Petite Deli
Categories: Delis, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill752 Columbus Ave
(between Filbert St & Greenwich St)
San Francisco, CA 94133 (415) 398-1682
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sat 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: None
16 reviews
Neighborhood: Union Square
"Sammy's Smoke & Snacks made a great lunch sandwich for me today. I had roast beef w/ everything on dutch roll. There was the right amount…" read more »
111 Reviews for Petite Deli
For starters is the best "solo"of orchestra my eyes have seen in some time.
Plus, she will welcome you with a warm smile.
I live 2 blocks away from Petite Deli, and stop by for lunch often.
Remarkable freshness, plus friendly, mom-like service.
Try the NY pastrami sandwich....
rollercoaster!
JF
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Well after such rave reviews I had to try this place on my day off. Suffice it to say, it did not disappoint.
Arriving around 2 PM, I found no line and only one guy inside happily devouring his sandwich. I ordered a sandwich for my mom and an Italian hero for me, which took her a few minutes to prepare. Let's get one thing straight: this woman is quite possibly the quintessential Asian grandmother-type woman. Loving, caring, and very friendly, she makes the simple process of ordering lunch an enjoyable experience.
I asked her for half an order of pasta salad and half an order of macaroni salad and she was more than willing to accomodate me. Sure, the sandwiches weren't the stuff of legend. But they were delicious. The ciabatta roll was crunchy and fresh but soft enough to chew. The vinaigrette was tangy and the quantity of meat reasonable (although for what I paid I would have liked a bit more).
All in, with two sodas, I paid $18. Not too cheap, but for a feel good afternoon, aren't we able to treat ourselves just once in awhile? Certainly nice to know people like the woman who runs this shop still exist.
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I come here for a sammich about once a month... I get into North Beach regularly for a hair cut down at Tony's Hair Studio (I guess I have to write a review for that too!) and then after sporting my new 'do, I head over to the Petite Deli for a quick bit to eat.
I love sitting outside the deli, right on Columbus Ave watching the world go by while I munch on my mozzarella, Basil and tomato sandwich. My favorite way to order this sammie is definitely with just some balsamic vinegar (or balsamic vinaigrette dressing if she has it), salt, pepper and olive oil. No mustard, no mayo, no other distractions like lettuce, pickels and other stuff.
The lady who makes the sammie also goes to Tony's for her hair. I feel an affinity with her. She's the sweetest lady ever - always so happy and cheerful and SO KIND. I just wish I could head over more often!
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We desperately wanted to try this place since it was so incredibly hotttttttttt on Yelp. Did Yelpers disappoint? Not really. Maybe just a bit.
First off, the Asian lady who runs the joint is the SWEETEST lady I've EVER met. Sweeter than sweet itself. Sweeter than girlfriends trying to coax boyfriends for new shiny things. Sweeter than sugar. Damn. We rolled up at 2:55pm (place closes at 3p on Sat) and she STILL served us and let us sit down. We left at around 3:30p and she was still willing to let customers in and take their orders and fill their empty bellies.
Sandwiches are decently priced -- roughly $6ish for a sandwich. She let us order first, sit down and eat, then pay at the end. Don't forget that it's CASH ONLY and ALWAYS get the sandwiches on their rolls. The wait can be a bit because there's only the one lady taking orders and making the sandwiches. Anyway, here are the sandwiches we tried...
NY PASTRAMI - A bit on the salty side but the meat was sooo good.
TURKEY DELIGHT - Get it without alfalfa sprouts and it's gooood. The cranberry sauce used in it is sooo tasty.
ITALIAN SOMETHING - It had alot of salamis and hams in it but it was overall okay. Nothing too extraordinary.
I'm not giving this place 5 stars because their sandwiches aren't 'crazy orgasmic mind-blowing omg omg omg yes! yes!! YES!!! good' but at the same time it's definitely a place I would go back to from time to time. Typical sandwiches but made with LOVE. Maybe that's why it's good...
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Nice service and great price, but I don't get what all the fuss in about.
What happens when you unleash the Yelp chowhounds across the city in search of the best eats? Well, apparently it results in undeniable bargain bites like Petite Deli. This place is featured on the home page for a reason!
I've been twice (both on gorgeous sunny days) and had the same sandwhich - a pastrami on a roll with provlone and everything on it. I cannot begin to tell you how awesome those sandwhiches are! The rolls had the right amount of crunchiness and chewiness, the deli meat was savory and moist, and the sauce she put in there had a hint of hot mustard in there too - perfect!
It is a bit out of the way - on the far end of Columbus toward Fisherman's Wharf. But if it was in a more crowded area, you'd never be able to get your sandwhich. They named this place with good reason; it's tiny inside, with room for three tables and two outside tables. So you might be in a for a wait.
Regardless of the size, the other thing that made this place memorable was the owner. She was so incredibly kind on both occasions and essentially works the place by herself. Even with that workload she's always smiling and making sandwhiches to die for.
So the word is out and I wouldn't have known about this place if it wasn't for Yelp. Sometimes you just can't argue with the Yelp consensus...
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It's not a cafe and it's not quite a kiosk. Good for take-away's, I feel. The owner was sweet to us, and very polite and courteous, but the sandwiches were just average; the bread was hard and the meats were just ok. Don't get me wrong - it was just a decent sandwich. But nothing to 'rave' about. Just some fresh stuff you could have slapped together at home, perhaps. No mouth watering ingredients - just a slice of deli meat, salad and a hard roll with your choice of mayo or mustard. The service was very warm and the sandwiches were simplistically wholesome. I went once but don't feel inclined enough to go back. It just wasn't that memorable. I agree with the reviewer below me that most ratings are perhaps in awe of how kind and courteous Ms. Young is. Agreed. The sandwiches however, were...so-so.
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If you want to come here for a quick bite and are in a rush...........this is not the place for you.
Luckily for me when I came here today there wasn't a line. There was however a person behind me after I ordered. He ordered and couldn't wait and simply left. Mrs Young, the owner, said..........."I can only do so much and my hands hurt now.......it's OK............I can't please everyone". I felt like jumping behind the counter to help her. She has that kind of personality. I asked why don't you hire another person. She smiled and simply said...............there's not enough room. Jeff C was right..............It's very amusing to see her come in and out of this 2 foot wide counter top. She's so cute.
I told her I found her on yelp and that I lived in this neighborhood for my entire life. She replies..........."oh yeah.........yelp. I get so much business from them." I was there for 10 minutes and I swear I think we are best friends now. She took the time to introduce herself, asked me for my name, thanked me for the business, and hoped to see me again. She lives near the civic center and her husband helps her out every now and then by driving her. She used to live in sunset until the kids all left so they moved into a smaller place. She said it was easier to clean a smaller place than a house.
To the sandwiches.............................
I ordered two sandwiches because I wanted to sample them. The hero and the turkey delight. The hero was OK.........very fresh and filling. The Turkey delight was to die for. Absolutely the best turkey sandwich I have ever had. Price is reasonable at 6.50 a pop.
I never knew this placed existed. I am glad I found it. See you soon Mrs. Young.
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I would like to thank each and every one of you who took the time to share your thoughts about Petite Deli. I sincerely appreciate those who have waited patiently for a sandwich and I am sorry for those who decided to leave because of the wait. Yelp has created quite a demand for Petite Deli and I work very hard to make sure every customer is happy with their food. Thanks again!
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I freaking love Petite Deli. Charming little place that's run by one woman who is the ultimate multi-tasker by taking orders, preparing, and ringing out. I found the place through Yelp, and by reading all the great reviews i had to go try it for myself. My friend and I drove up to San Francisco for a Missy Higgins show this past February and swung by Petite for lunch. I opted for the Tomato,Basil, Mozzarella sandwich and was in absolute bliss. The ingredients were all fresh, and the dressing she used was amazing. I went back up north in May and Mrs. Young totally remembered us! I knew she was really sweet but didn't expect that at all. In short, Petite Deli has great-tasting sandwiches and is run by the most caring-wonderful person. I just can't stop raving about this place to all my friends!
The business cards for Petite Deli include some nutritional facts, noting that the sandwiches are made of 100-percent love, goodness, happiness, deliciousness, flavor AND tastiness. If that's not the cutest thing ever, I don't know what else to say.
I'm joining the chorus of fandom for PD and Young, its owner, but I'm pretty sure the stellar Yelp ratings are mostly thanks to her. She's the nicest person in the world and apologizes profusely while she says it'll just be a minute; she also actually seems happy to be doing her job, which is great and unusual for a lunchtime hotspot.
I would drop the food itself down to three or 3.5 stars, though, and I realize this makes me a big asshole. But add a healthy dose of customer frustration and Zeitgeist-style bitchiness, and Petite Deli could easily end up in the "not-bad, not heaven-in-a-sandwich" tab of your mental file. Or worse.
I dragged a couple co-workers here the other day at an off-peak time, admitting I wanted to see for myself what all the fuss on Yelp was about. I had a ham sandwich with no mayo and Dijon mustard (and everything else) on wheat, and I'd definitely come back and have it again. That and a bottle of water came down to $6.50, making Petite Deli second only to Trader Joe's and tubby-inducing In-n-Out for cheapest lunch when I'm on the clock. We took our meals to Washington Square, which turned out to be a quiet, nicely shaded place to eat outdoors. Bonus: no crazy people yelled at us!
Best overall deal for a North-Beach lunch, hands down.
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As good as advertised! Quite possibly the BEST sandwich I've ever had. My friend and I rolled into this cozy little shop for lunch a few days ago and were seriously blown away. I'm always skeptical when restaurants are hyped up but this place does not disappoint.
I ordered the Turkey Delight which was turkey, cranberry, cheese, basil, and sprouts lightly toasted on a ciabatta roll. It literally melts in your mouth and was 'effin fantastic. My friend had the prosciutto with vinegrette on ciabtta. I sampled that and it was great as well. Also tried the bowtie pasta salad which was quite tasty. I was such a big fan of the place that I went back 2 days later to taste their mozzarella, tomato, and basil sandwich. Also a winner. I never realized how great basil tastes in sandwiches, but I'm definitely a fan now.
Ok agreed. The lady that works there is definitely top 5 nicest women I've ever met. Even though it was my first time there she treated us as regulars. The wait for our sandwiches was considerable, but that's only because she takes her time to make sure it's the best. You definitely feel the love. Some people are born to play basketball, some born to be singers. Young was born to make sandwiches.
Her quirks will keep you entertained as well. I swear the whole time she was making our sandwiches she was mumbling to herself. She also does a good job of narrating her actions too...you'll see. My favorite part is seeing her fit through a perfect 3 ft opening under the counter when she brings you your sandwiches. Cracks me up every time.
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What more can you ask for in a sandwich shop than Petite Deli? Nothing more.
The whole experience at Petite Deli was perfect.
The extremely nice lady offered us suggestions on sandwiches when I couldn't decide.
I split a turkey and a pastrami sandwich with my friend.
Both sandwiches were very good.
The turkey had cranberry in it and was very good.
The pastrami was nice and warm and tasty.
We sat outside to enjoy the sun and then paid after we ate.
It was an excellent lunch break.
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*walks around in circles*
"do you know where it is?"
"no...I thought you did..."
"I think its near Mama's...."
"I think its on Columbus and Green?"
*walk around Washington Square Park....text a friend for the address*
"Filbert and Greenwich...."
THERE IT IS!!!!
He got a Italian Hero and I had half a prosciutto and cheese, both on wheat even tho he asked for white. Petite in deed. You'd never notice this quaint little shop run by one woman if you weren't looking for it. She kept apologizing to me for the wait, which I thought was very sweet. Both of our sandwiches were soooo good. The basil was sweet!!! Went perfectly with the tomato and fresh lettuce. mMm..washed down with peach iced tea.
We spent $11.50 for lunch.
"too expensive for a sliced bread sammy tho"
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Every sandwich is delicious! Nice and simple. And if it's lunch hour or you're running late, you can call Young ahead of time and by the time you get there, the freshest, homiest, tastiest sandwich will be waiting for you. The place is quite small - I mean, Petite! - but it's a nice, sunny place to sit down and enjoy a great sandwich when it's not busy.
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To give this place anything other than 5 stars would be a bit of a sin... even though the food isn't exactly the best... meeting Young and having her make you a sandwich is a 5 star experience. She is one of the sweetest people in the world and she earnestly wants you to enjoy your meal. It is nearly impossible to not leave Petite Deli with a smile on your face.
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The lady there was very, very nice. Best service I've received since coming to San Francisco.
Tofu sandwich was awesome. I hate mayonnaise and forgot to ask her to take it off, but somehow it actually tasted okay. Heh.
Went after crazy lunch hours so there was a short wait for the sandwich. Sat outside in the nice sunny weather so even better.
I agree with D.M. We love you Young!
I'm tired of being waited on by surly teenagers you have to kiss up to to ensure you're not eating a booger (or worse). If your into vortex's and crystals et al, you'll already know that something made with love is that much better for you, so naturally something made by Young will make you live forever.
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This place is like chicken soup on a sick day...satisfying. And who better to serve you that chicken soup (salad or sandwich in this case) other than Young, the chef and owner of Petite Deli. She is wonderful and her sweetness and generosity definitely show in her food. I always left this place with a smile on my face and tummy because of her.
Order anything here because you can't go wrong. It really is, "all that and a bag of chips."
Lunch time is busy so call in your order 15-30 minutes in advance.
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tuna on dutch crunch, yo. I have never had a sandwich like this before! I think it would be safe to say that it's the freshest, tastiest sammy I've ever had. The sweetness of the bread meshing with the fresh tuna and crunchy lettuce, and the mustard! Ridic. I'm definitely joining the Young and Petite Deli fan club.
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Wow! Over rated & disappointing. An okay sandwich at best (iceberg lettuce - weak!) and yes the gal is nice but geez people, come on, nothing special going on here. Diller's sandwiches are 10xs better.
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The Yelp hype is totally what brought me here -- and the hype is right. Her sandwiches are hella bomb and her bowtie pasta salad rocks my world.
She is the most hospitable and kind woman always with a smile on her face, drive to please, and swiftness to turn down excessive tipping which I admit I have a habbit of when I eat at this wonderful lunch spot.
I suggest a cappuccino and free truffle next door if there's a croud (and a wait). Yes it's only her, so please be a dear and sit down and be patient while the sandwich artist goes to town.
The tables out front are nicely shaded in this calmer part of North Beach, and the park is a short strut away -- a great place to eat your neatly wrapped lunch goodness on a sunny day.
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By far the best sandwich shop in SF.... every sandwich is incredible because young puts her love into everyone.... if you like chicken salad sandwiches these are her specialty she make the chicken salad for each order from scratch.... oh and try the pasta salad!
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The woman who runs this place is quite possibly the nicest woman ever. It's kinda like having my grandma make me a sammich. You know, if my grandma were Korean, not senile, and could make a bomb Italian sandwich. Come to think of it, she's really nothing like my grandma at all.
Come for the sandwich. Come back for the love.
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This place is owned by and run by the cutest, nicest little Asian woman. She's always really sweet, very motherly. Her prices are affordable on all her foods and she's always very generous. She hand makes all your orders as you order them and everything is fresh and delicious. This is a perfect place for a take out lunch or a quick 1 to 2 person meal (minimal seating).
Sandwiches, cold pastas, salads, and through in an ice tea and you have the greatest lunch.
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So after living around the North Beach area for 12+ years I finally got the chance to come here.
This cute little shop not only have sandwiches but the nicest owner I have ever encountered. It was around 12pm when I came and this place was packed and the line was out the door.
I ordered the bf a roast beef sandwich on a roll and a tuna sandwich on wheat for myself. The sandwich did take a little longer than most sandwich shops I've been to but come on she's the only one working there. While I was waiting for my sandwiches I saw the owner making the other customers' orders. I could tell she puts a lot of effort and love to every single sandwich that she prepares. The sandwiches tasted pretty good too. It's not Little Lucca but I can sure taste the love.
CASH ONLY!
Count on me being a regular Petite Deli.
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I don't think it would even matter what the food tasted like here because the proprietor is so sweet and kind; you can't help but want to come back again and again.
We're in luck, though: the sandwiches are tasty and won't set you back much at all. As an added bonus, they are made with 100% love.
This place is small, as the name implies, so you may find lines out the door. Consider ordering ahead by phone to avoid a long wait.
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I went here on a windy SF afternoon and was surprised by how tiny the shop is and just how friendly the woman who works here is. Sandwiches were good, but not spectacular. If I ever get to feeling demoralized about the sad state of humanity coming here would be a good first step towards regaining hope - she is just so darn nice.
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What on earth is so special about this place and how on earth is it the #1 rated restaurant in San Francisco according to Yelp? Not only did I wait 30 minutes for the (very nice) woman to hand make my sandwich, but it tasted no different than the pre-made sandwich I had bought from Trader Joes grocery store the day before. With 2 stars I am being generous. Next...
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Depending on what you value, this place could be a 5-star or 2-star experience.
If you value customer service, it's a 5-star establishment. The lady who operates the place is genuinely nice and caring, in a very motherly way (in a good way). Definitely of the best customer service experiences I can remember in the last few months.
If you come in search for great food at a great price, meh. I wouldn't say the food here is BAD, but it's not particularly special. I value my sandwiches against the "would I rather go to Subway?" test. In this case, I believe I could get a better sandwich at a better price at Subway, so therefore I'd have to say the sandwiches and their value is mildly sub-par, in that I can pretty much make it at home.
So in all I'll say it's a 3-3.5 star restaurant. I will probably return eventually, but I think I'll try some other spots in the area before coming back.
It was a nice today. I had an interview at CSAA that seemed to go pretty well, but all my job interviews seem to go great!
I met a friend for lunch. She spoke very highly of the Mozzarella, Tomato, and Basil. And since we were in North Beach, I think that would be appropriate! Same stuff that's on a Margheritta Pizza! Plus, I've been cutting down on meat. But there are two kinds of meat I don't think I can ever give up ... 1) BACON, and 2) Hamburger.
Anyway, the good size sandwich comes with the cheese, tomato and basil, plus a good dousing of vinaigrette. There a few standard sandwiches, such as Ham, Turkey, etc, and there may even be some specials too.
It's a tiny place, with all of 8 seats inside and out. The woman behind the counter is legendary for her courtesy. She's the only one behind the counter, and I really can't see how she does it, much less where she stores all the meats, etc.
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Nice little feel-good joint. You want flair trucked in from Costco go to Starbucks...and please, leave our neighborhood. Why is this place rated so highly? Kindness, hospitality and attention to detail evidently go a long way, unfortunately it seems like values like these are sadly lost to some of our bridge and tunnel refugees.
We love you Young and everything your super-cute Petite Deli stands for!
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This place is so spectacular. The prices are great. The owner is great. The sammiches are great. Whatever magic honey-mustard the owner slathers onto the bread is like some kind of ambrosia. I've had it once and I crave it.
She offers more than one vegetarian sandwich, which makes it a great little spot for carnivores and herbivores alike.
Not too many seats, though, so I would recommend getting your sammie to go and eating it up the street in Washington Sq. Park.
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I admittedly skimmed through all these reviews, not bothering to count how many times "nice" was mentioned to describe her and didn't think anything of it. So a nice person is running a little deli. Big deal, right? This is San Francisco, not New York.
Even despite all the rave reviews and ratings, I definitely wasn't left unimpressed today. Young is, yes you got it, nice, but not only that she is just plain adorable, just so sweet and warm. I asked for half a Young's chicken sandwich and the other a prosciutto and cheese. Both highly recommended! The chicken, like everyone says, is delicious, with a creamy mustard spread and a slight honey mustard tinge. The prosciutto was savory and delicious and had a really impressive spread to go with it - I wolfed it down so fast (and so attractively) that I can't even tell you what's in it, but if you're a prosciutto fan, definitely try it. Also the bread is a winner. I know there's a wheat or white option, but definitely go for the original (ciabatta, I think) roll - crisp and firm on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside and fresh all around. So good!
Also, sandwiches are very reasonably sized! The half size is more my ideal size.
It's hard for a sandwich to impress me seeing as how they're hard to ruin and arguably, Petite Deli's sandwiches may not be the best in the city, but you really won't think anything of it once you've been served by Ms. Young. This is gold star service and just goes to show you how far that'll take you. Definitely regard this as a skewed review because I am incredibly smitten not only with the delicious sandwiches, but the wonderful lady behind the food. If anything, come here to check out what the sweetest lady in the deli business is like (and while you're at it, grab a killer sandwich).
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Pretty good sandwich served with a smile. I tried the Young's Chicken which was simple yet definitely tasty. I'd go here over the "tourist trap deli further up Columbus" any day...
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Don't be fooled by the size this deli is very small but it packs a big punch. The sandwiches are great and the store owner is very polite, i pass by every once and a while when i am in the mood for some roast beef and fresh mozzarella.
A good deli where, at times, it has taken me 30 minutes to get a sandwich.
Yes the lady is nice, but I don't know if that necessarily warrants all of the 5 star reviews.
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I used to go to school at the nearby Sts. Peter and Paul and would always eat at petite deli. Young is the best, she used to give me free brownies and discount drinks (I was around 9-11 years of age mind you). The roast beef on french with mayo is the BOMB! Her chicken soup is fresh and is made with the highest quality ingredients.
I haven't been there in years since moving to socal for college...seems like the place got painted to a sand color instead of the distinctive faded pink and white. All in all, this is the BEST place to get a quick and delicious meal!
Awe this place rocks so much! Young's BLT sandwich was super yummy! And the prices are nice and cheap. This place is great because the owner is so nice and friendly. She loves meeting new people and chatting up the regulars at the restaurant. there is only a few tables in the establishment and is often times filled with local people in the neighborhood and too many yelpers! shish! i prefer to go and get my sandwich to go and eat at the park or with friends.
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At the time of this review as I was going to review, Petite Deli is still one of the most popular bookmarked businesses to try and review. And one of them belongs to Matt G.
No kidding about this small deli, in which this Petite Deli is indeed "petite", and also fitting the name perfectly. It's a good thing that I was in my street clothes. If I was wearing my uniform and necessary equipment, I'm not too sure if I can fit or obtain my lunch from one of Yelp's favorite.
I ordered the Young's Chicken Sandwich on a soft roll. The $6.50 cold sandwich is a chicken-breast made with Honey-Mustard and other special spices, and has the usual condiments in a sandwich. With only a three small tables, obviously I was too big and might fear that I'll break the upholstery and decided to take my lunch back home and enjoyed it while watching the NCAA Basketball tournament.
Also, after reading the reviews saying that the Korean lady making my sandwich is very nice, evidence shown that, she is definitely very sweet and friendly. A pleasant generosity like hers is a clear example of how a business's customer service should be operated.
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