Bite Of The Day: Sandwiches At Farmer In The Deli
The first time I ordered a sandwich from Farmer In The Deli (357 Myrtle Avenue, at Adelphi Street) back in 2009, I didn’t know what to expect. Friends had told me that they had the best and most affordable sandwiches around, but I’m a native New Yorker, so skepticism runs in my blood. I ordered a Veggie Sandwich ($3 for a hero; add $.10-$.50 for cheese, pickles, hot/sweet peppers and jalapenos) and figured even if it was as safe and bland as nearly every other veggie-stuffed bread dish, it’d be a good deal. But boy was I pleasantly surprised.
From what I recall, the Veggie Sandwich was both flavorful and overstuffed. I had added cheese and pickles, so that upped the price to $3.60, and coupled with my choice of dressing (choose from the usual suspects of ranch, French, vinaigrettes, honey mustard, etc.), it had me deciding that I needed to go back again.
Cue a recent visit where, first up, we ordered a Maple Honey Turkey Hero ($5.49) with muenster cheese, mayo, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and sweet peppers.
As you can see, the thing is ginormous and can easily feed two people. Although I of course went to town on this by myself. The Boars Head turkey was really layered on, its slices easy to bite through and nicely contrasted with the crunch of all the vegetables and the softness of the cheese and mayo. The balance of savory, sweet and pickle tang really makes you feel like you’ve eaten a whole meal, too. Which, of course, if you finish this off in one sitting, you have.
We also ordered a Chopped Tuna Salad sandwich on a roll ($3.99; $4.49 for a hero), which the counter guy prepares right in front of you, mixing a can of tuna with lettuce, tomato, and mayo in a pile on some wax paper, and then chopping it up awesomely like you see at those build-your-own-salad restaurants.
The tuna salad was really good and great for people with trouble chewing on things thanks to all the chopping, and it also held up well overnight in the fridge, tasting just as good as it did fresh, and with bread that hadn’t even gotten unbearably soggy.
Other highly recommended fillings, according to Yelp reviews, include chopped buffalo chicken with pepper jack cheese and all the fixings, and hot roast beef with muenster cheese and all the fixings. With all the personalization, there are infinite varieties of sandwiches to enjoy.
You may notice a theme here: get all the fixings. As long as you don’t have any dairy allergies and can take jalapeno heat, go for it. They really amp up the textures and flavors in pretty much every sandwich, which are fine on their own, as well.
Verdict: Farmer In The Deli is a neighborhood favorite for a reason, so whether you go there for your daily lunch break or for weekend snacks or to stock up for a road trip, whatever, just make sure you go.
FARMER IN THE DELI
357 Myrtle Avenue (northwest corner of Adelphi Street)
718-875-9067
Open 24 hours
