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John's Famous Deli
Category: Restaurants Delis Delis [Edit]
15 Innis StStaten Island, NY 10302
Neighborhood: Elm Park
(718) 815-9100
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
9 reviews for John's Famous Deli
9 reviews in English
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Review from Micah A.
9/23/2011 3 Check-ins Here
First time I gave them a tip they yelled at me. He looked at the amount and yelled to his dad/boss "Some Tip!" and his dad or boss mocked it with "Some Tip!" and I was ashamed. The next time I was there I decided it must be some type of slang in some other language. Then the final time I was there I found out they yell "Subway!" as a tradition because it notifies the rest of the staff that they're not stealing from the register, and that the tip is "subway money." Pretty cool, dudes.
So this place is not at all vegetarian friendly, but it was the only restaurant within walking distance and quite literally across the street from where I was staying, so I had to come in here when I needed a quick bite or morning coffee. Their specialty is meat sandwiches, and I can't tell you anything about those. Useful, yeah? Go ahead and click the button now.
But for vegetarians that are cool with not eating at all healthy, they do have some nifty options, and my favorite is this small side sandwich whose name escapes me (useful, yeah? You can log out and click "useful" again), but it's basically a fried cheese sandwich. If I had to describe it, I'd say it tastes like a mozzarella stick - but it's a sandwich. It's also cheap, and they give you some marinara dipping sauce to go with it. It might be the most artery clogging vegetarian sandwich possible, but it was still pretty excellent.
They had a tomato and mozzarella not-fried sandwich also that was pretty good. Little heavy on the vinegar, but I think other people will like it. Their coffee was also some generic Colombian drip brand but it tasted excellent.
I was really happy this place was nearby, and while I wish they had a few more things I could eat, it's a deli. So... you know. It's not like I'm mad at butchers because they don't slaughter enough vegetables.Listed in: Cataloging New York
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Review from Ivy B.
Staten Island, NY
5/14/2011
Having gone to high school very nearby to here *ahem Port Richmond in the house!*, I got used to coming to this deli every morning for breakfast and afternoon for lunch. I'm a big fan of the BLT, shrimp parmigiana, and the occasional roast beef too, which is pretty bangin with onions and the black deliciousness on the side, which I've seriously considered drinking.
The place does get crowded, especially in the mornings from 7 to 9, and afternoons from 1 to 4. I just take that as a testament to how good it is. -
Review from Kent W.
New York, NY
4/15/2011
Oh-so-close to a 5!
The goooey ooooey thick sauce made that roast beef sandwich "epic".
They piled on the roast beef here, which were fresh and had that perfect texture. (the meat was a little bit on the bland side - but again - that sauce did the job)
* perfect roll - it was still soft the next day - unfreaking real.
* here's to the folks in Staten Island.
* the potato croquet with gravy? oooooo rah. -
Review from Andrew A.
11/14/2010 2 photos
While visiting my cousin who lives in Staten Island, he suggested we try John's Famous Deli because "they have the best roast beef sandwiches in New York". I am not a big roast beef fan, but i'm always open to trying something new, so why not.
The deli is small, and not the most attractive place, but one thing that stands out when entering is the big hunk of cooked roast beef (not cold cut style) on the slicer. The options for ordering a roasting beef sandwich are in roll or hero form - I opted for the roll. I don't believe you have much options for the sandwich but it comes with onions and fresh mozzarella and then they put the sandwich back in the oven to melt the cheese.
The final topping and probably the most important ingredient is the sauce they put on in the end. When you look at the sauce in the pan and the guy behind the counter scooping it up, it really looks like tar or a pot of italian coffee.....
What to expect when eating the sandwich - the meat is tender, the taste is flavorful and the sauce is awesome.... You gotta try this place! I believe they have 3 locations and 2 of which that are in Brooklyn. -
Review from Ron J.
Staten Island, NY
7/24/2011
SUBWAY...THANK YOU!
i love this place, roast beef sandwich with motor oil is always proper. great service and cool staff. -
Review from Peter D.
10/23/2009 3 Check-ins Here
The roast beef is so good at John's Deli that it's the only thing I ordered the first dozen times I was there. I recommend getting the roast beef with onions and getting the gravy on the side. The onions are nice big pieces and they give you a lot of them. The gravy is black and delicious.
Everything I've had at John's Deli is excellent. The shrimp parm was great. Nice big pieces of breaded shrimp. The fried ravioli's are addicting and the potato croquettes are top notch.
The staff is very friendly and often offer samples of the food to entice you to order something besides the amazing roast beef.
If you leave a tip in the jar all the workers will shout out "Thank you Subway", which is believed to have originated from the original store in Brooklyn, were tips served as subway fare. Whether that's the case or not, it's nice to know the tip I leave is appreciated and not just expected.
Go to John's Deli.Listed in: Staten Island Eats
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Review from Zinat M.
4/20/2011
So I happen to catch the sign outside the deli one day while driving by. It said 'hot roast beef', and I thought hmm sounds delish. Then I read the reviews of this place and their very NY story and decided I had to try it out. So I went one quiet afternoon just before closing, and had placed the order by phone so just had to pick up. I asked for the sauce on the side and glad I did. I imagine it would've been a soggy mess otherwise. By the time I was done, so was the sauce. Order it with onions, they heat the sandwich in the oven and the mozarella is ooey gooey. You dip it in the sauce and enjoy a piece of heaven. The sauce is thick, black, beefy, and a perfect compliment to the sandwich. I would recommend picking it up to go, not much ambiance, it is a deli after all.
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Review from Morgan C.
10/9/2009
I happened upon John's today when I was at an estate sale around the corner and needed some cash. While I was trying to figure out what was wrong with the ATM, I saw a guy eating what looked like an amazing chicken parm. After I finished my business, I high-tailed it straight back to John's for a parm of my own.
They seemed to do a lot of business and had a lot of regulars, which is a really good sign. The menu has all of your gluttonous classic Italian sandwiches, a variety of fried things, cold sandwiches, and amazing mashed potatoes (or so I eavesdropped.) Lots of people were ordering the shrimp plate. If I am back in the hood, i plan on trying the roast beef.
The roll on which my sandwich was served was absolutely perfect, and quite possibly, the best part. It was hot and crusty on the outside and soft inside. The serving of chicken was big, two breast for a roll and it was smothered with tons of sauce and a heap of mozzarella. The portions are really generous and the hero would be a 2 meal ordeal. It was so good, I wolfed it down and ordered one to go for my BF. -
Review from Lauren G.
2/26/2006 3 photos
You can't go wrong with this place, traditional Italian specialities and Hot Roast Beef to die for, catering, take out or eat in, parking around back.
