POTTSTOWN — While the economic recession has forced some eateries to hike up their prices, Fine Fixin’s Deli choose to do something a little different to face down the recession. Instead, they cut the price of their trademark hoagie down to $4.

“We offered the $4 Hoagie to help our customers during these tough times,” said owner John Lettiere who manages the shop with wife Ellen.

The Lettieres opened the deli — located at 16 S. Keim — four years ago because Ellen likes to cook, and it was a dream they had always wanted to pursue together.

And just because the hoagie is now a bargain, doesn’t mean Fine Fixin’s got cheap on their fixin’s. In fact, they are just as locally renowned for the quality and freshness of their ingredients as they are their bargain hoagie. They use Corropolese Bakery rolls - fresh as can be from Limerick, Boar’s Head Meats, and their soups and salads are homemade.

The menu is packed mostly with standard deli-sandwich fair, but certainly isn’t limited to it. Platters, finger-smacking wings, gourmet pizzas, breakfast sandwiches and a number of sides such as their homemade boardwalk-style French fries and onion rings help round out the menu. They also sell a limited selection of grocery items for added customer convenience.

Hoagies are made to order with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and a choice of American, Provolone, or Swiss cheese. Regular additions like salt, pepper, oil, vinegar and oregano are available upon request. Choices for the $4 hoagies include ham, italian, tuna salad, three cheese, or vegetarian. Turkey ($5.50), Chicken Salad ($6) and Roast Beef ($6) hoagies are also available.

Cheese steaks, clubs, burgers and wraps round out the rest of the menu, as well as a number of cold and grilled sandwiches, such as grilled cheese & bacon, the tuna melt, and the Haddock sandwiche. Other speciality sandwiches include a meatball parmagiana, as well as ruebens and grinders.

Inside seating is available, and they also deliver to all businesses and homes in the Pottstown area. Party trays, catering service, as well as hoagie & pizza fundraisers are available upon request.

And why stop there? The Lettieres are also fixin’ to soon open a second eatery on High and Franklin streets, called Scoopsters, which will feature 18 flavors of ice cream, eight flavors of true Philly-style water ice, gourmet hot dogs, and of course, the $4 hoagie. Take that, recession.

Fine Fixin’s is located at 16 S. Keim Street, Pottstown and is open seven days a week for dine in, take out, and delivery. Hours are: Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Call 610-323-0180.

When a New York Times restaurant reviewer visited Gennaro Esposito’s former restaurant in Hopewell, N.J., the writer found that looks can be deceiving.

The nondescript building housing the former “That’s Italian Trattoria” was seen as an ordinary eatery — until the food came out. The reviewer raved about Esposito’s native Italian dishes as standouts in any location.

Three years ago, Esposito moved his restaurant to North Charlotte Street in Pottstown. Again, the exterior of the nondescript building that formerly housed the Blossom restaurant and then a pizzeria at 1483 N. Charlotte St. can be deceiving. Inside, a cozy dinner spot awaits with food that is among the best to be found this side of Naples, Italy.

“I like good food, and I put my passion into what I do,” said Esposito, a native of Naples, who adopted his mother’s expertise in the kitchen.

The ingredients used at That’s Italian are fresh and high-quality; sauces are made on the premises from fresh vegetables (no paste or concentrate), and the trademark mouth-watering bread is baked fresh daily and served warm at your table with olive oil.

On a recent visit, the Muncher sampled Capriccioso panini, a sandwich on homemade Italian bread stuffed with prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil and served with a side of greens ($8.25) The quality of ingredients and respectable portions in this mouth-watering sandwich was an example of just one of several paninis that emphasize flavor over tradition.

That’s Italian also features a complete selection of hot and cold subs, cheesesteaks. chicken steaks, and burgers on their sandwich menu, and all rise above the norm because of the quality of meats, cheeses, sauce and fresh-baked rolls or bread.

The Old World Margherita Pizza is a thin crust with plum tomato, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil. Even the Muncher, who considers himself a margherita pizza connoisseur, was impressed!

Other speciality pizzas include a bruschetta loaded with diced tomatoes, red onions and basil (another Muncher favorite); the Godfather with pesto, three cheeses and prosciutto; Tomato Pie Brooklyn style; a pizza stuffed with Philly cheesesteak, and gourmet white with mozzarella, spinach and ricotta.

The spotless front of the restaurant opens in the back to a candlelit dining room, perfect for dinner or a party. The restaurant is BYOB. Esposito is reluctant to name a house specialty because he says their specialty is making the best Italian food they can, and everyone has a different favorite.

Muncher’s is Veal Francese, with a side of linguini and red sauce. “We make everything fresh here, so you can’t go wrong,” says Esposito. Indeed, the thin-sliced veal is fork-tender, coated in light egg batter, in a white wine lemon butter sauce with fresh pasta and the Muncher’s requested red sauce, light-bodied but flavorful.

The dish — with enough to take home for lunch the next day — comes with soup (made-fresh specialities such as cream of portobello or white bean and sausage) or salad and all the fresh bread you can eat for $18.95

Other popular entrees are chicken or veal marsala, parmigiana, piccata, or cacciatore. ($15.95, $17.95); or sorrento with eggplant, prosciutto and fontina cheese in a pink cream sauce ($19.95), as well as seafood entrees including mussels, clams, or tuna.

The Muncher has also tried the house lasagna (Mama Esposito’s recipe) and found it an amazing taste of Italy for just $9.95. Other Italian dishes include stuffed shells, baked tortellini and baked gnocchi.

Since moving his restaurant to Pottstown three years ago, Esposito says he has encountered many customers with different tastes but all with an admiration for quality food.

This is the place to find it. Not a fancy building, not high prices, just great food.

That’s Italian.

POTTSTOWN — Plain and simple, you gotta try the new sauce at Nino's Pizzeria.

Under new ownership, brothers Lee & Adam Phaneuf are intent on bringing the quiet little pizzeria in the Shoppes at 100 W. Schuylkill Road back to life as a classic family pizzeria.

And their new sauce is just the beginning.

The brothers took ownership of the restaurant earlier this summer and have since been working on a number of renovations to reinvigorate both the restaurant and its menu.

In addition to sprucing up the food, they recently installed a wi-fi network so guests can bring in their lap top and log online for free while enjoying a bite. Lee said they're dedicated to bringing in more little things for the family, such as games for kids, a new look, a new Web-site, new specials and coffee.

But even while all these changes are happening, the food and service offers plenty reason to stop in today for a delicious bite to eat.

The menu provides a little bit of everything, and all meals are made to order. Nino's makes their own dough fresh every day, and sandwiches are all served on fresh rolls.

As far as pizza goes, Nino's can serve up just about any pizza you desire, offering traditional, Sicilian, and a variety of speciality pizzas which include BBQ Chicken, Chicken Cheese Steak, Hawaiian and a Chicken or Beef Taco pizza. And any pizza can be stuffed at your request.

Lee said the stromboli and calzones are a big hit with guests, as are their trademark cheese steaks.

And they serve dozens more varieties of sandwiches, including half-pound beef burgers, hoagies, clubs, wraps and specialities like The Red Rooster (grilled chicken, fried onions, mushrooms, roasted red peppers and pepper jack) or parmigiana sandwiches such as veal, eggplant or meatball which are made fresh and heated in the pizza ovens.

Nino's also serves a number of fresh salads, appetizers, wings and Italian dinners such as chicken, eggplant or veal parmigiana with spaghetti, sausage pepper and onions with spaghetti and fettucini alfredo. All dinners are served with a side salad and garlic bread.

The kids menu includes chicken fingers, grilled cheese, mac-n-cheese. chicken quesadilla, spaghetti and a ham & cheese sandwich, all served with soda and a choice of fries or fruit cup.

Nino's also delivers to the greater Pottstown area and is happy to provide catering to your next party or event.

Nino's Pizzeria is open seven days a week for dine in, take out and delivery, and is located in the Shoppes at W. Schuylkill Road, Pottstown. Hours are: 10:30 a.m. -9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; 10:30 a.m. - 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday. Call 610-323-0606 for call-ahead take out or delivery, or go online to www.mybythezip.com/companies/1000012153.htm for the full menu, directions and printable coupons.

For more from The Mercury Muncher, check out the Mercury Muncher blog online at www.pottsmerc.com/blogs.