Goodbye to Lutticken's, and where Menlo Park regulars can get lunch now

Lutticken's is closed. The West Menlo Park deli at the corner of Alameda de las Pulgas and Gordon Avenue served its last sandwiches on September 30, 2026, after 45 years in business. Its two satellite counters, on the Stanford University campus and on Sand Hill Road, closed along with it.

For a lot of Menlo Park regulars, this one stings. Lutticken's was not a trendy opening or a destination restaurant. It was the place you went on an ordinary Tuesday, where longtime customers were greeted by name. Here is a short goodbye, and a guide to the Menlo Park, Palo Alto and Redwood City delis and lunch counters that can help fill the gap.

Remembering a West Menlo Park lunch counter

Bob Lutticken opened the deli in 1981. Over the decades it became known for sandwiches, especially those built on Dutch crunch bread, along with hot lunches and the kind of easy meals that kept office workers and neighbors coming back. The Hawaiian sandwich, with ham, Swiss cheese and pineapple salsa, had its own fans.

In 2011 the business added Lutticken's After 5, stretching the day into dinner, drinks, live music, karaoke and open mic nights. In 2024, State Sen. Josh Becker named it Senate District 13's Small Business of the Year. Vice President Al Gore even stopped in while campaigning in 2000 and left with a turkey sandwich.

The reason for the closing will sound familiar to anyone who follows Peninsula restaurants. Manager Judy Congdon, who had worked there since the deli opened, told local reporters that business never came back after the pandemic. "It's just not sustainable anymore," she said.

Places like Lutticken's are hard to replace because what they offered was not on the menu. It was routine, familiarity and a counter that felt like part of the neighborhood. No single deli can fill that role overnight. But the habit of a good sandwich lunch deserves to continue, and there are plenty of worthy counters nearby.

Stay on the Alameda in West Menlo Park

For Lutticken's regulars who want to keep the same route, Bob’s Country Corner is just down Alameda de las Pulgas at 3207. The neighborhood deli and market has been open since the 1970s, makes sandwiches to order and stocks craft beer, wine and spirits. You can call ahead with a deli order, which makes it a practical weekday stop. It is the closest thing to keeping the old lunch routine without changing streets.

Shop and lunch at once on Middlefield

The Willows Market on Middlefield Road combines a deli counter, barbecue and a neighborhood grocery. Tri-tip and brisket sandwiches anchor the lunch menu, and named sandwiches such as the Willow Club and the Jack Wolf give the counter its local character. The Jack Wolf began as a regular customer's order, which tells you something about the kind of place it is.

Also in Menlo Park, Cook's Seafood on El Camino Real has a takeout counter beloved across generations, with fish and chips, clam chowder and shrimp cocktail. It is a good reminder that a casual lunch does not have to be a sandwich.

Find a New York deli in downtown Palo Alto

New York New York Sandwiches on University Avenue brings deli-style breakfast and lunch to downtown Palo Alto. At lunch, start with the grilled Reuben, corned beef or pastrami. In the morning, bagels, lox with cream cheese and egg sandwiches keep things simple. Vegetarian options include portobello and falafel sandwiches.

Make Redwood City your new deli town

Redwood City may have the deepest bench of neighborhood delis on the Midpeninsula, and several of them speak fluent Dutch crunch.

Woodside Delicatessen leans into Italian deli tradition. The Godfather layers mortadella, salami, coppa, prosciutto and provolone with artichoke hearts and pepperoncini on sourdough. Lutticken's fans should look at the Backyard Tri-Tip, with smoked beef, pepper Jack, grilled onions and barbecue sauce on Dutch crunch. House-made meatball sandwiches and a corned beef Reuben round out the board.

Prima Deli on Roosevelt Avenue is known for house-grilled tri-tip, served hot or cold. The Nor-Cal puts grilled chicken, cheddar, avocado and pesto on Dutch crunch, and a turkey special with cream cheese and cranberry sauce is the kind of sandwich that turns into a weekly habit.

Taza Deli & Cafe builds its menu around numbered specialty sandwiches: an Italiano with Genoa salami, ham, mortadella and provolone, a Cubano with smoked pulled pork, a Reuben on rye and the Spring Street vegetarian with avocado and cucumber. Potato salad and coleslaw are made in house.

Take the scenic route to the hills

If lunch at Lutticken's was part of a Sand Hill Road routine, consider the drive up to Skywood Trading Post in Woodside. The Khalaf family opened it in 1972, and three generations have kept it going. It is part deli, part general store, and a regular stop for cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers. The tuna salad gets the most attention.

Keep the neighborhood lunch alive

The best tribute to a place like Lutticken's is to keep showing up for the small, local counters that remain. Learn someone's name. Order the house sandwich. Come back next week.

Check hours before you go, since many delis focus on weekday lunch. You can find every spot on this list, and more Menlo Park lunch favorites, in the Outside Eats guide.