The Shanghai Reuben Sandwich Challenge – City Deli (Closed)
On my search for the Reuben Pastrami sandwich, this challenge has brought me to City Deli. I had read about City Deli, along with New York Deli, from the different punits – Smart Shanghai, Urbanatomy, Time Out, Shanghaiist, and City Weekend. I was eager to try City Deli to satisfy my recent pastrami fix.I won’t say “the search for perfect sandwich” or “great” or even “ideal”, since I have to, and must lower my expectations. But I must say, that I’m glad to have tasted this challenge in order to soothe my cravings. Yet, the thing is…I can’t, and shouldn’t compare these sandwiches to my wondrous experiences in the states, but I did anyways. You can’t help it. I tried to strive for having the sandwich on its own or at least in consideration of the environment. It’s momentous for these foreign cuisines, let alone sandwiches, to reach this culinary excellent and to simply be a treat. Restauranteurs have to deal with locally sourced ingredients, the time-frame of imported materials, and the high expectations of expats. I know I could find a million things not right with any restaurant. But I should be happy, at least, to be getting a “taste” or “sampling” of memorable dining experiences.
On this trip to City Deli, at the Golden Eagle shopping mall, I had to make my way up 6 floors to find the place (via esclators. . .lol). Looking like a simple mall food-court restaurant, like a Sbarro, City Deli didn’t look all that impressive. Their menu, on the other hand, appeared to be. They had the Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches along with the classic Reuben – pastrami on rye with thousand island dressing and sauerkraut.
The sandwich looked quite tasty with the meat piled high in the middle and the sauerkraut and dressing gelled together rounding the top. The rye looked a little silly as it topped the bowed meat. But nonetheless, it was quite inviting (for my mouth). Taste-wise, it was a solid sandwich. The meat was sliced thin, but not as thin as New York City Deli’s. But the problem lies herein with the bread. City Deli, buttered the bread on both sides. As I was holding this sandwich, the greasy butteriness oozed on my hands. I don’t understand why you would butter both sides. I don’t think you need to butter the bread at all. Not sure if this was by design, but the buttered bread left me a bad taste (literally).
If City Deli had left the bread unbuttered, I might have chosen City Deli as the winner of this mini challenge. But after a close race, New York City Deli is the winner. But this is not to say that I wouldn’t visit City Deli again.
What to Order: The Reuben, but ask for unbuttered bread and extra meat What not to Order: The Reuben with buttered bread
Rating 1 Pigs Price Range 1 $/¥/NT
Links Urbanatomy Dianping Listing City Weekend Shanghaiist