Toasties (Great!)

Let me preface this post by telling you a bit about where I grew up. I'm from Westchester County, New York, which for the most part is a rich, white suburb. For some reason or other, the area seems to have this huuuge Italian/American population, and as a result, there's an abundance of Italian/American delis. Now, I'm not saying they're all great, but there are definitely a handful of places near where I lived to grab a really really good sandwich. When I moved to Manhattan a few years ago, I found myself somewhat disappointed by the sandwich situation. In my experience, most NYC delis make rather bland, uninspired sandwiches, and seem to profit mostly from selling cigarettes and beer to minors. Toasties is seemingly the first deli I've found in my area that can compete with the upscale, gourmet delicatessens of Westchester County.

At a glance, Toasties looks like the generic NYC deli. They've got the pre-made panini sandwiches, a small salad bar off to the side, and that buffet that looks like it might taste okay, but probably doesn't. After some closer examination, though, it becomes clear that this is not just some other deli. Your first clue is that they don't have all their meats and cheeses sitting on colorful little plates covered in saran wrap. Then, looking at the menu, it becomes evident that some thought may have been put into their sandwich creations. There are definitely some unique combinations and clever suggestions, all made easy to order with silly names and a convenient numbering system.

My first time at Toasties, I ordered the H6 - a meatloaf sandwich with gravy, cheddar cheese, bacon, hot peppers, and lettuce. Amazing. Meatloaf is always sort of a gamble when you order it somewhere you're unfamiliar with, but this meatloaf was thick, soft, and super fresh tasting. The bacon was crisp and delicious, and the peppers tasted surprisingly good in combination with the meatloaf. I was so pleased with my meal, I was worried it may have been a fluke. I had to go back the next day to try something entirely different. At Toasties experience number two, I ordered the Alice (#11), a turkey sandwich with brie, granny smith apple, lettuce, and honey mustard. It was sensational. The turkey was not your typical cold cut, but seemed as though it had been sliced right off of Thanksgiving dinner. The apples were thin and fresh, the brie was awesome (brie usually is), and it all tasted great together. So, my conclusion: two days, two sandwiches, two thumbs up.

Warning: Toasties sandwiches are ridiculously enormous. I happen to be a fan of oversized, absurdly portioned sandwiches, but I can understand it being a concern for someone else. Admittingly, Toasties is a messy experience. Your sandwich will probably fall apart at least a little bit, and your hands will likely end up with some gravy/honeymustard/dressing/whatever on them. Be sure to grab some napkins.

From what I understand, Toasties might have a few locations around the City. The one I went to is on the west side of Union Square. They're open 24 hours, they deliver, and they have a small outdoor seating area. Definitely recommended.

Here's their website: www.toastiesny.com

-Chris