Sal, Kris & Charlie's Deli

If you need to feed two people for around $20, pick up a sandwich at Sal, Kris & Charlie’s in Astoria. Their heroes are roughly the same dimensions as a newborn, and while they don’t make their own cold cuts, they top almost every sandwich with some very pleasant pickled peppers—gallon-sized jars of which line the entire deli. The Bomb is so locally-famous that the last time we took one to a stoop around the corner (there’s nowhere to sit here), an elderly man walking his dog paused to ask, “Is there any other sandwich?” And truthfully, there might not be.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Will Hartman

The Bomb

One of these could comfortably feed a family of four. It’s fully loaded with pastrami, mortadella, roast beef, hot capicola, two cheeses, pickled peppers, lettuce, tomato and onions, and mayo.

photo credit: Will Hartman

Roast Beef on a Roll

If you want a reasonable amount of food, get your sandwich on a roll. It’s not on that hard, poppy-seeded kaiser roll that you expect at a deli, but a softer, more pliable bread. It won’t blow your mind, but their simple rolls are nice and utilitarian. Thankfully, they're not cheap with the mayo.