Chicken sandwich, though not what I ordered, from Mulberry Street Deli.
12/18/2008
MULBERRY STREET DELI & MARKET: 1100 HOPE ST., STAMFORD
A fleeting break in the bleakness of winter provided an opportunity for lunch outside earlier this week.
Initially, I proposed getting sandwiches from All American Gourmet Deli and taking them down to a picnic table at Cummings Beach. The reported threat of foraging gulls deterred me from this.
We were running out of time as an increasingly dark sky forecast the possibility of precipitation. Ultimately it would be Mulberry Street Deli and benches at Springdale Little League…both locations in close proximity to the office.
While Mulberry Street is undoubtedly a reference to New York’s Little Italy, the deli on Hope. St., does actually sit at the intersection of Hope and Mulberry, a residential side street.
Number twelve on the sandwich specials menu hit the spot: grilled chicken breast with ultra crispy bacon, fresh mozzarella, lettuce tomato and basil on a Kaiser roll. It was one of the better take-out sandwiches I’ve had in a while.
[The Kaiser roll or hard roll or whatever you East Coast people call it, was something of a defeated concession on my part. Just why is it nearly impossible to find sourdough out here? We can put a man on the moon, but we can't get a decent sourdough loaf east of Oakland? Really?]
It should be noted, when I went back today to buy the same sandwich (this time on a wedge, which was excellent) to photograph for the LBC, not only did I have to wait around a while for them to scare up some grilled chicken, but it wasn’t until I got back to work that I realized it was missing the bacon and fresh basil: two absolutely key ingredients.
This sandwich, though I liked it better on the chewy wedge, was a complete failure consisting mostly of chicken swimming in a mayonnaise-based sauce.
The deli is a popular lunch spot for the trades. The steel-toe-booted clientele is slightly incongruous with the dual hi-def televisions simultaneously broadcasting Mario Batali and Martha Stewart from opposite ends of the room. But this group of regulars is also what lends a true neighborhood feeling to the deli.
At lunch, the espresso served in actual ceramic cups (from an evil pod-based machine) is a particularly popular post-meal refreshment among the many Italian-Americans that frequent the deli. After hearing a customer say to a friend “you want a splash of espresso with the ‘buca, pal,” I know why.
While there is now way I’m ever going near that espresso, I am definitely going to be back for lunch.
I’ll just have to pay attention to what, exactly, is going on my sandwich next time.
-CP
Jeff,
I don’t know what you are talking about. I didn’t say there were gulls attack anybody at your place, but they can be fairly aggressive at the beach. It’s all part of the narrative.
For the record, I have been to your deli on several occasions. I particularly like the spicy turkey sandwich, not sure what it’s called.
Though I think you close a little early for my lunch break since I work an evening shift, but you know All-American is legit because a ton of cops eat there.
–CP
To the best of my knowledge there has never been a “gull” attack at my store. The sandwich that you ate is much like our Katie’s Special (Grilled Chicken, Homemade Ranch Dressing, Melted Cheddar Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, and BACON). I’ll put anything on our menu up against any deli in town, any day, and any time. We cannot be beat on quality, consistency, and great service. Come on by.
Jeff M. Stinson
Owner
All American Gourmet Deli
P.S. To the Author
Try a place before you write about it.
I lived in the area for years and used to love this deli. Last two experiences:
Wait five minutes before someone takes your order, especially if you’re female. Regulars get special recognition.
Ordered Cobb salad to go – the dressing leaked through everything because the top was not put on tight.
Ordered a tuna melt on rye today. The bread was toasted on one side, not on the other, lots of tuna, very little cheese. It was obvious that their idea of tuna melt was not to grill, as usual, but to toast bread and only one side. When I got back to work (5 minutes) the sandwich was totally cold.
The prices are a little high – I’m going back to Panda or DiMare for lunch.
K.Osuch
I really did like the wedge.
And oddly, one thing that stands out in my mind, is the thick, waxed butcher paper they wrap the sandwiches in. I realize this doesn’t have anything to do with the food itself, but I appreciate the tactile element of the packaging.
I am aware of how weird that sounds, but it is also one thing I really love about the $6.75 lunch specials at Kam Pei in Bull’s Head.
Their packaging – while bordering a waste of resources – is so precise and ordered it speaks to my self-diagnosed obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
–CP
Oh God YUM. I’ll have to try this place! I’m needing a good deli… wish that pic could have had the bacon. I noticed right away it was missing the bacon and that’s what I was going to comment on had you not explained. Thanks for the awesome food tips!