O'Brien's Deli

Located at 4001 Country Club Road in Winston-Salem, O’Brien’s Deli offers sandwiches and salads. It is open from 11-7 Monday-Saturday. Catering is available.

O’Brien’s is the kind of classic deli every city should have. It’s a small space – a few tables inside and a few tables out – but don’t let that or the line you are likely to encounter deter you. They crank out sandwiches quickly here.

Said sandwiches include about two dozen hot and cold offerings as well as the ability to build your own. The meats are Boar’s Head, but the desserts and soups are made fresh in-house. Check out the display case for salads and sides that might catch your eye.

O’Brien’s prides itself on its Reuben, and so I went with the “mini” version (a quarter rather than a half pound of meat) with a pickle for my first visit here. Ordering at the register was a breeze, and I was fortunate enough to snag one of the tables for dine-in.

Though I was a bit skeptical that the Reuben would match the hype, it delivered. I don’t know that it is without a doubt the best version I’ve had, but it is definitely up there. The grilled rye was nice and crisp, and I appreciated that they used both mustard and Russian dressing. That, plus the meat, kraut, and melty cheese, made for a very satisfying bite. At $10, the sandwich proved a good value, too.

Unpretentious and nostalgically comforting (for Northern transplants, at least), O’Brien’s is a well-oiled sandwich-slinging machine. Though that Reuben will be hard to top, I look forward to giving one of their other offerings (maybe a Cuban, maybe a Spicy Italian) a try.

The Sub Spot

Located at 3709 Battleground Avenue in Greensboro, The Sub Spot serves sandwiches and Mediterranean fare. It is open from 10-7 Monday-Friday, 10-5 Saturday, and closed Sunday. Specials change regularly, and online ordering is available.

 

Getting a sandwich here when Giacomo’s is a few hundred feet away seems blasphemous, but hey, at least they have indoor seating. All jokes aside, Sub Spot is a good representation of a neighborhood sandwich shop, replete with a no-frills (though clean) interior and Boar’s Head meats. They may not be fancy, but they are good at what they do.

 

I walked in craving a cheesesteak but was nearly swayed by the brisket sandwich listed as a special. Had I not known what I wanted, I would have had plenty to choose from: hot and cold sandwiches, salads, wings, kebabs, and more. They will let you customize toppings a la Subway (I added peppers, onions, and chipotle sauce), and they completed my order for takeout very quickly.

 

Much like Jersey Mike’s, Sub Spot serves up a far better cheesesteak than you’d expect at first glance. The bread was soft, the cheese melty, the meat and veggies savory and satisfying (and none too greasy). If you’re accustomed to a sandwich stuffed to the gills with meat, you might be disappointed, but I didn’t find the quantity to be too paltry.

 

Given what’s nearby, Sub Spot probably wouldn’t be my first choice for lunch in the area, but it is convenient, reasonably priced, and tasty, a solid option all around.

 

Damn Yankees Deli and Catering

 

Located at 234 North Main Street in Kernersville, Damn Yankees Deli and Catering offers sub sandwiches for lunch and dinner. It is open from 10:30-7:30 Tuesday-Friday, 10:30-4 on Saturday, and closed Sundays. Hero of the Day sandwich specials change regularly. Online ordering is available.

 

Kernersville isn’t where you’d expect to find a legit New York-style sandwich shop, but here we are. Damn Yankees came about when a Long Island couple repurposed the former Deli on Main, revamping the menu and adding a lot of personal touches. Like many classic sandwich shops, it isn’t much to look at – blue walls, a deli case, a fridge, and a few tables – but the menu is where it really shines.

 

About that menu: Damn Yankees boasts more than two dozen sandwiches, and that’s excluding kid’s menu and daily special offerings. Each can be turned into a salad or paired with a side salad, and there are a few desserts as well. They even have knishes! The sandwiches range from simple classics (a BLT or a chicken salad) to glorious-sounding meat-and-gravy concoctions. While the meats are Boar’s Head, the breads and sauces are all made in-house

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For our first visit, my wife and I opted for the daily special (a Basilicole with balsamic chicken, basil pesto, tomatoes, arugula, and fresh mozzarella) and a Meat Head (pepperoni, salami, meatballs, melted mozzarella and sauce) with a side of potato salad. Earlier reviews suggested that Damn Yankees was still finding its footing – and adequate staffing – and so I anticipated a bit of a wait. Fortunately, there proved not to be much of one. For made-to-order, food was prepared fairly quickly, and co-owner Steve was a personable presence at the register.

 

Damn Yankees may charge more than most – both six-inch sandwiches were north of ten apiece – but you get your money’s worth here. They decidedly do not skimp on the toppings. The Meat Head lived up to its Ron Swansonesque name, offering very good meatballs and a quality tomato sauce (fresh and just slightly sweet). The soft, thick hero roll held everything together nicely. Even the potato salad exceeded expectations. The Basilicole was tasty as well though we’ll probably go in a different direction next time.

 

Kernersville is lucky to have Damn Yankees. As a New Jersian, I can say they make a damn good sandwich. 

68 Bagel & Grill

 

Located at 1116 Eastchester Drive Suite 112 in High Point, 68 Deli Bagel & Grill serves breakfasts, bagels, and sandwiches. It is open from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Online ordering is available.

 

The newest addition to Centre Stage plaza, 68 Bagel & Grill is a bit of a headscratcher. The name suggests a location further up Eastchester past the Palladium, and a more established bagel shop is less than a mile away. This bafflement aside, 68 Bagel & Grill does have several things going for it. It’s spacious and clean, the staff is courteous, and there are more menu options than you’d expect. Like the other are bagel shops, 68 offers bagels with various spreads, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch sandwiches. To those, they add French toasts (including stuffed), pancakes, and omelets. The ability to get a more-than-a-sandwich breakfast without the bustle of a diner is a definite draw. The fact that they use Giacomo’s meats is another perk in their favor.

 

For my first visit, I picked up a Jersey Shore (Taylor ham/egg/cheese) on an everything bagel to go. The sandwich was prepped quickly, and the pricing was fair. The melty cheese/salty meat combination hit all the right flavor notes. The bagel, however, was chewier and breadier than a true New York style, and the texture seemed a bit off. They make them in-house rather than using New Garden as a supplier, so they get points for effort at least.

 

If getting your hands on a great bagel is your only concern, you’re probably better served going down the street. However, if you value ambiance, customer service, variety, or aren’t seeking bagel supremacy, 68 Bagel & Grill makes for an attractive breakfast or lunch option.

Basil Cafe & Catering

Located at 215 East Lexington Avenue in High Point, Basil Café & Catering offers soups, salads, sandwiches, and more. It is open from 10:30-3 Monday-Wednesday, 10:30-9 Thursday-Saturday, and closed Sunday. Food specials change daily.

 

This small spot at Lexington and Hamilton has all the makings of a sleeper hit. It’s clean and more spacious than it appears from the outside. While the menu is somewhat limited and a bit basic, the daily specials (which include entrees and desserts) show more flair. Prices are affordable, and Sherry, the owner, is friendly and upbeat.

For my first visit, I took a chicken pesto flatbread and cherry cobbler (both daily specials) to go and was not disappointed. The flatbread (chicken, pesto, tomatoes, onion, and mozzarella) was excellent: tasty pesto, juicy chicken, melty cheese, and fresh flavors all around. The cherry cobbler, while less memorable, was still quite satisfying.

 

All told, Basil Café is a very promising lunch option that should not be overlooked. 

Bistro 1605

 

Located at 1605 North Main Street in High Point, Bistro 1605 serves sandwiches, soups, and salads for lunch on weekdays. Sandwich specials and soups change regularly. Limited outdoor seating is available.

 

Bistro 1605 is a result of Alexandria’s Hamilton Street Bistro moving into the former Cork and Grind location. While I never got to try the old restaurant, I was curious about the new. I stopped by a little before noon on a Friday to find the establishment very busy, a testament to Alexandria’s loyal following. As much as I wanted to like this place, however, it just didn’t strike me as anything special.

 

Positives first: Alesha is a friendly and welcoming presence, and the staff here seem hard-working and personable. Though the menu is fairly limited, several items – a crostini and a spinach/hummus/red pepper/quinoa wrap – held appeal.

 

I ultimately went with the day’s special, an Italian sandwich. It took a while to arrive, but given how busy – and new – the bistro was, I’m inclined to cut them some slack. While the sandwich featured a good amount of meat, it was oddly sweet due to the choice of pepper. Banana peppers and a dash of oregano would have been a welcome remedy. Like a few of the other sandwich offerings, the Italian clocked in at $12 with a bag of chips included. Some of the salads reached ambitiously into the teens.

 

I may need to give Bistro 1605 another shot after they are fully up to speed at their new location, but initial impressions suggest a place that will serve you neither a bad lunch (and there is something to be said for that consistency alone) nor a particularly memorable one.

Capra's Deli

 

Located at 2640 Willard Dairy Road in High Point, Capra’s Deli serves soups, sandwiches, salads, and pasta dishes for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday (and 11-4 on Saturday). Premade take-home meals are available for pick-up, and Capra’s also offers online ordering as well as catering platters for events.

 

Capra’s has been in business for more than forty years and undoubtedly has a loyal local following. I gave it a try in 2019 shortly after moving from Greensboro and wasn’t impressed. A more recent visit last week yielded a similar take. The menu features everything you would hope to find, and nothing was substandard. However, nothing was exceptional, either.

 

Though Capra’s does give off a few Italian market vibes, don’t come here expecting Giacomo’s. The meats are Boar’s Head, yet the sauces at least seem to be made in-house. If nothing else, ordering is convenient and efficient. Order/pay and pick-up lines are clearly labeled, and I didn’t have long to wait for my food.

 

Having previously rolled the dice with an Italian sub, I went with an Italian sausage all the way (onions, peppers, sauce, cheese). At $7.75 (bag of chips included), the price for an 8-inch was fair. The sandwich packed a good bit of heat, from both the fennel-rich sausage and the hot (though green were requested) peppers. The spice was definitely welcome in this case, and it made up for the sandwich’s so-so bread.

 

If a hot or cold Italian sandwich is your comfort food craving, Capra’s is a perfectly decent option for fulfilling it, and you can definitely do a lot worse. However, if you're from the New York/New Jersey area (I actually grew up in the same New Jersey town the Capra family relocated from, and maybe that has made me picky), then you have probably had better.

Greenfield's NY Bagels & Deli

Located at 2160G New Garden Road in Greensboro, Greenfield’s NY Deli and Bagels offers bagels and Jewish deli-style sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. Online ordering for pickup or delivery (via Grubhub) is available as are catering and Kosher options. The restaurant opens at 7 a.m. daily.

Despite its name, Greenfield’s NY Deli and Bagels has a somewhat convoluted lineage. It was opened last month by Tom and Anthony Cassano, associates of Robin Greenfield, who started the original Greenfield’s in Greenville, South Carolina nearly two decades ago. And while Greenfield, known as The Jewish Mayor of Greenville, seemingly adds a touch of authenticity to the operation, she is not a New Yorker but a native Floridian. None of this is reason enough to avoid the establishment, but those who have been to delis in New York/New Jersey should recalibrate their expectations for the Greensboro area.

By those standards, Greenfield’s is definitely promising, albeit with a few quirks. There is a decent amount of seating, especially relative to New Garden Bagels. A New York City skyline mural spans one wall though much of the décor here is strictly functional.

Greenfield’s bagel selection, on the other hand, is quite commendable. Though exact availability varies, there were about twenty kinds on hand when I visited, including varieties not easily found elsewhere such as Black Russian and Blueberry Brown Sugar. Spreads, like the bagels, are made in-house.

The rest of the menu isn’t as expansive, but it does offer both classics (Reubens and pastrami sandwiches) and more recent touches (The Larry David, a shout-out to Curb Your Enthusiasm, features Nova and whitefish on a bagel with lettuce, tomato, capers, and cream cheese). A deli case also features an assortment of salads and sides, there a few baked goods, and like any proper Jewish-style deli, Dr. Brown’s sodas are on hand too.

For my first visit, I tried an omelet sandwich (egg, cheddar, and pastrami on a plain bagel) as well as an assorted half-dozen bagels and lox spread to go. Those used to the smooth and uniform appearance of mass-produced bagels may be confused by the rougher appearance of the bagels found here, but I took this as a sign that they were homemade. Thankfully, the taste and texture fit the appearance: a crisp, crackly skin and a chewy interior. Legit. The accompanying pastrami was satisfyingly smoky, and the sandwich as a whole seemed well worth repeating. A word of caution, however: this is an omelet sandwich, not a mere egg sandwich. Expect to use two hands.

Pricing here varies. At $6.25/half dozen or $12.50/dozen, bagels are about the going rate. The omelet sandwiches start at $4.50 for egg on a bagel and increase accordingly with each topping added. Putting lox on anything brings you over $9.

Annoyingly, while prices are listed on the menu at each table, they are not (or at least were not when I visited) listed on the wall behind the counter. The blanks beside each item were perplexing to say the least. Also, while the tie-dye shirted staff were friendly and enthusiastic, they did appear at times distracted.

Greenfield’s knows how to churn out a quality bagel, and the menu holds enough promise to make return visits likely, but between New Garden Bagels down the road and Giacomo’s across the street, there are, for the time being, better options for both bagels and sandwiches in the immediate area.

The Carving Board

Located at 318 South Stratford Road in the Thruway Shopping Center in Winston-Salem, The Carving Board is a full-service deli offering sandwiches, salads, and desserts Monday through Saturday. Dinner entrees (weekdays only) change daily, and catering is available.

A quest for spicy sesame noodles (a constant among the ever-changing salad selections) led me to The Carving Board, but there are enough appealing options to merit a return here absent said craving. Versatility is definitely The Carving Board’s strength. Sandwiches can be built to-order or selected from a pool of classic “suggestions” (Pilgrims, Reubens, etc.). They can also be halved and paired with soups or salads, leaving lots of potential combinations.

That same versatility can make ordering a bit interesting. The Carving Board tends to get very busy around lunch time, and long lines both form easily and move quickly. It is advisable to either think about what you want before getting in line or to be prepared to make a prompt snap decision.

For our first visit, my wife and I went with a veggie wrap (cucumber, avocado, carrot, lets, tomato, cheese, and herb mayo) and a half-Reuben/salad (spinach, apple, and bacon) combo, respectively. Our food was readied swiftly, and even during the busy lunch hour, there was plenty of seating. The wrap and the salad were both generously portioned, leaving the half-Reuben looking a bit flat in comparison. The salad tasted fresh and balanced sweet and salty well, and while the Reuben wasn’t revelatory, it still satisfied. A to-go order of sesame noodles, enjoyed the next day, were a definite re-order. They were neither as thick nor as sauce-heavy as you’d find in a Chinese restaurant, but they were definitely superior to the oily variant sold at Harris-Teeter.

The Carving Board’s pricing is moderate. Many of the sandwiches are in the $7 to $8 range without sides, certainly no great value. However, the quality and variety of available salads makes the half sandwich and salad combo ($8) or the 3-salad plate ($10) a better deal.

Ordering can be a bit frenzied, and the sandwiches aren’t world-beaters, but the wide selection of salads makes The Carving Board well worth a lunch stop.

7.5/10

Melt Kitchen and Bar

Located at 2270 Golden Gate Drive and at 1941 New Garden Road in Greensboro, Melt specializes in paninis but also offers burgers, salads, soups, starters, and sides six days per week (closed Sundays). There is a full-service bar with daily drink specials and rotating featured burgers and soups. This review covers the New Garden location.

It is not uncommon for restaurants to struggle with issues of identity. They may advertise a concept without fully realizing it or blend multiple incongruous visions. Melt decidedly does not have this problem. It is exactly what it presents itself to be – a dressed-up sandwich bar – and it does a damn good job of being it.

Melt’s recently-opened New Garden location is an attractive space with stone walls, a classic chalkboard menu behind the bar, and plenty of natural light. There is a long table for groups as well as what seemed like enough conventional tables. The chairs at the high-top tables are hard and uncomfortable though, so avoid them if you can.

Melt’s menu has no shortage of tantalizing panini options, including a Cuban Reuben (pretty much what it sounds like) and The Granny (turkey, Granny Smith apples, brie, and bacon onion jam). For our first time up, however, my wife and I opted for the Port City (portabella, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, mozzarella, and arugula with a red pepper aioli) and the soup-of-the-day pork pozole and the Duck Club (duck confit, prosciutto, gouda, caramelized onions, and arugula with an apricot thyme jam), respectively, preceded by a white bean hummus starter.

The food was bursting with flavor and largely very well-executed. The hummus delivered turmeric and cumin notes and was welcomingly accompanied by oven-hot naan. The pozole, though marred by a very fatty piece of pork, was still compellingly rich and smoky, and the fries were savory and crisp. Speaking of crispiness, both of the paninis were prepared perfectly: browned enough to preclude sogginess but not to the point of burning or drying out the toppings. The Port City featured some fresh-tasting veggies that played well with one another while the Duck Club, which had the potential to be overly salty, was thankfully not. The sauces are served on the side as dips here, but the apricot jam was so good that I would have gladly slathered it all over the sandwich.

There are two schools of thought as far as Melt’s pricing goes. The first is to look at the $10 to $14 for a panini and a side and declare that entirely too high for a mere sandwich. The second, and the one to which I subscribe, is to consider the taste, execution, and large portion sizes and consider it a worthwhile expenditure. Add to that friendly service – Ayeza nearly talked me into trying Brussel sprouts, which I typically loathe -  and a quick and efficient kitchen and it feels even more like money well-spent.

In lesser hands, Melt could have easily been just another one-trick gimmick eatery. But by offering flavorful and filling food done right, it instead reads like a concept executed to its fullest potential.

8/10

Bona Fide Sandwich Co

Located at 104 North Churton Street in downtown Hillsborough, Bona Fide Sandwich Co serves sandwiches, bowls, salads, and sides from 10:30 to 4 every day. It is takeout-only: no seating is available.

Every town or city center needs a reliable sandwich shop, and on the surface, Bona Fide seems to fit the bill quite nicely. The location (walkable from most of Hillsborough’s landmarks) is tough to beat, and the menu is varied and appealing. Not only is there a good balance of classics (a Reuben, an All American Sub, an Italian Hero) and vegetarian options (5-Spice Banh Mi, Drunken Grilled Cheese), but there are also more eclectic combinations with names that project a sense of fun. The Werewolves of London, for instance, mixes roast beef and ale mustard with pickles and arugula.

Unfortunately, almost every other aspect of Bona Fide was a letdown. One does not expect a takeout-only place to be capacious, but Bona Fide fills so easily that there is no room to form ordering or waiting lines; customers tend to huddle around. This would be a lot less of a problem if it weren’t for the fact that on summer days, the restaurant gets uncomfortably hot. Whether this is a ploy to sell drinks or an abundance of faith in the efficacy of a box fan is anyone’s guess.

My craving for an Italian sandwich was strong enough to motivate me to brave the wait. The price charged ($7 for an eight inch with no sides; the footlong went for $13) was steep but not outrageous by Hillsborough standards, and the staff seemed hardworking and genial. The actual sandwich was something of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it had a good mix of ingredients (salami, mortadella, ham, peppers, arugula, and provolone), and everything tasted fresh. On the other hand, it was lacking a certain zest, and it ultimately paled in comparison to Giacomo’s rendition.

I wanted to like Bona Fide, and had I arrived when it was less hot and less crowded, I may have. The location and menu make it worth another shot as do the quality of the ingredients, but pricing and taste both leave something to be desired.

7/10