Raph's BBQ Deli - Köln — Restaurant in Cologne

An American friend recommended this place, mostly because we live in Stuttgart, where the American deli concept still has yet to be discovered.

I was really hopeful about Raph's. Walking in there, it just seemed to offer all the right things.

The food featured quality ingredients, but everything was just wrong. The menu boasted Buffalo wings. Buffalo wing sauce is vinegar based hot sauce with butter. These were most definitely just a tangy, slight spicy barbecue sauce. They weren't bad, but they were 100% not what we ordered. They also came with no ranch or blue cheese sauce. The wings weren't separated, so they were generously portioned.

The sandwiches....both just had rogue ingredients that made them not true to their American namesakes. The philly cheesesteak had tangy paprika instead of savory green bell peppers. The Reuben had really overpowering pickles, no Thousand Island sauce, too much sauerkraut, the meat was really tough (but spiced perfectly)...and both sandwiches had lettuce, for reasons that still allude me. If it was written on the menu, I could have at least asked for them without.

The place is cute, but if you're an American seeking these classics, you'll be disappointed by the Germanification of them. The search...

I really wanted to like this place, the menu and pictures look fantastic. Perhaps I had too high expectations, but my husband and I were quite underwhelmed.

My Pastrami Reuben was sad. Unfortunately the bread was soaked with sauerkraut liquid, and soggy bread isn't nice. Not sure what they did, but big chunks of my sandwich stuck to the wrapper and the other way around. Mmm, paper.

My husband got the BBQ platter, which was fine. No hint of smoke in the meat, and the ribs could have been cooked longer to let the fat and collagen break down more. As some others have mentioned, the meat is brought out from the back and then reheated.

I see lots of potential in this place, and with a bit more love and a couple of changes our meal could have been totally different. As it is, I won't be rushing back, because life's too short for...

A clear five star place. The only issue was the slower service. Not slow, slower than expected. Still, the food was prepared on place, fresh, and it looks like in the picture: no more empty bread, each sandwitch is place in a double paper wrap because the bread won't hold the contents.

I have no idea how the original Reuben's or Philly Cheesesteak taste. But these tasted great. And the salad was taken as a side, only to find it excellent as well.

The shop itself is very clean, and the staff is very friendly. They can all speak English well. And there is a credit card machine, unlike many shops in...