This past weekend, after seeing a feature on the Phantom Gourmet, we decided to try out Nick Varano’s Famous Deli. I don’t know why we even watch Phantom Gourmet. We can barely get through an episode without going out to eat somewhere as soon as we see something delicious. But then I guess that’s the reason we watch.
With Heather and Danny, we headed to the “gateway to the North End” to get some sandwiches. The location on Cross Street is ideal. You can see it easily if you are walking from Faneuil Hall as you cross the street towards the North End. On the inside, the restaurant is filled with nostalgic newspaper and magazine ads and articles that serve as wallpaper. The menu is inspired by old Hollywood, with each sandwich devoted to an athlete or starlet.
I got the Famous Eggplant Foccacia sandwich. It was piled high with thin breaded eggplant slices, tomato sauce, and cheese. Recently, I’ve been a little adventurous and tried or ordered things I normally wouldn’t have. Usually, I would have gone for some kind of chicken sandwich, but something made me get the eggplant.
Famous Eggplant Foccacia
Dane got the Famous Chicken Cutlet, with breaded chicken, roasted red peppers, and provolone. This worked out well, because I still got a bite of a chicken sandwich.
Famous Chicken Cutlet
Heather opted for a make your own deli sandwich and went with tuna salad, lettuce, and tomato on foccacia bread. The use “Italian Tuna” which didn’t seem to contain any mayo. Instead it had some crunchy bits that I’m assuming were some onions and a great flavor that could have potentially been some sort of Italian dressing. Definitely different. In a good way.
Tuna and Heather. She was hungry.
And last but not least (Literally. Danny’s food was the last to come out), Danny got the Famous Pastrami. He actually said it was one of the best pastrami sandwiches he’d ever had.
Mmmm, pickle. Oh, and a sandwich.
Sandwich prices were almost all $9.95. For a sandwich, I felt like $8 would have been slightly more reasonable. I’ve definitely had sandwiches at other Boston locations that were just a huge in portion size for just a bit less money.
Everything was very good, but service was a little slow. We waited probably about 5 minutes in between each of our sandwiches. I got mine first, and then Danny’s didn’t come out until at least 15 minutes later, even though we ordered about a minute apart. Just makes you wonder what it’s like on really busy days or during lunch hour. I have to say, even though we waited a bit, the staff was very friendly and we had fun chatting with them. One of the staff actually told us about when Phantom Gourmet came to film because we mentioned that we saw the deli on the show earlier that day.
We had a good meal, but I’m not sure Nick Varano’s will top my list of places that I absolutely need to revisit. If I were to go back, I’d probably save half of my sandwich for lunch or dinner the next day!
-Kristen
