The sandwich I ordered at the Brookside Deli at 4700 Coffee Road was excellent, but unfortunately, the pleasantness of my dining experience ended there.
For a deli located inside a gas station, I must admit that I found my work cut out for me, in trying to compare this gas station deli to other legitimate dining facilities. I decided to judge them on a similar scale to other dining establishments, while taking into account that the majority of their patrons aren’t expecting a restaurant atmosphere.
Perusing the menu and paying for my order was an ordeal in itself.
First, I had to ask the attendant (for lack of a better term) about many of the items on the menu because I found the menu difficult to read; the side salads weren’t labeled and didn’t have prices on them.
I had to go through them one by one, asking what each item was and how much it cost.
Sadly, I couldn’t tell the tuna salad from the chicken salad, and the attendant wasn’t familiar with the menu, saying that it was new to her.
I decided to order the ham and pepper jack cheese croissant with a half pint of chicken salad on the side.
I was given a hand-written ticket, which I was to take to the gas station cashier on the other side of the store.
And, after waiting behind an elderly lady, who was counting her pennies and nickels in order to pay for her two packs of Winston cigarettes, I was finally able to pay for my order.
By the time I paid for the food, it was ready. I grabbed my plastic bag containing my sandwich and chicken salad, and then I picked up some plastic utensils and looked for a place to sit.
This was an inconvenience to me: The three inside tables were a mess and covered in crumbs.
I didn’t really want to sit at the bar, so I decided to face the chill weather at their outside tables rather than listen to the incessant swoosh of the sliding glass door, the constant ka-ching of the cash register and the shrill pop music that was blaring inside.
I opened the Styrofoam container and lifted the sandwich to my mouth, and I was delighted by the exquisite taste, and felt the warmth of the hot ham and melted pepper jack cheese flow through me. The fresh tomato slices melded with the sandwich and enhanced the flavor.
I suddenly understood why there were so many crumbs on the tables inside, as I kept flicking them from my lap between bites.
Unfortunately, the chicken salad rated well bellow par because the chicken was hard, dry and tasteless.
I am not certain if the condition of the tables inside are an indication of how well they maintain and keep the dining area, but I have to wonder how they manage during a lunch rush.
Furthermore, the difficulty I had in placing my order and paying for it when it wasn’t busy would make me hesitate to stop there if they were.
Overall, I did not enjoy my dining experience, but I am looking forward to trying some more of their sandwiches.
I would recommend the Brookside Deli for takeout or catering only, unless you’re simply hungry and driving by, and have nowhere else to go.