After mulling over the sandwich options on a sign behind the counter, I placed an order for a No.4—"almost overstuffed."
"Oh, you mean the wimpy one," said the clerk, busting my balls for not going with the "overstuffed" variety. H.P. Schmaltz & Co. Deli is a New York-style Jewish deli that prides itself on making manly, meaty sandwiches.
When I got my $5 sandwich, I was shocked to see about an inch of turkey piled on the soft, cracked-wheat bread. If this was wimpy, the $7 overstuffed sandwich must be a little freakish. According to the deli man, the big dogs come with about a half-pound of meat and almost always leave customers with a half sandwich to take home for later. From the Soho Hero (warm turkey pastrami and muenster cheese) to the Sloppy Paul (the Schmaltz version of a reuben), patrons can choose from 20 sandwiches or go with the N.Y. Attitude (an option to build your own).
Schmaltz is somewhat of a hidden gem, buried in a strip mall with neighboring giants like Best Buy and Toys "R" Us. It's the kind of place you discover by accident. Inside, there are five round high-top tables and a wall lined with small, square two-person tables to appease the lunch crowd. A flat-screen TV gives businessmen and shoppers something to stare at while they wolf down their sandwiches. But Schmaltz is not just a place to grab a midday meal; it's also a full-service deli with meats, cheeses, breads, salads and loads of other original products.
Centerstage Reviewer: Jim Collins
