| Review - 2nd Ave. Deli |
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| Written by Neema Bollampally |
 I am that person who sprinkles crushed red pepper on pizza before my first bite and peppers tomato soup before my first sip. So, naturally, I was alarmed upon learning that the condiments and veggies (yes, I consider tomato to be a vegetable, not a fruit) which I am accustomed to topping my sandwiches with either weren’t on the menu or were being offered at unreasonable prices (perhaps as a disincentive to order them?). My dining partner reassured me that, in this case, those familiar sources of flavor were superfluous and that I should stick to the basics: meat and bread. Under considerable duress, I broke my old habits and ordered a hot pastrami sandwich on challah. Nothing else on top, nothing else on the side. What transpired next was nothing short of gustatory enlightenment. The sandwich I bit into was neither plain nor simple. The meat was full of flavor—spice, salt, pepper, tang—you name it and it was there, and finely complemented by the extra soft challah bread encasing it. In retrospect, I think it would have been a culinary crime to add extra toppings to these six ounces of tender, savory goodness, for their true form would have been masked and underappreciated. This seemingly simple combo doesn’t come cheap though; a sandwich like this averages $14 and a “triple decker” will run you about $22. While I can understand charging somewhat of a premium for high quality or highly coveted creations, I don’t agree with pricing a can of soda at $2.50. At that point, I feel like the restaurant is just trying to take advantage of your wallet once they’ve lured you in. So the price point is probably not what draws patrons in, but the visibly renovated dining room is evidence of a business that has done well for itself by offering hearty sandwiches which are unparalleled in taste. The service is reasonably attentive and the crowd is mostly families or groups of friends. While 2nd Ave Deli doesn’t make my list of go-to spots, I definitely recommend checking it out when you’re looking for an afternoon retreat where you can fuel up on energy to carry you through the day. Just take these three words along with you: less is more. 2nd Ave Deli Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
