One thing I miss about New York is all the different deli’s around that city. Of course the most famous is Katz's Deli, because of that scene from, When Harry Met Sally. In fact an improv group recently did a stunt in Katz’s recreating that scene using a ton of people inside of the deli, check it out here. Anyway, when I was perusing the Yellow Pages I found listings for just six deli’s in the area. Not a lot to choose from. I decided to go to Abe’s Deli because they were the first one listed.
First come, first served! Okay, our fingers have done some walking, time to get to the MBIP Mobile and do some driving!
I read that Abe’s Cafe is located in the Chase Bank Building on Adams, so we’re headed down Adams and...
There’s the Chase Building, let’s park and find Abe’s Deli.
Here’s the entrance, let’s go in and begin this Yellow Pages episode.
Well, I wandered around for a little bit, ran into a security guard and she told me that Abe’s Deli is closed and that they moved to Chicago a couple months back. Son of a creeping bitch! Okay, let’s take a deep breath, straighten our socks, crack a couple of knuckles and take a second look at the Yellow Pages:
Okay, Nick’s Deli it is...let’s see if we can salvage this edition of The Yellow Pages or if it’ll just go up in flames. Either way it should be interesting...to the MBIP Mobile!
I’m not sure how to get there, but I’ve typed in the address in the GPS and it says to go to Spalding Avenue...I have no idea where that is, but okay, I’ll play along, hopefully it’s not sending us on a wild goose chase.
And we’re off for round two of this adventure! It’s kind of exciting when things don’t work out, because it adds to the improv-like feeling of doing this blog.
Ha! There’s Spalding Avenue...LOVE the GPS!
Okay, the GPS has led us to this building...this isn’t a deli...
It’s the Heyde Eye Center, I sincerely doubt that they make sandwiches in there...HATE the GPS! Let’s go in and see if anybody in here knows where Nick's Deli is...
Okay, the trip is not a total loss, I got to meet these two pretty women who were behind the receptionist desk when I walked in. It’s Shannon and Amber and they told me that Nick’s Deli is right around the corner. LOVE Shannon and Amber!
Supposedly it’s right down this street, let’s see...
Thar she blows...Nick’s Deli, complete with some nice neon in the window.
I’m pretty hungry by now, let’s go inside and get some lunch...
Well there’s two more doors to go through...this is starting to feel like an episode of Get Smart!
Let’s go in and check out Nick’s Deli.
Very nice in here and there’s that wonderful bakery smell of freshly baked bread wafting in the air. I love the smell of bread in the morning...it smells like...David Gates.
You order up here at the front counter...but where is everyone?
Poof, through the magic of the interwebs and MBIP, Sami and Dany appear! Sami and Dany told me that they’re brothers and that their father Nick started this deli with their mother, Sonia, back in 1989 and it’s been right here in the same place for all these years. Very nice to see a family-run business do so well. I never knew this place was here, that’s what I love about doing this blog, discovering new places and meeting new people!
They have a lot of choices here at Nick's Deli with all the traditional sandwich selections plus specialty sandwiches including: Italian Meatball, Pulled Pork BBQ, Pizza Bread and Hoagies. They suggested I try the popular Club Sub, so that's what I ordered.
Here's a photo of Sami and Dany's parents Nick and Sonia displaying the fresh bread that 's baked here daily.
Speaking of the bread that's baked here daily, they have a slide show of the steps that go into baking the bread on their website and I took some screen shots so I could present it here. Looks pretty good, huh? I can't wait for that sandwich!
There's a counter and stools over here for seating...
But I chose this window-side table to sit at so I could watch people on the street go by.
Wow, they have fast service here! No sooner did I sit down than the sandwich is served up at the front counter!
And here it is, The Club Sub, it looks great.
Okay it looks even better opened up. There's turkey, ham, bacon, lettuce and Provolone cheese. I ordered it with mustard and added a liberal dose of pepper. Time to take a bite and try it out.
Wow, this is one fabulous sandwich! The bread is bakery-fresh and has a slightly sweet flavor to it and the meats are all fresh and tasty with the bacon being the standout component in the sandwich. It's crispy, smoky and savory and it's the perfect yin for the slightly sweet yang of the bread. They play together nicely on your tastebuds. It's a great sandwich and I will be stopping back to try more!
Thanks to Sami and Dany for being so hospitable and making such a great sandwich! Go and like them on facecrack, it'll only take a second, just click here and like these guys already! Okay, we'll see you all tomorrow!
Nick’s Deli
416 NE Saint Mark Court—Suite 105
Peoria
309-672-1530