Champ’s Gourmet Deli (71 Broadway, NY, NY) is a bustling hive of downtown sandwich love, often full of brokers and traders (WAY downtown.) I went for lunch on Thursday around noon and was apprehensive of the lunch rush from bankers and tourists. Thankfully, they work at a blistering speed and it wasn’t terribly crowded (most people take their food to go). They have a decent amount of tables and solo seating along the windows where, thanks to the proximity of the WTC, Wall st and Century 21, you can watch the tourists look at maps. Champ’s looks like a slightly cramped version of the same deli layout that everyone in New York knows: there’s a salad station, a grill station, a sandwich station, some drinks and a cash register. I read through all the usual sandwich offerings (Rubens, tuna, burgers, etc.) and settled on the “Manhattan Special”, because Thursdays are always good for roast beef.
While seemingly nondescript, the sandwich is well constructed. The soft, hot roast beef never exhibited any signs of filling creep, the mozzarella was melted through and the bun kept it all in a neat package while helping the texture and not masking any flavors. That is what this sandwich is all about: texture first flavor second. Sure it tasted good, but the thoroughly soft and warm texture was more inviting. Never was it mushy, or crumbly. Each ingredient provided a slight resistance and came together to soothe like a warm blanket. The portion was large, but not holy-crap-I-can’t-believe-I-finished-it-,-I-can’t-stand-to-walk-and-will-just-take-a-nap-here food-come large. It was the right size.
While I wouldn’t make a weekend event of it, I’d head back there without hesitation. The prices are a little high and the food certainly isn’t gourmet, but Champ’s Gourmet Deli is worth a stop if you’re in the neighborhood (or really like to help tourists with directions). The entrance is really on the south-east corner of Trinity and Rector Streets.
Manhattan Special: Roast Beef, Mozzarella cheese on garlic bread (or in this case a sesame seed roll), $6.75
The sign on Trinity St:
Christmas Surprise:
See all that delicious:
Mmm:
One Comment
whats the best cheese for roast beef? does it depend on the beef? i prefer mine with pepperjack. Also what’s the rule for melting cheese on roast beef? how do you do it which keeping the beef rare or medium rare? Thanks sandwich man!
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