Balzano Belicatessen

I really don't understand anyone saying this place "lacks charm" or that the staff is rude. I have never had a negative experience at Balzano's. The food is delicious (try the olive focaccia, pizza, or any of the delicious cakes!), and so is the espresso. The interior seating is lovely, with fresh flowers always on the tables and the skylights bringing in nice light. If the staff is a little brusque, it's normally because they have a long queue of customers to serve. No, they don't fawn over you (which is what some of these other reviewers seem to be expecting), but they serve you in a timely & professional manner and are just as nice (if not nicer) than any of the cafe and fresh market employees I've encountered when traveling in Italy!

Been to Balzano's a couple of times but haven't been back for a few years as I found the staff rather rude and unhelpful there.  Anyway, decided to go and check out the new cafe section with my 4 year old son as it's quite near to where we live.  They've refitted it out nicely and on a sunny day you can sit outside in the backyard and annoy the neighbours!. The gentleman that served us was lovely and made me a fabulous cappuccino, but I made the mistake of getting some ham from the deli section on the way out, and yet again the 2 women serving were rather rude and miserable.  What a shame as it ruined the whole experience for us. Will go back there but only for the cafe and the lovely gentleman!

My score is an average of 5 stars for the cafe and 1 star for the deli.

I used to use Balzano’s when ever I was in Cambridge but the younger woman has been seriously offensive to me and my daughter when we have been in there. I am not sure who they think they are or what they think they are doing but I expect it to be out of business in a very short space of time unless they have a good hard look at what they are doing. I then did go to Limoncello and it was ok, nothing to write home about and it was expensive, but they weren’t rude and I didn’t feel like the proprietor was about to initiate a fight with me. Very strange. I suggest if you have time and need cheese, meats and pasta go to the shops in Peterborough, they were lovely, chatty and although it is not good for everyone, it is better than Tesco or Waitrose or any of those others with their sweaty package products.

I would like to strongly disagree with the comments posted by seb1980.
Limoncello is good if you have lots of pennies in your pocket! its expensive....Balzano's is an authentic deli serving the well settled local Italian community and everyone else....It has a fantastic bakery where bread is still baked every day and supplier to a host of restaurants and food outlets,and food shops ......
A freind of mine went in there the other day and asked for some Parma Ham, the woman serving him proceeded to cut small slices from the ham - My friend, noticed the woman slicing short slices, so he asked for long slices for his melon, but the woman turned round and said that if he wanted long slices he should go to a supermarket and buy it in a packet! - Not very professional ...
Michael
http://mcguinness1.wordpress.com

With its bright lights and the business-like attitude of its staff, Balzano's lacks the charm and joie-de-vivre of its competitor, Limoncello. But if you are on Cherry Hinton Rd, can't be bothered to walk to Limoncello, and find yourself in desperate need of assorted sliced meats, pastas and other deli material, this is your place.