
Evan Mancini
2025 Nominee
Best in HOSPITALITY
Owner
Mancini's Italian Deli
Professional Impact
Evan is a local guy who has been working hard for years to build up his business all while supporting local charitable organizations and offering good employment to people in the area. Couldn’t be more deserving of this. Dedicated to providing customers with high quality exceptional food choices and outstanding customer service. Evan’s devotion to the Auburn/Lewiston community is unmatched. One of the hardest workers know, excellent customer service, with a variety of amazing options to choose from. Evan Mancini is outstanding as he has become a staple of the community. This further highlights their dedication and impact in this area.
Personal Passions
Supporting other businesses and always uplifting the community, down to freely feeding the homeless who are hungry. Evan has surpassed the expectation and continued to thrive based off of his want for cohesive community. He really is a light in a not so bright area, and a base of originality. His young age, and determination is one that is admired by many that surpass his age but DO NOT surpass his drive. Mancini’s Italian Deli in Lewiston, Maine, stands out as a compact “micro deli” that’s strictly carryout and delivery-focused, emphasizing hyper-local, high-quality ingredients—both imported Italian staples and Maine-sourced produce—to deliver authentic, scratch-made Italian fare in a grab-and-go format. Opened in February 2025 at 5 Park Street, it draws from traditional family recipes, including those in owner Evan Mancini’s grandfather’s handwritten cookbook, resulting in standout items like seasonal focaccia sandwiches on house-baked schiacciata (a crispier, thinner Italian-style flatbread), slab pizzas, fresh pastas, salads, and house-made desserts such as panna cotta or burnt Basque cheesecake.
Love for Androscoggin
Customers rave about the exceptional bread quality, vibrant flavors (like a chicken club or bolognese), and creative touches, such as iced coffee made with coffee ice cubes to avoid dilution. It’s not just the food; the deli’s efficient layout lets patrons peek at the fresh prep behind the counter, fostering a sense of immediacy and authenticity in a town not overflowing with Italian specialists. Evan Mancini is extraordinary as a self-taught, high-energy entrepreneur who’s transformed his deep-rooted passion for Italian comfort food—stemming from childhood road trips to his grandparents’ home in Pennsylvania, where he first devoured prosciutto and discovered the joy of shared family meals—into a thriving brick-and-mortar success. A young chef with French-Maine upbringing and Italian heritage, he hustles at “100 miles per hour” to execute everything from scratch, blending northern Italian influences with local Maine flair in an ever-evolving seasonal menu. Before Mancini’s, he built experience running the popular Casa Del Taco food truck while managing operations at Cure Cannabis, showcasing his versatility in fast-paced, customer-driven environments; selling the truck paved the way for this ambitious first permanent spot, backed by family and industry pros. What elevates him is his relentless drive to evoke “discovery and comfort” through food, turning a tiny 300-square-foot space into a culinary beacon for Lewiston—proving that bold vision, heritage-rooted authenticity, and tireless execution can redefine a community’s eats. Young entrepreneur delivering exceptional food, and service to the local and neighboring communities. Best at what he does