Prontos Gourmet Market

Savor stupendous soups and top-of-the-line sandwiches, wraps, salads and pastas — all made from scratch — at Prontos Gourmet Market, THE place to enjoy breakfast and lunch, and pick up dinners-to-go in Carlsbad Village.

Established 23 years ago by the Daoussis family, this beloved city delicatessen and neighborhood market attracts patrons from near and far, the luckiest of whom are local office workers satisfying their palates throughout the work week.

Both inside and on the sunny patio, happy customers can be found feasting on items like made-to-order sandwiches featuring Boar’s Head premium meats, in-house smoked ham, roasted turkey, Angus roast beef, various cheeses, breads, and the freshest produce.

Prontos’ famous triple-decker “The Bumstead,” for example, comes piled with Boar’s turkey breast, ham and crispy bacon, is topped with cheddar and Swiss Cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, sprouts, mayonnaise and Dijon mustard, and served on fresh sourdough bread. Another favorite, the “Tuscan Roast Beef Sub,” is a mélange of thinly sliced, tender roast beef, provolone cheese, peppercinis, red onions, lettuce onion, tomatoes and vinaigrette. Prefer the homemade egg salad, chicken salad, tuna or a veggie option? No problem. Locals also rave about the Reuben.

Pasta lovers also get attention with a tastebud-tempting menu, which includes entrées like Meat Lovers Spaghetti, Greek Style Ravioli and Fettuccini Alfredo, all served with fresh bread.

For low-carb options, try the tasty wraps like turkey artichoke, buffalo chicken club, veggie tuna, among others, as well as garden-fresh salads such as grilled chicken, Cobb, spicy Caribbean and of course, classic Chicken Caesar with house Caesar dressing.

Lunch specials are posted online daily, along with the always-changing menu of homemade soups. Fresh vegetable minestrone, butternut squash, tomato basil and the classic Greek Avglolemono (a creamy chicken soup with rice and brightened with zesty lemon) are all popular choices.

Easily saving customers a trip to the supermarket, Prontos features an amazing array of gourmet dinners to go like Angus Beef Osso Bucco, Greek Stuffed Chicken, Cheese Spinach Lasagna, Wild Atlantic Salmon and Lobster Macaroni and Cheese. The appetizing meals are all lovingly prepared and ready to be heated and served. In addition, the market carries a wide selection of pre-packaged items like potato salads, macaroni salads, Mediterranean and Italian cold salads as well as containers of their good-for-the-soul soups. Worth even more appreciation is Prontos’ extensive presentation of fresh frozen pastas, perfect for pairing with the market’s homemade sauce, meat sauce and marinara, among others. Choose from creative ravioli dishes like Gorgonzola Walnut, Lobster Shrimp, Artichoke, and Butternut Pumpkin, along with fresh spaghetti, fusilli, rigatoni and linguini pastas. Preparation is easy: Just drop in boiling water for a few minutes, strain, add sauce and serve! Going on a picnic? Enjoy the market’s assortment of deli meats, cheeses and wines.

Not to be missed is the large pastry case filled with cobblers, cakes, bars and other treats prepared by the market’s in-house pastry chef. Custom cakes can also be ordered for special occasions. Choose strawberry shortcake, lemon white chocolate, carrot, old-fashioned chocolate, coconut and lemon raspberry. Gluten-free chocolate meringue or chocolate soufflé flavors are also available.

Behind the counter, a smiling staff engages customers with warmth and efficiency. The Prontos team, combined with the venue’s quality fare, has clearly kept them coming back.

For great grab-and-go gourmet dinners, and for simply delectable homemade fare served all day, check out this North County tradition in the heart of Carlsbad. Located at 2812 Roosevelt St., (next to the Post Office), Prontos is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Friday. The market also offers catering on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays only) for everything from business luncheons to elaborate events. Call (760) 434-2644 or visit Prontos online at www.prontosmarket.com.