Archive for 'deli'

The Tastes of South Philly in Center City With Ellen’s Bagels, Hoagies & More

Luncher John is at the Bellevue Food Court this week for sandwiches

While not widely known even among Center City workers and residents, The Bellevue, located at Broad Street and Walnut Street, sports a quality food court known as the Eatery. With only three chains among its eleven establishments, the Bellevue Eatery features plenty of local flavors and eateries. One long-standing spot is Ellen’s Bagels, Hoagies & More, which has had a presence at the Bellevue for almost ten years. And just as the name implies, Ellen’s serves up breakfast, sandwiches, and a lot more.

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King Vasilios Club, The BLT Cheesesteak from Tony’s

I think I mentioned once or twice over here, sometimes I want a sandwich (or other handheld food) that borderline grosses me out.

See, The Stockyard, this mozzerella stick topped burger, or this hotdog stuffed, pastrami topped knish.

So while looking at menus of diners in the area, I saw that Tony’s on 21st by Ranstead has a doozy. The “King Vasilios Triple Decker Club” is a cheesesteak along with all the ingredients for a BLT. The name makes no sense to me; there is nothing Greek about a cheesesteak or a BLT. Perhaps some sort of Tony’s inside joke.

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Eating Mr. Potato Head and His Entire Family at Coventry Deli

The Coventry Deli is located in a Center City office building. The menu is extensive and actually pretty fun. Its more than just a deli meat sandwich, though those are available too. Breakfast, salads, a pasta station, tons of sandwiches, snacks, and dessert are all available. Hot daily specials are also available. Zero in on what you are in the mood for, or be completely overwhelmed.

They were out of roast pork, so I was unable to order my first choice– the Cuban, which sounded amazing  with cheddar, prosciutto, and pickles alongside that pork. My only remedy was to order something even more excessive. The friendly lady preparing my sandwich behind the counter apologized upon seeing my super disappointed face, but fully endorsed my alternate choice.

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The Palm Tree Market P11 Panini: Artichoke Hearts, Bacon, and Russian Dressing Make Everything Better

A wise gentleman told me about a sandwich he regularly orders after his soccer matches from the Palm Tree Market and I had to try it for myself. The Palm Tree is a deli in Northern Liberties selling everything you might have forgotten to pick up from the grocery store from gourmet cookies and Campbell’s soup. The sandwich counter has a nice variety of classics, but the ingredient list of the suggested P11 made it obvious it was the best choice.

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Munchie’s Cafe For Deli Food with a Twist

The random signs on the windows of Munchie’s Cafe letting me know hot sandwiches are right inside  appealed to my hunger. Munchie’s, a deli on Chestnut street, has a slew of breakfast, lunch, and snack selections. Some are the standard you would expect from a deli, and others are a little different, ranging from french toast dipped in Captain Crunch to kielbasa.

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Huge Portions of Sandwiches and Platters at Rachael’s Nosherie

This week,  Luncher John is at a Center City deli for big portions.

One block off Rittenhouse Square at the corner of 19th and Sansom is Rachael’s Nosheri, a Jewish delicatessen serving breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Many restaurants and delis in Center City have come and gone through the years, but Rachael’s has been open since 1994. The secrets of how it’s stood the test of time: an enormous menu, huge portions, and really good food.

Rachael’s is very much a family-run business, owned by the parents of its namesake, Rachael Cohen. Oftentimes, Rachael and her mother work the cash register and oversee the establishment, all the while bantering back and forth. The servers reflect the atmosphere and are generally helpful and accommodating of your requests.
The lunch menu for Rachael’s is extremely extensive. You can choose soups, fish platters, salads, sandwiches, cold platters, hoagies, and wraps in addition to sides and desserts. Then, if you still can’t find what you want, there are daily specials, like gumbo.

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