May’s Gourmet Cafe & Deli

This place has been closed for a number of weeks. What happened? No clue, but the comments regarding the smell and overall «cleanliness» of this place were true when I visited. Let’s see what happens if and when it reopens, but it looks like there is some kind of intense cleaning going on at the moment.

A great corner deli/​market for last minute grocery items to make a Saturday AM brunch. I was able to get bagels, eggs, bacon, Deitz and Watson deli meats and cheese, tomatoes, onions and OJ. They also take credit/​debit which is fantastic, since I never have cash on me. I hear the hoagies are delicious and cheap so I will be back to try one of those!

I was a huge fan of May’s… how could you not be a fan of cheap, over stuffed sandwiches?
However, while eating in there this past Saturday afternoon — I saw a mouse run across the floor. Needless to say, I think the Health Code violations are probably well deserved and I won’t be going back.

I’m not saying that May’s is a Gourmet place. It’s convenience to where I life is amazing, though.
I remember when they closed down a few months back (in July) and I had no idea that it was a health code violation. Regardless, they’re open now. If a Starbucks closed down for these reasons, people would still go once they re-​opened.
Anyway. About May’s.
Everyone calls her «Mom». If your order is $ 10.15, she’ll just make it $ 10. Her hoagies are relatively good. They’re not magnificent, but they hit the spot on a quick night. Some things are overpriced, like Ben and Jerry’s, and there are never any sales. However, for a quick bite to eat, a speedy soda, it’s a perfect spot.
You’re not getting premium quality, but it’s good. And I’ll still continue to go every day for something.

That review about the health code violations should come as no surprise but I like to live dangerously.
I still get lunch hoagies here on the reg, but also have dabbled in their breakfast fare. They offer sausage or bacon egg and cheese on bagels for 2.50, short rolls for 3.50, or long roll for $ 5. They are just as stuffed as the lunch sandwiches and equally as delicious, thanks May!
Also FYI: no credit cards under $ 10 unless you want to pay an extra 50 cents.

Super convenient and has all the necessities for a hungover on the couch saturday.
Only gripe — I mistakenly got some Ben and Jerry’s Cherries Garcia here thinking I was picking up ice cream. Unacceptable that she did not know I was desperately seeking some ice cream. Do I look like I eat frozen yogurt? But I suppose I can let that slide.
… but on a true note, wish they would stock the drinks a bit more frequent and not always be out of the chips I like!

Pro: Convienent
Cons:
1) never smells clean
2) really slow service
3) messy — there are ALWAYS cases of beverages sitting around waiting to be unpacked and it’s just cluttered. High demand items such as chips go unstocked.

A gigantic turkey and cheese hoagie for only five bucks? Can’t beat it! Although it wasn’t as tasty as the offerings at some of our more famous sandwich shops, it did the trick on a hungry-​verging-​on-​hangry stomach. There’s still a half left for a future meal.
A credit card minimum of ten bucks was a minor inconvenience, but I managed to hit ten and change with the addition of a Diet Snapple and a bottle of corn and black bean salsa. Hope it’s good…
Probably my favorite discovery about May’s was the hand dipped ice cream counter. Breyer’s is tops in my book and I will definitely return the next time I’m craving a sweet treat in my ‘hood.

I found this on the PAGOV website about an inspection that was done at mays café and required them to shut down to correct.
Recently they closed again for «maintenance issues»
This is an inspection, prompted by the findings of a previous
Compliance Out of compliance
This means the facility did not pass the inspection, will be re-​inspected and may receive a warning letter and/​or prosecution.
.ViolationsFood contamination prevention: eating, drinking or using tobacco — Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use (Corrected On Site)
* Food employee observed eating food in the food prep area.
* Hand towels are not present at the handsink station, during time of inspection.
* Observed no chemical sanitizer being used on equipment (meat slicer) after washing and rinsing them, and prior to use.
* Pre-​packaged tuna was not properly cooled to 40 degrees or below prior to preping tuna salad. * Pre-​packedage melons in the door-​less refrigerator unit has a temperature of 50 degrees.
* Chemicals were stored above or on the same shelf with food, equipment, and/​or single service articles in the * area.
* Droppings are observed a long the walls in the dry storage area.
* Food employees observed not wearing or wearing ineffective hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard restraints.
* Garbage disposal is not working. * Door-​less refrigerator unit is not holding proper temperature on the lower portion of the unit.
* Clean mice droppings floor in the dry storage area, where it is needed.
* Person in Control of premises has not posted «No Smoking» signs.

I have yet to try anything besides their milk and Ben and Jerry’s fro-​yo ice cream.
But here the price of udd-​ing must be high (3.39 for half a gallon) and the fro-​yo was normal.
Service is fine. Mother and daughter run place. Cantonese news flickering in the background.

Lived down the street from May’s for the past year and I will definitely miss this place. Love having a place where you walk in and people know your name and your usual hoagie order.

This is one of the worst places I have been. The service there is terrible. This deli is close to my boyfriend’s house, and every so often we need to go in here for something.
The first time we went was when he first moved into the neighborhood and we wanted to try the wraps. We stood at the counter ready to order, while a woman (an employee there) just stared at us. After about 15 minutes, a man got up from his food and acted annoyed to have to deal with us.
We had a chicken wrap, and it was so-​so, nothing to write home about.
The second time (and last time) we have gone there was for a smoothie. Again we were treated as though it was an annoyance that we were there hindering their TV watching and food eating. They did not have any of the smoothies they had advertised.
I would never go here again. The service is terrible, and the food is not too great either.

Had a pretty reasonable chicken salad sandwich from May’s the other day. This place is a serviceable corner deli offering all of the necessary accoutrements for your sandwich, but it’s not huge, so you may not be able to find the exact flavor of chip that you want, if your tastes tend toward the exotic.
May’s stocked the Butterscotch Krimpet two-​packs (as opposed to the standard three pack), which I can never find and appreciate when I do find it — so I wanted to have that noted! Was impressed to see that they brewed La Colombe here too. There was also an Japanese soap opera being shown on the large screen television, with Chinese subtitles, or it might have been the other way around. In any case, I was entranced and made the not-​too-​long wait for our sandwiches that much easier to bear.

I wouldn’t call May’s gourmet, but I would call it awesome. That sounds better, May’s Awesome Café & Deli.
May’s is a little spot on the corner 19^th and Carpenter that is my go to when I am out of groceries. May’s has a small grocery section with a decent selection (only yellow cake mix, booooo, I want funfetti). Their price on Boars Head lunch meat is cheaper than at most grocery stores. They also have a small produce sections with things like apples, bananas, oranges etc. There is a cooler section with drinks, milk, and eggs.
BUT the best thing about May’s is their sandwiches. They cut the lunch meat fresh for their sandwiches which gets major points from me. The club sandwiches (my personal favorite) are enormous, and the hoagies are huge. They also have really good smoothies, which you can get in just about any fruit flavor combination you can think of. They have a few small tables if you plan to eat your sandwich there.
As an added bonus, the people who run May’s are vey friendly, most people that walk into the store know Henry by name. The experience you can have while waiting for your sandwich to be made can be very interesting, it almost sounds like the beginning to a joke. A Cop, a hipster, and a guy in a wheel chair buying blunts were having a chat…
I just want to give May’s big props for being in my neighborhood, it is beacon of light compared to other places to grab food, like tasty asia, dragon king, etc.

I’m so happy to have May’s in the neighborhood. I only wish they had a few more options in terms of «groceries». I’m glad they have fresh produce sometimes, but I feel like they could have more of the «basics» too. I love that they have Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. They make hoagies and my boyfriend swears by them, but I haven’t tried them yet. I’m a bit of a hoagie snob. Anyway, May’s is a great stop for a quick beverage (non-​alcoholic, of course) or snack. And the people who work here are so nice!

I agree with the other reviewers — this is a little gem in our Graduate Hospital area. And, yes, hopefully this is the start of new businesses coming into the area. We need cafes, diners, and all different kinds of businesses. Back to May — I have supported the little corner store as much as I can too. I actually got a turkey hoagie, not the same as going to a Ricci, or Toni Lukes, but good enough to grab something on a Saturday afternoon. Keep up the good work May!

This place shows you that this area is growing. True, some people loiter outside of the Chinese place across the street but not so much here. The family here is nice and hard working. I’m a fan of bubble tea and I really like how they make it with fresh fruit. It’s a family run place and the kids help out which I think is great. I haven’t tried the sandwiches but they look really affordable. I’ve had their salads and fruit salad and they are loaded. It’s great to have a neighborhood deli just to stop by and have some Breyer’s ice cream or a soda. They have other some other items for cleaning and lots of snacks. I really do try and support them as much as I can.

The short version: Great and cheap breakfast sandwiches ($ 2.50?!) and hoagies, plenty of good ice cream in the freezer, and food/​home essentials when you are in a pinch. Great atmosphere, love it here!
The less short version: So let’s say I come home late and am feeling lazy, or I roll out of bed not that early on the weekend, look in the fridge and it’s empty, now what? Head down to May’s with $ 3 in my pocket and get a great breakfast bagel with bacon egg and cheese, or a 6″ (really more like 8″, and STUFFED) hoagie. Problem solved. There is a nice weekend group of regulars growing, and I’ll sit around and watch their flatscreen TV or read the paper while they make my sandwich fresh. Plus, I can pick up milk, or a loaf of bread, or a pint of ice cream, or any of the less essential food items i dont have at home. Its also nice to support a family-​owned business in the neighborhood, and Im excited for the weather to warm up so I can enjoy a cup of coffee outside in the new outdoor seating area.

I too love this place, and try to support it a couple times a week. They brew LaColombe coffee, as the owner is only too overjoyed to let you know. Their deli specials are, in fact, amazing. They do a great turkey hoagie for… wait for it…3 bones! And I adore them for it. I don’t really care about ice cream or smoothies, so that won’t really up my rating.
I’m holding out that fifth star because I wish they stocked a couple more Coco essentials. No seltzer water or cleaning sponges? Why are you making me walk further??? Also, I’m pretty sure the kid that is always working kind of hates me slash thinks I’m a retard. When I asked about their banh mi, which I’ve read about in no less than three publications/​websites, he just laughed at me and told me he had no idea what I was talking about. Great. Like I needed to feel like more of a jackass.

I am really honored to be the first to review May’s Gourmet Café & Deli. . Mae Jong has owned the store at this location since 1983. Mae decided to redo her store to reflect the revitalization of the neighborhood. The result is the fabulous May’s Gourmet Café & Deli .
The new store has been open since July, and is already a beacon in SWCC. The store is completely modern, more bistro then deli, with a catchy logo on the window, you can’t help but be curious as to whats inside.
In May’s you will find a classic corner deli, blended with old time sweet shop and convenience store. This is fusion at its best Philly!
May’s sells D and W meats at prices that rival or beat the supermarkets. May’s Breyers ice cream hand dipped by cone or dish.
A relative from California stays with us, He enjoys a fruit smoothie in the morning. May’s makes them to order. So, Bubble Tea is all the craze, get it at May’s. Just think, where else can you wait for your lunch meat order while sipping on a bubble tea? Personal story, My fiancé wanted some hazel nut creamer. she walked to May’s and asked if they happened to have it, Mae herself said no, but could get it right away, she was putting in a order. An hour later my fiancé ;who left her number, gets a call from May’s. They have her creamer, and they have kept it in stock since. May’s just gets it!!! They are applying for outside seating, which will be great for the Neighborhood. I really hope everyone who lives in SWCC and all who pass through gives May’s a chance, I think you will be as pleased as I am to support it.