Delicatessen – NYC
54 Prince Street
New York , NY
(212) 226.0211
See larger map and more nearby
VdV Rating: 3
Food: Ca/american
PRO: Happenin’ place day & night, outdoor seating
CON: Slight douche factor, but typically worth it
Yeah lots of us have heard of this happenin’ spot in SoHo. It’s on a great corner, Prince & Lafayette, gets a solid attractive crowd, decent eats, a model lounge…WTF? A ‘Model Lounge?’ Is that like a Model Zoo? No, not a Petting Zoo you perv.
OK, back to the facts. Which is oh sooo boring. This whole Model Lounge was a stunt these guys did last year, down in the basement of this joint. You had to ‘prove’ you were a model to get in, and horny dudes would hang around trying to get a glimpse. Dunno, sounds like there’s worse ways to use basement space to me.
Anyhoo, Deli’s been here for years, and it keeps its MoJo going. Still has great crowds, due in large part to the fact it houses models in the basement. Wait. I mean due to its location, the fact they can yank up those big garage-type doors and let the sun and breeze in, outdoor seating, the ‘see and be seen’ scene, pretty stiff drinks and surprisingly decent grub. Bam.
So whatever, here’s some go-tos for us that rock the charts:
Cheeseburger Spring Rolls ($10). Yes. That’s what I said. I mean, first a Model Zoo and now Cheeseburgers in Spring Roll format? Gee-nee-us. Ya get 4 of these bad boys, about the size of a Swisher Sweet (cigar), with cornichons (aka midget pickles), and ketchup & yellow mustard. But wait. It’s not just ‘yellow mustard’. I’m not even a fan of plain old French’s, but I’ll stick my grimy finger in this stuff and lick it off all day long. Yeah, the same finger too. I am perplexed by how they make plain ‘ol mustard so f’ing good. It’s not honey. It’s something subtle that puts this stuff OTT. But enough of the condiments. Back to the burger rolls. 
This is The Way to eat your burger, bitches. Totino’s ya gotta start selling these! If ya made $200 Million with pizza rolls, you’ll make a flippin’ fortune with these! Just cut me in for 5%. I’m tellin’ ya fella, these are both crunchy and moist all at once, with the cheese kinda melded in with the meat. OK, there’s no need getting too deep about Cheeseburger Spring Rolls, They rock. You need them. Let’s move on, shall we?
And the other go to? Fried Chicken in a Bucket, fool! ($16), Buttermilk marinated (do you 
really ‘marinate’ in buttermilk, or ‘coat’? I say ‘coat) 1/2 bird with Coleslaw, Cornbread and Ranch Dressing. Comes in a bucket (duh) and if I wasn’t so buzzed (no, that does not mean my review is suspect, just my ability to take clear photos) my iPhone pic would be better than this: Looks like Fried Chicken going 110 MPH down the interstate.
Sorry. But this dish rocks it, it’s kitschy in the preso, and nails it in the flavors. 1/2 bird, all good tasty moist yumminess. The ranch tastes home made, the slaw is simple and good. The cabbage is chopped up really fine. And the cornbread. Well, it’s not too shabby either. But back to the bird – it’s always been good, quality bird, lots of meat, very tender. I wouldn’t call it an ‘entreé’ as they do, but it’s a good share appy.
So, the VdV verdict? Go. It’s fun. Get the dishes we said to. Obey VdV!
