Food Review: Deli & Brew’s BLT Sub

In the ongoing attempt to find students a quality local meal at a bargain, the Hudsonian ventured into Deli & Brew, located right next to Hudson Valley Community College on Vandenburgh Ave. It is no secret that Deli & Brew has an excellent menu at affordable prices, as is evident from the flocks of students that fill the venue to capacity daily during peak hours.

Deli & Brew has a mantra of quality first, profit later. Owner Ken even goes so far as to say that he “isn’t concerned with profit, and [is] obsessed with quality,” according to the Deli & Brew website. So, upon entering, it was of no surprise that a hearty sub under $5.00 was anything but difficult to find.

In the end I decided to go with the small BLT with mayo and a side of macaroni salad. Total at checkout was under $6.00 without a drink, since I usually bring my own water or sports mix to save on costs.

The half-sub came wrapped in sandwich paper, which then was wrapped in foil. The sandwich itself was warm and tasty even after a leisurely drive back from the deli and a walk across campus.

First impressions were good. The sandwich was warm, toasty and overall delicious. The lettuce and tomato were fresh and served in generous portions. It did, however, also have a lavish amount of mayo on it, so if that is not your thing, make sure to let your sandwich maker know.

The side of macaroni salad was on par with a typical deli’s. It was not bad at all, but was not any different from anyplace else. Deli & Brew is known best for its sandwiches and pizza, though, so I would not count this as a shortcoming.

So, in summary, the BLT at Deli & Brew is a great option for the student on a budget looking for a bite to eat while on a break from classes. Just make sure you plan to wait if it is around noon, as you won’t be the only one looking for fresh meats at a bargain.