Southside Deli — Restaurant in Sarasota

I've never been to Southside Deli before, didn't even know it existed. Driven by it thousands of times but, well, no excuses. So when I found myself with a hungry tummy and a desire for a good sandwich, I didn't expect Google to show me a place a block from SMH. Parking is tight in the area, 4 spaces right in front and more on Hillview but busy times are going to be .... an entertaining excerise. Or you can call your order in and pick it up at the drive-thru window. A drive-thru at a non-fast food restaurant? That's nuts and terrific. The menu is displayed on several flat screens above the counter but they change kind of quickly so it took a few passes to read everything and make a decision. To say my muffuletta panini was 'hot off the press' is both an understatement and a terrible pun. It was delivered to my table within 2 minutes of ordering and I couldn't pick it up for a minute without risk of burning my fingers. This place is a well-oiled machine full of friendly staff. And it is really clean, it looked like it just opened at the start of the lunch rush. Once it cooled down a few notches it was a tasty sandwich. The olive tapenade was milder than on other muffulettas I've had but still a good, fairly light lunch with a pickle spear on the side. And now that I know they're there, I'll be stopping in again. Plenty of space for the walker & wheelchair crowd to navigate. The front door is wide and the tables seem well-spaced. Might be a touch tight getting to the bathrooms, though, as cases of drinks line...

So, coming from Long Island/Queens my entire life, eating at the likes of Sals, Sandwich King of Astoria - I am VERY biased when it comes to Delis. Almost too biased. I do not give many places their fair shot.

Fast forward to 1/23/2020. I have been living in SWFL for over 7 months now, and have yet to find a deli that can even shine the boots of NY Delis.

I woke up, the morning of 1/23/2020, craving a wonderful deli sandwich, as I normally do, and happened to stumble upon Southside Deli, in Sarasota, where I live, so I was surprised to find I had not found it sooner.

Well, folks... I found it. First and foremost, let me say this. They have the BEST...yes BEST Tuna, I have ever had, and I have had them all. Trust me, its the best.

From the time I walked through the door, and see their tables LITTERED with take out and delivery orders, to the time the friendly and ultra polite gentlemen behind the counter took my order, to the time I walked out the door, I felt at "home". THIS is a NEW YORK DELI. For all your "NEW YORKERS".... Stop here.... you found it... this is it. And frankly, it's my favorite deli, I have ever been to. Which is high praise, coming from my humble, delicatessen aficionado self.

Southside - you guys know what you are doing, and you are doing it better than anybody. Thank you, and keep...

Keeping this a three star, so you have a chance to change my mind. I came in 1/31 around 3pm. Tables: empty Drive thru: empty Nobody in line except an older couple who had already received their food. I stood around trying to watch the menus but they change too fast for you to read them long enough to make an informed decision. I was not acknowledged when I came in and didn't feel like I was important enough to serve. I stood quietly trying to read the menus while the man behind the counter continued to carry on his conversation. Another patron walks in behind me, he continues... I trun to leave after about 39 seconds and THAT is when I'm acknowledged "sir did you need something?" I was already halfway out the door. Call it a fluke, call it a mistake. I'm letting you decide how this review will live on. Hope to be able to come to your restaurant and enjoy a meal sometime. 25 year local born and raised. After fighting the traffic that has exponentially increased... Being ignored when I'm hungry isn't high on the list of things I'm really willing to endure. YOUR move.

No...