Ben and Bill’s Deli

This is not a place you make a special trip for. If you’re hungry and you’re there and you want a sammich, then get one. Other than that, it’s what you expect from a grocery store that makes sammiches/​subs.

A really good idea sticking a genuine Jewish deli into a supermarket… often in areas where they need a good deli. Knishes are real Coney Island ones and the sour pickles make you wince. Gershons was kind of the staple of delis in the area (Schenectady) for a long time… but half of it is Italian now and it’s not worth the 20 mile ride. So it’s really either them or this place.

This is seriously good deli fare. I tried the pastrami on the advice of Mr. Haiku and found it lean, sweet, and piled generously on excellent seeded rye with an optional slice of Swiss cheese. The brisket was undersalted but completely redeemed by its topping of Jack’s-style Russian Dressing. Tongue was great, with that slight pickly-​gaminess and tongue-​y texture beloved by tongue fanatics. There is also a full array of smoked and cured fish – whitefish salad and herring in wine were solid renditions.
Both times I’ve been here they were running an outstanding value where you get half a sandwich, a half-​sour pickle, a bag of house-​made potato chips and a cup of wonderful cole slaw (with a trace of green onion) for $ 5.99. This is all a reasonable size person needs to eat. Full size sandwiches are just a bit more, as are triple-​deckers for those who want to assault their arteries in full Carnegie Deli mode.
Ben and Bill’s motto is «the best deli between New York City and Montréal” – an audacious claim, but it seems churlish to argue. Be sure to pick up a menu that reads at times like a manifesto («we will also slice lox and smoked salmon, including the bellies») to learn why such a great deli is located inside a Price Chopper.

This deli’s the real thing
Best pastrami and corned beef
North of NYC