What is in a New York deli?

Answer 1

The word "deli" is short for "delicatessen." By definition, a delicatessen is, "a store selling foods already prepared or requiring little preparation for serving, as cooked meats, cheese, salads, and the like," (source: dictionary.com).

Traditionally, delicatessens serve cold and hot Sandwiches (with a pickle on the side), soups, salads, and sides like potato salad, pasta salad, french fries, potato chips, etc. It's mostly the kind of food you take with you on picnics. There are usually chairs and tables so you can eat there, or you can get your food to go.

The famous delis in New York City are traditionally Jewish, such as Katz's Deli and the Carnegie Deli. Their most popular items are corned beef sandwiches, Rueben's, pastrami on rye, matzoh ball soup, bagels with lox (smoked salmon) and cream cheese, brisket, Hot Dogs, etc.

See the Related Link below for the Carnegie Deli menu. The Katz's Deli home page does not seem to have a menu, although it says that it does.

However, in New York City only, the word "deli" has an additional meaning. It is also used to describe the small, family-owned convenience stores that can be found on almost every New York City streetcorner. These "delis" (which are also called, "bodegas") sell mainly cigarettes, lotto tickets, beer, chips, candy and soda, and basic groceries and household supplies, such as milk, bread, canned soup, salad dressing, condiments, some basic produce (lettuce, tomatoes, apples, oranges, bananas) some packaged foods like Hamburger Helper or Uncle Ben's Rice, toilet paper, paper towels, Lysol, aluminum foil...stuff like that.

These delis/bodegas make most of their money on cigarettes, lotto tickets, beer, chips, candy and soda. Since their selection of groceries and household supplies is very limited, people usually only shop for groceries and household supplies at these places when they are in a hurry, or when the supermarket is closed. Since delis/bodegas normally are open 24/7 (or at least, until very late at night) they carry only the groceries that you really need, but can't get anywhere else when the supermarkets are closed.