Talk o' the Town

Talk o’ the Town Deli
Crawfordville
August 5, 2009-08-05

The Inaugural Review

This recipes and review gig is going to be a little hobby…sort of an online indulgence to allow me to share my love of all things cooking related with my friends and family. I grew up in a “foodie” family. My relatives and I have owned restaurants and worked in the food service industry throughout my life. Enjoying good meals was a big part of my family experience when I was growing up.

As an adult, in another life, I was a restaurant mystery shopper for several companies. Mystery shoppers review restaurants and rate the business on service, cleanliness, and quality of food, among other things. My friends, family, and I had loads of fun dining out at various places around Florida on someone else’s dime and I gained extensive knowledge about the restaurant business along the way.

I’ve been toying with the idea of writing about food for sometime and this review represents my first foray into the realm. Comments and suggestions are very welcome!


I was very excited when I saw the announcement in the local newspaper, The Wakulla News. A New York-style deli was opening in Crawfordville! After my initial excitement abated, my innate Yankee skepticism about attempts to recreate Northern food and culture south of the Mason-Dixon Line reared its ugly head. Were real New Yorkers running this venture? I hoped for the best and drove by the location occasionally to watch their progress.

Finally, I returned from vacation and saw that the lighted “Open” sign had been turned on. I bee-lined my way in to the parking lot to pick up a menu and do some reconnaissance. I walked up to the counter and ordered an iced tea while I perused the wall menu. A man opened the door and called out to the counter staff in a decisively New York accent, “Youse got Boar’s Head meat?” The staffer said no.

Dismayed, I asked, “So what kind of meat are you carrying?”

The befuddled staffer replied, “Hormel, our food distributor said it was better quality.”

New York accent guy snorted, “Real New York delis use Boar’s Head.” He departed.

I looked at the lady working the counter, “Well, in New York, we used to choose delis according to which ones stocked Boar’s Head. Boar’s Head really does have a better reputation, it can be a real selling point..”

The woman cocked her head toward the back of the house, “She is from New York.”

“Um, okay, well, I’ll be back for lunch tomorrow with a friend. Good luck!” I said.

I went home and related the story to a good friend who relocated from New York years ago to work in the Florida food service industry. He shook his head.,“Hormel, really?”

The hour for my lunch date approached. My friend and I stood before the wall menu and made our selections. She chose “The Miami”, a panini that came generously filled with turkey, tomato, onion, and spinach artichoke spread. The bread choices included white, wheat, multigrain, rye, and pumpernickel. All sliced bread, no sub or hoagie rolls to be had here. While I adore rye and pumpernickel breads, the lack of sub rolls disturbs me. No bagels, no bialys, no hoagie rolls, no baguettes, nada, zilch, zip. Sorry, folks!

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I would not order an Italian style sandwich as listed on the menu on anything but a sub roll – the classic New York way to prepare such a sandwich.

I had been watching other diners while I waited for my friend to arrive. I decided on a Cobb Salad that I had observed another patron eating with obvious enjoyment at a nearby table. Calorie counters beware, the only “light” dressing option is fat-free raspberry vinaigrette.

The final report? The food was good -- well-prepared and fresh-tasting. Service is fast and friendly. The staff seemed to be learning to use the register on the fly and ice is served from a cooler behind the counter, but none of this detracts from the flavor of the food. The front of the house has limited space and the tables are two tops. Business was brisk and seating was limited when we finished our meal at the height of the lunch hour.

Beverages include brewed Luzianne tea, sweet and unsweet, as well as bottled sodas. Soup, chips, chili, and cookies are available. The menu lists potato, macaroni, and cole slaw made on site. Do they make their own egg salad, chicken salad, and tuna salad? I plan to find out on another visit.

I would recommend this deli as a Subway or Myra Jean’s alternative for a change of pace. However, do not go to this place expecting a real New York style deli. And no, pastrami is not offered. They do, however, have liverwurst. It is a nice little sandwich shop and a welcome addition to the Crawfordville food scene, but hardly a haven for the New York ex-pat crowd.