Shanghai’s Very Own Sandwich Shop: City Deli3

★★★☆☆

City Deli, located in the Golden Eagle Mall, serves up some pretty mean sandwiches.  And in a city that likes things delivered – and quickly – this deli definitely has found its niche: power lunchers who can’t bear to leave their desks, Sherpa’s junkies, and all those who crave large quantities of meat in between two slices of bread.

As they are strictly a take-away and delivery venue, one of my favorite things to do is grab one of their tasty lunches and bring it to Jing’an Park, which is just a short walk to the west.

Their specialty sandwiches include Steak and Cheese (62元), BBQ Pulled Pork (48元), Bánh Mì (58元), which offers a neat twist to the Vietnamese classic, and many others.  Their Bánh Mì is pretty rocking, actually – tender slices of chāshāo, pâté, house pickled daikon radishes and carrots, cukes, and jalapeños, all stuffed into a mayonnaise slathered baguette.

Pretty ridiculous.  And equally delicious.

But today, I grabbed my standard – a classic Rueben (though a close second tie would be between the aforementioned Bánh Mì and their over sized Turkey Avocado).  My friend Giulietta opted for one of the two fresh salads – the Cobb with thousand island dressing (54元).  With lunches in hand, we strolled over to the park.

The Rueben – actually one of their smaller sandwiches – is pretty great for the ‘Hai.  Considered a deli “standard,” it boasts well-seasoned pastrami, sauerkraut, a slice of Swiss, and thousand island dressing on rye (though the rye is barely rye).  Certainly not comparable to any deli in the American Northeast, but it hits the spot when I need a sandwich.

The Cobb salad is one of the best in the city.  It offers fresh avocado (today’s slices were a bit too ripe), bacon, chicken breast, cheddar, a hardboiled egg, onions, tomatoes, and lettuce (typical Cobb stuff).  But what makes this salad so good is the quality and freshness of these vegetables.  They don’t skimp on the portions of each of those items either – “healthy” wouldn’t really be a word to describe a Cobb salad anyway.

So, when you’re in your office counting down the minutes to lunch, or sick in bed (they also have great soups), dial up, order from their menu online, or even log onto your Sherpa’s account, and within a half hour (more or less), you’ll be one happy customer.

• ¥¥
• City Deli
• 6/F, Golden Eagle Mall, 278 Shaanxi Bei Lu
• Jing’an District
• 电话: +86 6288 3912
• www.citydeli.cn