Double D's a Family Tradition in Walpole

Gary DeVincentis, owner of Double D’s Deli in Walpole, didn’t come out of the womb with a spatula, but there was probably one nearby.

“I definitely grew up with it,” he said.

DeVincentis said, with a chuckle, at the time he felt it wasn’t quite a passion, but he’s stuck with it and feels a true love for food.

“Well, I mean I was four, how are you supposed to have a passion at four?” he said. “It wasn’t a passion at the time, it was a necessity. I was the last of nine kids, and that’s what you did. You worked for the family. While other kids were playing outside, we were all working.”

DeVincentis said his father originally owned a breakfast place in Malden and he worked there for a long time. He then went to work with his older brother, who owned the 621 Tavern on the Malden/Revere line.

“You know my brother owned a restaurant for the last 30 years, so I’ve always been in the business,” he said.

But it was not wasted, DeVincentis said. He now runs and owns Double D’s Deli with his wife, Trish. He also was an opening partner at the Conrad’s in 2001.

“I was a partner there, and I opened up the kitchen,” he said. “I basically took my brother’s menu, with his permission, and made it Conrad’s menu.”

DeVincentis said he and his wife opened up shop in 2007, right before the recession. He said he didn’t have chairs back then.

“It was really a great time to open,” he said, a touch sarcastically. “But you know, we made it through.”

DeVincentis then stooped down to pick up some loose change.

“I mean look, the recession’s over, I just found 35 cents!” he said.

Double D’s took its name from DeVincentis’ son. He said since DeVincentis’ partner’s name was Dennis, and DeVincentis’ name started with a D, they should capitalize on that.

“It sounded good so we rolled with it,” he said.

He said although he’s worked in restaurants in the past, he likes the atmosphere of his current standing.

“This is more of a takeout type of place,” he said. “If I had my way, there’d be sautés, but as you develop a kitchen, they always seem to shrink. We still sauté if someone asks for it though.”

DeVincentis said he’s not afraid to experiment and meet any specification a customer asks for.

“If something weird comes up, I just ask them twice,” he said. “Are you sure you want that on your pizza? On your sub? Okay, I’ll do it, but remember if you don’t like it, you ordered it.”

DeVincentis said he doesn’t really have  a favorite dish on the menu, though he’s tried everything.

“You try to ask a cook what he likes?” he said.  “Everything here is good. Everything’s homemade here, from our meatballs to our chicken and eggplant parms.”

DeVincentis said he feels it’s important to give back, so he sponsors youth sports whenever he can.

“We always try to take care of the kids,” he said.

Double D’s Deli is located at 933 East St. and is open Mon - Wed, 11am - 8pm; Thu - Sat, 11am - 9pm; Sun, 12pm - 7pm.