Matthew S.
Yelp
The whole time I was seeing this sandwich be made, looking at the sandwich afterwards, then eating this sandwich, I had to keep thinking the same thing over and over again.
This is not a tuna sandwich.
Sure, yes, you could get one here, but that would be missing the whole point of this deli/sandwich shop, where for a few extra dollars, the staff will finely chop everything you want in your sandwich, compress it into a block of unrecognizable wreck, then slather the whole thing onto your choice of bread (get a hero here).
I went here on a weekday during a lull between lunch and dinner, and there was still a decent line! Rumor has it on weekends during lunch rush a line can form out the door! At least it moves when somebody is not ordering for their entire family or apartment.
Before I came here, I did my research and discovered turkey sandwiches are the big ticket. I ordered a honey turkey hero with lettuce, tomato, mayo, deli mustard, American cheese, oil, and red wine vinegar. Some things cost a bit extra, but that is okay. I also got it chopped because that is the thing here. You do not have to do it that way, but honestly, you should.
The sandwich is made before me, all the chopping, piling, spreading, slicing, it feels like you are watching your sandwich come to life! After 10-15 minutes of ooh's and aah's, it is brought to the cash register, rung up, thank you have a nice day, and off you go.
There is nowhere to sit as it is really a glorified neighborhood bodega. Thankfully, Fort Greene Park is only about a five minute walk from the deli, so I made a beeline for the park, found an empty picnic table, and made like Aqualung as I opened the wrapping to see my newborn child, um, I mean my chopped hero.
Again, upon opening, I had to keep saying to myself, this is not a tuna sandwich, this is not a tuna sandwich. After one bite, I could tell coming here was the right move after a long day.
Taking a bite of the sandwich in between watching videos of this made me all the more excited to keep at it. In fact, I found as I took more bites I found the sandwich gets better and better. All the bites had everything I ordered in the sandwich. Best of all, despite its size, this sandwich did not fill me up like I thought it would.
Manhattan has Chopped Cheese in Haji's, but this is a unique Brooklyn treasure. Between this, Defonte's, and Lioni, Brooklyn has a Holy Trinity of sandwich shops, with Jimmy's as their jester, or if I want to keep with the piety, the pope.
Before I wrap up this review, I want to thank two Yelpers for recommending me this spot. You know who you are. I will keep you nameless because the best heroes have to remain anonymous in order for them to keep up the good fight.
No, not those heroes silly! Although I do hope after you read this review you will go and get one of these sandwiches on a hero roll.