New York Corner Deli — Restaurant in Surf City

The only thing NY about this place, is the name and the prices. Everything else brings shame to the name...

I'm from NY, and if this deli was in the same neighborhood that I grew up in, it'd be out faster than it went in...

It's a NY deli, at a NC pace of life. The place was nearly empty (a table of 2 sitting next to the counter), and it took them 20 minutes to make an Italian combo and fries. There were 7 people behind the counter, doing God knows what.

What really blew my mind, was that they had the deli meats PREPACKAGED on wax paper. When I think of NY deli's, I see a guy slicing meat for your sandwich, and having a nice conversation with you. If I wanted rationed and prepackaged meat, I would've gone to SUBWAY (which sadly makes a better sandwich). So why it took them 20 minutes to make a prepackaged sandwich is beyond me.

Then the guy tried to hand me just my sandwich, and when I asked him for the fries, he said, "oh..." and just handed the ticket to another guy, who went and got my fries. Baffling.

My whole gripe, is don't promote your business to be a NY deli, but work at a NC vacation pace. Anyone can put up posters and pictures of NY scenery, but I didn't feel THE HEART AND PASSION, that us New Yorkers bring to the south.

The food is adequate at best, with the sandwich having next to no meat on it. IF YOU SAY YOU'RE FROM NY, MAKE A NY SANDWICH. Where I used to live in NY, you could barely fit the sandwich in your mouth! The fries were bland, without any salt or seasoning on them. I don't know how a NY deli can mess up an Italian combo and fries...

Maybe I had high hopes for this place, as I saw a place where I could go to every day to remind me of home, but this NC deli, reminds me that the owners have either been away from NY too long, or they let their employees' standards slip by...

Popped in Sunday afternoon to grab some lunch. Young lady who took our order was friendly. My complaint isn’t about the customer service but really just the establishment and quality of food. This place was dirty. I don’t know what it is about carpets in restaurants or diners but when they’re dirty, caked on black smut, it’s just gross. Tables upstairs had not been wiped down by employees. They’d been cleared by customers, that was evident, but not wiped down after people had finished eating. We picked a some what semi clean table and realized the napkin holder had three napkins in it. Garbage can upstairs was full, so dropping my food in to trash wasn’t gonna work, had to push my garbage down with it. As far as food goes, my french fries were soggy and cold. Some of them looked like they had black stuff from a grill or something on it; not burned or over cooked but just black stuff from a grill. I decided not to eat anymore after trying two of them. I ordered the BLT and the mayonnaise wasn’t spread on, more like a blob in one spot and bacon was over cooked and one piece so hard, when I went to bite down, felt like I was trying to eat a small rock. I did finish my BLT and it was ok. I want to like this place but I’m a huge fan of clean establishments because to me it says everything to me about how they’re willing to handle/cook food in the back where customers can’t see. What I saw out in the open wasn’t clean. I would even be willing to come back and try a different sandwich but cleanliness is lacking at this place. Sorry...

I remember when this place opened, I was 14 years old, and nothing looked like it does now, but the deli hasn't it changed at least from what I can tell from the pictures. Some of my fondest memory's happened in or around close by to deli as I worked there for close to 4yrs from the day they opened. Barry, Billy, Joey, Alex, Caitlin, Meg, Johnny Bacon, Phil, and Chris were all family, those summers, and even winters! The one thing that brought us all together to make the deli such a great place was the love of a good sandwich and good food in general. We did only have great food but we all took alot of pride in serving the local people of surf city as well as the tourists. I have since moved away and been away for many years. But am so happy to see the deli is still there going strong. Every time I get to that side of N.C., even if it a lil out of the way, I try to make my way there for a chicken cutlet, fresh cut roast beef, or the famous Italian! And oh yeah don't forget the extra sour pickle! It's been awhile since I have gotten my fix but I believe I will make there here soon to see my old deli family, and catch up, and hopefully to drive Billy crazy with my southern accent and slang! He use to love one phrase so much I believe it was " Do What!" Hope all is well with them and can't wait to see them all again and have one of the best sandwiches on the face...