutmeg, white pepper, mace and sugar), Dario (dark with nutmeg and mace), Sopressata (spicy and red with garlic), the ever-popular Mole (chocolate, cinnamon, ancho and chipotle), Smoked Paprika (it's right there in the name), and Winter (a variety of peppercorns, garlic and milk solids). Don't ask me to choose a favorite because I can't.

Like a lot of Seattle businesses, Salumi is going Green. They have stopped using plastic and will only provide large, handled bags for large orders or by request.

Salumi also sells its products by wholesale and over the Internet for home customers living outside of Seattle. In addition to their salami, they also have a number of other cured meats depending on the season. They've recently added lamb products to the menu, though they aren't always available. If you're local to Seattle or visiting, I highly recommend stopping by Salumi. It's well worth the wait and the flavor is almost too good to believe. Buon Appetito!