- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Hamilton Deli
Rating Details »
- Nearest Transit:
-
116th St-Columbia Univ (1)
116th St (B, C)
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
20 reviews for Hamilton Deli
Scale of 1-10 (multiple visits):
7 Food
8 Service
7 Atmosphere
8 Value
Affectionately known to Columbians as "Ham Del", you cant go wrong with this eatery. And they are open 24 hours. The menu is a great read ( everything has a fun name)
Need sustenance between classes? no worries
Uris deli is closed? they're waiting.
And if your nice, theyll even waive the credit minimum for you.
My intro to them was after a night of drinking. The last thing I remember from that night was stumbing down the street at 2 am chasing a reeses cup. By the grace of god, or at least my male escorts, we made it back to the lounge and i bit into my Mona Lisa burger ( bbq sauce, bacon, and some cheese that tastes divine). Heaven on earth. I've had it sober and tastes as good as I remembered.
My friends love the gravy fries, or chli fries, or anything with fries lol.
They do have the best burgers near campus (M2M and their 4.95 generic burger can suck it) and a good breakfast on the go.
The sandwiches are affordable here, I guess. That, and the fact that this place is open really late is probably the only reasons you'll find yourself going here to get food.
They do have a large selection of sustenance for your perusal but their sandwiches have always been dry for me. I've tried compromising by ordering sandwiches with sauce but to no avail I've needed a drink to finish off the meal.
The subs here are great. I recommend the Mojo Melt and the Lewinsky. The service is quite fast. The price could be better, but it's worth it.
Nash is the best breakfast wrap I've ever had in New York! And they serve it all day...Juicy!
Judge is also great for a loooooot of ham and bacon inside it.
Jaws (fish fillet) is so so.
But aftter all, it is just a deli. So don't expect too much from it. It may be the best deli in the world, but it is still a deli.
--
Please enjoy my pic of HamDel, too~
I don't know what the commotion is on here about HamDel - it's not cheap, and it's not that great.
However - it is VERY convenient (except for Sunday nights when they close at 9pm...bummer). The food is OKAY (def not worth the price) but when you're waiting only about 3min for your $8 sub, it doesn't seem that bad.
They do sell alcohol (beer and smirnoff-esque drinks only), and have rolled out a pretty extensive breakfast menu (including oatmeal!)
It gets really hectic in the mornings (they've started ringing bells so you know when to head to the register to pay...) but that's expected when it's sandwiched between the b-school and the law school.
My preferred damn dirty sandwich shop near Columbia U. The guys here are hyper-efficient and ought not tolerate any equivocating or wavering on the sandwich line. Bark your order, pay your bill, and get your buy-10-get-1-free sandwich card punched.
My favorite sandwiches were: Lewinsky (i don't want to know what the secret sauce is given the name), Jaws (fish filet on 'roids), Twister (my sentimental first Hammie's sandwich), and Let It Ride (onion rings belong on every sandwich) .
On a side note, can you all stop calling this place "HamDel"? A place like this does not need your unwieldy portmanteau.
There isn't anything on the menu of Hamilton Deli that will convince you to take the uptown (or downtown) 1 to 116th. In fact, even if you just happened to be in the neighborhood of Morningside Heights, Hamilton Deli wouldn't be on my top five lists of places I'd recommend.
But, as any student around here will tell you, there is absolutely nothing more glorious than being able to order from the 24 hours Hammy's (also known as HamDel) at four in the morning, just a couple of painful hours before the looming paper deadline or a monster exam.
Really, Hammy's is alright at best during daylight hours, but during the few hours before academic execution, it's a godsend.
For me, my finals tradition is 3:30 AM meal of Nash wrap, curly fries, and lots and lots of Redbull. The curly fries aren't anything special, but the Nash wrap is my favorite-- a mildly spicy carne asada and scrambled eggs burrito. And if you're lucky, they'll undercook the egg just enough so that it runs a bit. Disgusting? Perhaps. Amazingly delicious? NO DOUBT.
The lines in the store don't make sense. The products are probably overpriced and not too fresh. But I don't care. Give me my Nash wrap and Redbull, and I can take on any final.
Also, Hammy's is my go to stop for beer in the neighborhood. For a small deli, it has my top 5 non-independent brews-- Killian's Irish Red, Grolsch (though, unfortunately, not the pop-tops), Rolling Rock, Blue Moon/ Rising Moon and Corona. Jesus, Nash wrap and Killian's might even be a better combo than Nash and Redbull.
**
Edit: So they instituted a $1.25 fee if you order a breakfast item anytime other than the morning... so now Nash wraps are $4.75, which is a bit ridiculous. I've now been eating their sandwiches, and highly recommend the NYPD (beef, bacon, cheese, jalapenos, special sauce).
I distinctly remember debating the efficiency of HamDel with an operations major in business school. What would I know as a finance major, but back then I was always up for nerdy debates. The crux of my argument was that the speed of production is governed by the weakest link in the supply chain. The counterpoint being that you could have two or more weak links working in tandem, to smooth production. Or have the stronger links multi-task.
Cashier cum Apprentice Master
sammich maker (weakest link) sammich maker
/ / / / / / / / / / / /
( o o ) ( o o ) ( o o )
/ - \ / - \ / - \
/ | \ / | \ / | \
-------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Setting aside all this silly theory, go here if you study at Columbia, or if you are in the neighborhood--you will be amazed at how efficient their operation is during lunch hour. Best known for their hoagie, HamDel has served generations of Columbia students and will always have a special place in my list of sandwich purveyors. Many of my classmates squarely blame their post-school paunch on the tens (probably hundreds) of hefty sandwiches they consumed here. I have had my share of "grilled cheese, american on wheat" at HamDel, and it showed--at least for a while!
Milano Market on Broadway opened in 2000 as a formidable competitor. And others are sure to come. But I salute you HamDel -- you saved me from starvation every so often. I was in and out in a couple of minutes. Sandwich in one hand. Books in the other. Nothing compares to you.
Maybe I went on an off night, maybe I didn't order the right thing. I didn't ask for one of their specialty sandwhiches but went for my usual bodega/deli standard: chicken cutlet on a hero (please stop calling them hoagies) with lettuce, tomato, hot peppers and russian. They got the order right but the chicken was rubbery and the roll was chewy.
I'm willing to try them again next time I'm in the hood but based off my experiences last night they're no competition for some of my other favorite deli's like Robin Raj's in the East Village or the Columbia Center Grocery and Deli in Wash Heights.
Yes, Ham Del is highly efficient, speedy, friendly, chill, and convenient.
There are stellar sandwiches. There are other delis nearby - apple tree can satisfy a beer or Ben & Jerry's fix just as well, and may well be closer. However, Ham Del prepares such masterpieces as the Godfather, Clinton, Lewinsky, and NYPD.
However, the truly unique masterpiece is the burger offering. The Judge (large, juicy burger, with ham, bacon, fried onions, and melted american cheese) with curly fries, is one of the most sublime eating experiences I can think of, rivaling in many ways a couple courses at a nice restaurant. All for under $8.50. The Mona Lisa and E-Mail are also pretty sweet. But the Judge rules all. I have seen this place closed a couple of times, and my heart twinged - how can anyone feel secure in existing without the love and comfort of a miracle-grill and its savory treats?
HamDel isn't wonderful, but if you're in the mood for artery-clogging burgers or a breakfast wrap (my fave, and cheaper than the sandwiches), then this is where you should go. The place is open until ungodly hours, which is definitely a plus when you're sitting in the library toiling away and struck with hunger pains. The service is fast and polite and very convenient (across from the street from campus).
Hamilton Deli, or 'HamDel' to those in the know, is an absolute miracle of efficiency and quality. Visiting HamDel at peak hours is like watching Cirque Du Soleil -- sandwiches fly through the air, the employees skillfully maneuver around each other in the narrow corridor behind the counter, orders are shouted in concise snippets of code (otherwise known as spanish), the audience is herded in, shouted at (soup nazi style), coins are counted at breakneck speeds, and the audience is pushed out the door food-in-hand before they even realize what happened.
Frankly I'm surprised there aren't more Yelp reviews for this place considering that a significant portion of Columbia's student body worship it. HamDel is ever the subject of several facebook groups, although affection for HamDel among Columbia undergrad population skews based on location. Some people, like myself, eat (well, used to eat) a meal/day here --sometimes two. Other people, mostly those living in dorms on the west side of campus, have never set food in the place.
In the mornings, try their double egg and cheese on a toasted h&h poppyseed bagel (or the bagel of your choice) and ask for salt and pepper. At lunch/dinner try a #1 with honey mustard (#1 = a grilled chicken sandwich with your choice of dressing). Chicken fingers deluxe and the hamburger deluxe are also great choice but take a while - call in your order ahead of time for those.
If you find your stomach rumbling while in the CU area, walk over to Amsterdam and check this place out. The food is great, the staff is friendly, and it's an incredibly well-run small business. With such a great location, fast turnover, 24 hours, and small space (there's no seating, it's takeout only) they're probably making a killing -- and they deserve it. I believe it's owned by two brothers who also own Che Belle pizza.
To address Rob W's comments, I've never tried the pre-made Panini's but admittedly they don't look very appetizing. And as Dave L points out, Apple Tree Deli (NE corner of 120th and amsterdam) does in fact make slightly better and cheaper sandwiches, but they are sooooo incredibly slow that I can't believe they're still in business. It's usually not worth my time going there. It's also down a big hill from college walk.
I probably wouldn't have to work out as much if Hamilton did not exist, but I would be far less satisfied with the fast food choices around Columbia. The sandwiches and burgers are huge and will satiate even the largest appetite. The Godfather and Stallone are my favorites and the chicken salad is tasty as well. Hamilton also makes salads to order for those looking to put a little less strain on their hearts. Shy away from the pre-made paninis.
For a big sandwich on the go, you will be hard pressed to find a better place in the immediate area surrounding Columbia.
Ah, HamDel! So cheap! So good! So wonderfully appropriate for drunk kids on their way home!
The build-your-own grilled cheeses are really great. Try muenster, cheddar, and american. My other favorite is the Oh Barbara (I think?).
They also make good breakfast burritos, although I really hate the bacon they use. All in all, this place is cheap, always open, always delivering, and always consistent.
Grabbed many a sandwich here in my Columbia years. They're super-quick, efficient, and best of all affordable. I've never gotten a bad sandwich here. But I have to admit I've never gone back after I graduated even though I live right in the neighborhood, so I guess it wasn't anything special! But late at night after spending ungodly hours cramming for that exam, it really did hit the spot.
During rush-hours, the place is mayhem, but the coffee is passable, the sandwiches are solid, and they offer turkey bacon on their breakfast wraps.
Also, the big stacks of cellophane wrapped cakes/brownies are fantastic, but the muffins are not. Go for the chocolate cake.
What do I do when I realize I forgot my microwave lunch and have about 15 minutes left in my lunch period? I call my buds at Hamilton Deli. Not only do the have an extensive list of sandwiches with funny names ("The Lewinsky" has special sauce on it...ewwww) but, you can build your own salad over the phone. AMAZING! Wait, it gets even better. The delivery guy comes within 10 minutes of your order. So, to sum it up, in 45 minutes, you can: check homework, set up your math lesson, order lunch from Hamilton and then EAT IT!!!!!!!!
If you go to Columbia U, or if you are ever up in the neighborhood and hungry, you should definately check this place out. They have a ton of specialty sandwiches that are all huge, yummy, and filling. They also have some of the largest slices of pizza I have ever seen. It's one of those neighborhood places that you'll never get tired of, and will always be there when you just cant figure out what else to do for something to eat. The guys who work there are super friendly and happy, which makes frequenting this spot all the more enjoyable.
The best thing about these guys is that they deliver 24/7, but for a better (and better-priced) sandwich, go north five blocks to the Apple Tree Deli.
