The Deli is a simply named and wondrously straightforward place to eat. Located at 612 N. Main St. on the edge of downtown Pueblo, The Deli has been serving sandwiches, soup and salads to the lunch crowd for over 30 years.
It’s easy enough to find, and the building’s glass front windows give the place a fresh, sunny feeling. Upon entry, though, the decor does appear a bit dated. A row of slightly dingy coolers full of deli meats line the right side of the one large room, and the rest of the space is occupied by a smattering of circular tables and benches.
The walls are lined with seemingly generic descriptions of cured meats and cheeses, and the menu above the counter is written out on poster boards and dry erase surfaces. But none of that matters once you bite into a sandwich.
The Deli is an order-at-the-counter type place, and the staff has order-taking and sandwich-making down to a science. You place your order at the counter, take your drink to your seat, return up front when your name is called to pay, return with sandwich in hand and devour.
The shop offers a sizable selection of menu items. All the fan-favorites are present: Corned beef, reuben, ham and cheese, hot pastrami, roast beef and capicola sandwiches are all available and can be paired with rye, wheat berry or pumpernickel bread. French rolls are also available upon request.
The specialty menu offers some strangely named sandwiches which fortunately come with detailed descriptions. “The Tom” is a crowd pleaser, and features mounds of turkey breast, a choice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo and mustard. The “Charlie,” is a tuna salad sandwich. The “Pepperdeli” is Italian sausage, pepperoni, green chilies, spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese.
Homemade soups, that change all the time, are available all day, and salads are available with sandwiches or as stand-alone meals. Chips and dill pickles, seemingly standard fare with deli sandwiches, are extra at this place, but that’s not as big of a drawback as one might think. The sandwiches, which are available in small, regular or super sizes, are meal enough for most people.
The Deli also caters boxed lunches and supplies gatherings with meat and cheese platters for a per-person charge. A 10-person minimum applies to catered orders.
Lunch trips to The Deli are recommended, and Pueblo has figured that out over the years. Many of the city’s downtown businesses seem to gravitate toward the shop’s tidily packaged meals, and about an equal number of customers choose to take their food to go.
Aside from area business people, The Deli is a hit with both the older crowd and high school youngsters looking for a change of pace in their lunch hour.
Depending on the size of your sandwich and any extra purchases, expect to pay $6-$12 at The Deli. Super sandwiches of any variety are the most expensive, but light eaters will be pleased to find that salads and soups are usually $3 or less.
The Deli seems to never fail to hit the spot. Although large sandwiches tend to be a bit pricey, the quality of The Deli meals makes up for any lack of flash or presentation. The shop opened in 1976, and has been churning out finely made sandwiches ever since. Clearly the owners know what they’re doing.
If you are a sandwich aficionado, or just find yourself attracted to meats and cheeses, head to The Deli as soon as possible.
Rating: Four stars out of five.
