First Carolina Delicatessen

I took my friend out to eat lunch and we chose First Carolina Delicatessen because other reviewers had indicated that the club sandwich was good. The first thing I noticed was the vibe of the place. Everyone, I mean everyone, who worked there was helpful, friendly, and smiling. My friend got the club sandwich, and I got the "Italian Sailor" sandwich, both coming with ruffled potato chips and a dill pickle spear. Both our sandwiches were delicious and toasted to perfection. We asked our server about the dessert selections and were surprised to find there were lots more things available than were even listed on the menu. My friend got a snickerdoodle cookie and I got the "Magic bar," both of which were delicious. The atmosphere is busy, but pleasant, the ideal mix of a small cafe and a deli. There were comfortable tables, booths and some covered outdoor tables and seats. We were very pleased with the quality and pricing of the food and plan to return!

Posting on behalf of my husband: “We ate at First Delicatessen earlier today and it was awesome. Nathan(?) was a great server, and the sandwiches were just as good as always. My wife got the clam chowder and it was top tier — and that says a lot coming from me because I’m originally from the North Shore of Massachusetts. But honestly, the standout for me was the pasta salad. I love tri-color pasta salad and I always pick it as a side anywhere that has it… and this one is easily the best I’ve ever had. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the flavor was spot on: a nice sweet taste with a vinegar-and-herb finish. By far the best pasta salad I’ve ever had. We usually only make it in every few months when we’re in Greensboro, but I honestly might start making the 40-minute drive a few times a month just to stock up on the pasta salad for home. While we’re there, we’ll keep working our way through the sandwiches we haven’t tried yet. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would.”

I stopped by First Carolina Delicatessen during one of my DoorDash pick-up orders, and let me tell you—this place is calling my name! I’m definitely coming back one day to try their sandwiches because they look way too good to pass up. There’s just something about this deli that screams original. You can feel it the moment you walk in—it has that classic, authentic vibe that’s hard to find nowadays. To top it off, when I read the reviews after leaving, it was like the cherry on top of an already great impression. Everyone seems to love this place, and now I completely understand why. The girls at the register were so nice and welcoming, which made the experience even better. I seriously can’t wait to come back and see what all the hype is about firsthand! If the sandwiches taste as good as they look, I know I’m in for a treat. Update 1-25-25: First Carolina Delicatessen is a gem! I stopped in recently and ordered a build-your-own sandwich. My creation included ham, Swiss cheese, cherry peppers (they don’t have banana peppers, but trust me, the cherry peppers are just as good), salt & pepper, oil, lettuce, and tomato on white bread. It was absolutely delicious. Every flavor in the sandwich was perfectly balanced—the savory ham and creamy Swiss paired beautifully with the fresh veggies. And those cherry peppers? Wow! They’re spicy as heck, but they add such a unique kick to the sandwich that I couldn’t get enough of them. The sandwich also came with a side of chips and a slice of pickle, both of which were nice additions. One thing I love about this spot is the unique ingredients they offer, like the cherry peppers. I’d never heard of them before coming here, but now I’m hooked! I can’t wait to come back and try more from their menu. If you’re looking for a spot that offers fresh, flavorful food with a twist, First Carolina Delicatessen is a must-visit. Highly recommend!

This is such a good place. Today was the second time I've been here.. (brought my mom for lunch) and the food and service have been amazing both times. Such a cool atmosphere, too. I got the Sky Dog (get it hot!), which has Corned Beef, Turkey, Imported Ham, Provolone, Swiss, American, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Oil and Vinegar on a Sub Roll. It's incredible. Definitely check this place out.

We stumbled across this deli while driving down I-40 West, just looking for something different than the usual chain—and wow, what a find! From the moment we walked in, Alexander at the counter was absolutely precious. He was so friendly, helpful, and engaging, taking time to share his own favorites and talk us through the menu. I ordered the Arlington, and my son got a turkey sandwich and they were fantastic. Alexander even let us sample the chicken salad and pimento cheese—both were phenomenal! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and made with care. This little spot is definitely worth the stop. I’ll absolutely be back, and I highly recommend it to anyone passing through—you will not be disappointed!

First Carolina is delicious - haven't met a sandwich I didn't like there yet. This is the Asbury - chicken and prosciutto - every bite delicious. I ate half of it before being able to stop and get a photo.

Always a good place to eat. Affordable prices. This menu is updated as of July 2025. I like that the sweet tea is only $1.75.

Co-worker recommended this place since it was close by so I gave it a try. I'm sure glad I did! I ordered an Italian sub. Had it hot per the employee's suggestion. The sub was AMAZING!!! Roll was warm and flaky and you can't beat Boar's Head deli meat quality. Friendly staff and quick service. I will definitely be going back. Highly recommend.

WOW! That was one of the best sandwiches I've EVER had. I was hopeful about the place since it has that NY/NJ deli vibe on the interior. The staff are super friendly...every single person we spoke with was super helpful and welcoming. I had a customized turkey pastrami & bacon sandwich on a croissant. They prepared it EXACTLY as I had ordered (with a "sprinkle" of onions), and it was SO delicious (warm). My friend enjoyed her turkey sandwich as well. The bacon was the star of that show, but the turkey pastrami had stage presence as well. The croissant was just lovely. I like that they serve the potato chips with ridges vs. plain chips. And I love that they offer so many variations of black cherry soda/seltzer. Sorry, I didn't take a photo of my sandwich. I was so eager to dig into it! :O) The baked beans looked so delicious in the display case, so I purchased some to carry out and have with my home-cooked beef ribs over the weekend. I'll update my review once I taste the beans, but so far, they smell divine. And next time, I'll likely try their potato salad.

My partner and I ordered some sandwiches after a long day of errands and got the wildwood, the continental, and a large tossed salad. Both sandwiches were really good, I subbed the pumpernickel for white on the wildwood. The salad was good. We will definitely be returning to try more of the wide array of sandwiches there!

My absolute favorite deli around this whole area. I've been coming here for years including when I was in college. Absolutely love the friendly atmosphere you get from the staff who work there. The sandwiches are phenomenal. The macaroni salad is to die for. All of their salads and desserts are made freshly in house.

I will start this review by saying that full transparency, my family and I have been dining at First Carolina and what used to be its sister deli, Lox Stock & Bagel, for years and years and it is just as delicious now as it was the first time I dined there, over 20 years ago! I have yet to find a competitor in the area. There just isn't anything quite like it around. It's a classic style deli ambiance, with glass case items for order/purchase, but offers many dine-in options. The parking lot can be really painful, especially during peak times. (Lox Stock is better but can also be packed). And I wouldn't recommend parking at a nearby business and walking over due to the risk of towing (it's very close to UNCG so businesses are STRICT about this). The service is always wonderful, quick, and generally you're in and out. Ordering a takeout over the phone is also super simple and efficient. Now for the most important part. THE FOOD! Y'all, these sandwiches are DIVINE! I've literally never had a bad experience...ever. That says a lot as we come here nearly once a week. Here are my recommendations for must tries: -Arlington (pictured): Fresh, shaven Boar's Head turkey topped with melty Muenster cheese, topped with crisp lettuce and sliced tomato & creamy mayonnaise, on an onion roll. 10/10. Can't recommend enough. So simple, but so delicious. -Italian Sub: I struggle to choose between this one and the aforementioned masterpiece depending on my mood. You can get it cold or hot and I always go hot. It says a lot that I love this sandwich and it doesn't come served with mayo, but IMHO it really doesn't need it! The spice from the cherry peppers compliments the meat and toppings phenomenally. -Emerson: My mom's absolute favorite. It's shaved chicken with cheddar, lettuce, tomato & mayo on a sub roll. Unique and always hits the spot! Other suggestions: -Cheddar & Bacon Burger (yes! Trust me) -Pasta salad (beware if you're not a fan of olives, though) -Baked beans -Chicken salad (best in town, respectfully :)) -German potato salad If you're still reading, you must be a dedicated deli fan such as myself, which means you HAVE to give First Carolina (or Lox Stock) a try. You won't be disappointed!

Old school interior, great Classic deli menu, the food delivered. Get the Hoboken, but i also recommend anything with blue cheese, including the half-chips, half-carrots side.

Very good deli, huge selection and completely customizable. Friendly staff who knew options to think about and has that great local vibe

I've never been to a cool old NYC Delicatessen but I imagine they look JUST like this!!! Great decor, glass case full of meat, cheese, freshly baked bread and desserts. Online ordering made things incredibly easy. Curbside or inside pick up available. The bread is on point!!! Flavorful and fresh. We tried the sub roll, rye and white bread and all were delicious. High quality Meats, cheese and veggies. And they threw in fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. You cannot beat this place in Greensboro. Give this institution a try, you won't be sorry.

I had the pleasure of enjoying lunch here recently meeting a friend, and am shocked I've never heard of First Carolina sooner. It's the perfect lunch spot. The main staple, sandwiches, were great. Both the sandwiches we ordered were well made, with quality ingredients, and came out hot and fast. Service was great, attentive but not overbearing. I was underwhelmed with the potato salad that was offered as a side dish, but I'll try another side next time. Parking was limited for a busy afternoon, so come early if you're coming for lunch!

Food was "not bad". Place is dirty, run down and needs renovation badly. (See pics). Bench seats ripped. Walls dirty. Ceiling showing multiple leaks. Fans dusty and so old they drooped so far down, that they seem the blades would hit your head or fall off any second from old age. Counter tops so old the plastic coating on them is disintegrating and are now sticky and dingy (bacteria haven). See pics. Not sure how they pass health inspections. When asked as we were leaving, "how was everything", I shared the food was pretty good but the place was filthy. The face the lady made was one that clearly said she either didn't agree at all, didn't want to hear it, or she believed I was incorrect. A man then asked me the same and I shared with him more details. He got defensive and we then knew it was useless to try to help them out (see pics).

Been back several times since my last review. I just want to remind locals and recommend to new comers, that this spot should not be forgotten. I was extremely busy and didn't cook, so the first thing I thought was "where's the best AND fastest place to get something good for dinner?" My order, Verona sandwiches add smoked salmon, never disappoint! We toggled with whether or not to leave the red onions on, but they just make the sandwich (you might have to pull a few of them off). We also shared a small serving of macaroni salad which was plenty, and a "Megaroon" I believe, which is pretty much a brownie with coconut and chocolate on top. Great but half of one was rich enough for me. The diet black cherry was also a first. Pretty good and slightly reminiscent of a cheerwine. Some day my may try another sandwich...maybe!

I first discovered First Carolina soon after I moved here nearly two decades ago. Consistently--consistently--they have had the best sandwiches overall than any other in town. Great new sandwich places have shown up and made a lot of noise for a while (and it's been good noise), but this spot has stood the test of time with quality ingredients, friendly staff, and authentic deli vibes. Stop by and scoop up an Avon. "Oh but I don't care for salmon actua--" No. Do it. Get the Avon.

Good service, basic food, sticky tables, old restaurant. Good for a sandwich in a pinch. Affordable. They have Coke Zero. Basic and no frills. If that's your jam, this is your place.

This was our first time there and it did not disapoint! I hot the hot italian sub my hubby got the ruben. They were both demicious. Very reasonible for the quality of food and service you get. Ww got a 1lb of there chicken salad to go, it was yummy too! You guys should give them a try.

Terrific roast beef, terrific corned beef. I think they use Boars Head, the meats were great. The bread was a Kaiser roll and it was like the perfect Kaiser roll. What hit home was the Russian dressing...i went back and asked for more and the guy handed me an extra serving and asked how the food was. I said it was great and he said he's really happy to hear that. Really love when the peeps in the back give a damn how you like their food. Love that. All in all 10/10 classic delicatessen. Def recommend and will go back

This place is an absolute gem! Loaded sandwiches, great old school atmosphere, and super friendly staff. I've had a dozen different sandwiches from this spot and none of them disappoint. My highlights are the sailor (knockwurst sandwich) and their Ruben. Great sandwich's for a great price. 10/10

Found this place by looking on Google and it did not disappoint! We sat outside since the weather was perfect and our lunch was amazing. Service was very friendly, fast, and the food was absolutely delicious (got the German potato salad, Arlington sandwich, and Harrison). All the ingredients were fresh and the portion sizes were great. Highly recommend for lunch!

So yummy! I'm not a deli person so I ordered a burger and expected it to be terrible but it's actually one of the best burgers I've ever had. My partner likes The Rachel (Pastrami, Saurkraut, Swiss) and the Magic Bar (unsure of ingredients but maybe a blondie with coconut and white chocolate).

Absolutely DELISH. I love a good sandwich and this place has such a fun and comfy vibe when you walk in. A guy came in after us and the waitress says "the usual?", its just that kind of place. Everyone was attentive and friendly. The chips and pickle that come with the sandwiches were great too!

This is an excellent Deli! I had a large Skydog, a couple of their peanut butter cookies and a couple of cold ones to go. I told them I was running back to my hotel to catch the 2nd half of the game. They wasted no time in making my sandwich (it was huge - could only eat half), pointing out their baked goods, telling me about other sandwiches they made and had me on my way in no time! Everything was excellent and Mary, the super friendly counter gal, as well as the guys who built the sandwich, couldn't be more friendly and accommodating! Five Stars! I'll definitely be back on my next business trip back to Greensboro!

Ever sandwich I've had was excellent. Each one, I especially like the Reuben and loaded turkey, are loaded with meat and the bread is always fresh. The staff are friendly and welcoming. They are always working really hard. This deli has an authentic vibe and I highly recommend it!

Didn't include the entire order for a carry out. Wasted my time. Wish I hadn't wasted the time or money.

This is one of my favorite places.. Great quality subs! Pleasant atmosphere. Great service! Can't go wrong with anything on the menu.

Always delicious and I got my meal fast. I Love to order pastrami with mozzarella on a sub roll.

If it is great quick deli. The servers are very friendly. A great variety of sandwiches.

First Carolina Deli is one of the most reliable places for lunch in the Spring Garden / UNCG area. They have a good selection of sandwiches and sides that will appeal to most everyone. My husband and I stopped by recently for a quick lunch and we weren't disappointed. My turkey club sandwich was really good and my husband loved his Reuben as well. Every time my friend I've known since our UNCG comes to town, he always insists that he needs to visit FCD at least once during the weekend. The deli always brings back good memories for him. We will definitely be returning and can't wait to see what's on the menu!

They have my favorite-liverwurst on wheat, mayo, pickle. The only place that makes it in Greensboro. Service is genuine and wholesome. Love the ambiance of the place. A favorite! -Gene B

Top Notch! Can't wait to go back one day. It reminded me of sandwich shops from back in my 80's childhood.

Food is delicious I've been eating there for years!! Love the Arlington and great chef salad!

Absolutely the best Reuben in town! Everything I've ever had is delish! My husband really loves the egg salad. Staff is attentive and timelyB

Stopped in to support this outstanding local delicatessen and was elated to find that everything is just as excellent as ever. Please read my previous review for even more back story, but including today, I have now had four of their fabulous sandwiches over the past four months. Most recently I have tried the tuna melt and the Wildwood. The tuna melt was perfectly grilled, and their tuna salad is classically excellent. The Wildwood is smoked ham, muenster cheese, mustard, horseradish, lettuce, and tomato grilled on pumpernickel. The ham was smoky, the cheese was melty, and the horseradish was spicy and delicious. Pure perfection. Also had a side of their red skin potato salad, and it is one of the finest you will ever have. Again, if you want a few more details on the place, read my previous review. Whatever you do, put FCD on your delicatessen bucket list.

This place is awesome. Stopped in starving after a college tour. Homey place and super friendly staff. Our waitress was the best. Recommended a turkey pastrami sandwich and it was so delicious. Huge Arnold palmers either refills. Would definitely go here again.

Great food! amazing service. Love the scenery and the soul of the day was Devine. Bread tasted fresh and chips were crisp:

This place is really unique. I'm continually befuddled that people choose to go to chain deli restaurants, rather than going to something that evokes another era (era used on purpose). I really don't think you can go wrong here. They have a wide variety of sandwiches and sides and other items, but I feel like you should judge a deli by their reuben and this place has an excellent one. Get yourself a reuben or a rachel, a dr. browns and some chips. Enjoy!

The very best Reuben I have ever eaten. My son and I stopped in after visiting another business in the area. He ordered the steak and cheese and I ordered the Reuben. We were both amazed at how fresh and delicious they both were. The tea is great too. Our server was very nice and took great care of us. This will be our new go to for deli sandwiches.

I was introduced to First Carolina Delicatessen about six months ago by a friend. I ordered the Rachel. It was amazing. I frequently drive across town to get a sandwich from there. I lived in Boston for ten years. I became accustomed to the great delis there. Since moving south I have had a hard time finding establishments that possess the same magic. This place captures it - and then some. Not to mention the staff, friendly and eager to provide great service. Best of both worlds. southern hospitality as well as incredible food. Try the Ruben and I challenge anyone to find a better one in Greensboro.

Unexpected find . . . A New Jersey style Deli in Greensboro, North Carolina, WOW. Not only Borshead meets and cheeses but most sandwiches are priced from $7 to $9 each with whipped potato chips. Our sandwiches were large, we only ate one half and saved the other for a late dinner. Highly recommended.

Have picked up dinner after work from here for years but increasingly challenging phone interactions have been my undoing. Tonight was the last straw. Sorry Carolina...we had a good run, but after a hard day, I don't need a rude voice at the other end of the line. It matters.

i didn't know what home felt like till i experienced the reuben and first carolina deli ambiance. service is amazing, the staff is friendly and speedy without seeming rushed. they have perfected the swiftness with a certain je ne sais quoi! don't even get me started with the reuben. first carolina is going to put every deli in nyc out of business. my heart belongs to first carolina deli. ily4ever

Was hesitant to come here, but wanted to try something new. I sat down and the waitress took my order and brought my tea. I ordered a corned beef brisket sandwich on rye. When I was seated, there were 2 other tables seated around me who had just placed their order. I watched them both get their food, eat their food, pat and leave. The women who came in after me got their food as well and I still had no food after almost 40 minutes. I have an hour lunch break and was 10 minutes away, so I was getting nervous. I didn't understand what was taking my sandwich so long, but saw that they were busy, and didn't want to hassle anyone. I asked the waitress if she could have them package my food to go. She came back and apologized stating they put my food in as a to go order and it had been sitting up front (for who know how long) this entire time. I went up front and the owner was there. I told them what had happened and I said that I didn't want the food anymore and would only pay for my tea. He said the waitress was going to pay for my food and very loudly in front of the whole establishment, he addressed the waitress by name and said very belligerently "you hear that? You hear that?!" I told him that this was my first time there's and also my last time. His snarky response was "that's good" and he didn't even seem to care. I would never give him money for anything.

After 27 years and bringing this restaurant a lot of business I am not going back. It is clear the manager/owner...I think his name is Dean ...only cares to engage with certain customers. I have spent so much money in this place. Now I don't feel comfortable any more. Not sure what happened. This use to be such a nice place.

One of my favorite spots in Greensboro since I was a kid. Highly recommend grabbing takeout during these pandemic days. Don't forget to check out their fridge stocked with a good selection of single beers & sodas. They are very clean (proper covid precautions) and fast, and always delicious. The staff is always friendly.

Great food in a snug little sit down. The Skydog is good as well as their Reuben. Has bakery items as well. Have to get your sandwich with a cold Dr. Brown's original! Best deli in Greensboro.

Totally unexpected greatness. Came from hawaii and looking for a local stop to eat. Completely blown away. The place is beautiful and the grilled ham with burger was amazing. So good. The menu is so vast it's perfect for anyone's taste. Never knew this is 100% board head products

Try the cheese sub! Pro tip - try it on a bagel. Delicious, great service, fun atmosphere and also great to go.

Great deli with an old school vibe and terrific food/service to match! With so many great options for lunch right by UNCG I'm very glad to have found another homerun on my normal weekly commute. Decor is super nostalgic and they proudly serve boar's head products. I had the regular Italian sub and loved every bite. Dig the great tunes they play which really reminded me of riding with my grandfather in his car around town as a boy.

I have always drove by here and they seem to always be busy, which is a good sign. So today I decided to finally try them out. I did take out and got the Italian sub... bread was fresh and sandwich was flavorful. I got the regular size which was a perfect lunch. It came with a bag of utz chips and rang up to less than $8. I definitely will come back.

Living in the shadow of NYC all my life, I think I'm a little spoiled when it comes to deli food. First Carolina offers up a wide range of sandwich choices (many named after NJ towns) and the food is tasty, if nothing completely out of the ordinary. I went with the Hoboken (of course): thinly sliced hot roast beef, hot cherry peppers, molten mozz, and mustard on a sub roll. The sandwich packed heft without overloading it on grease but could've used more seasoning. Not at all bad, though (particularly for the price: that sandwich ran just $7 and came with a side of chips or carrot sticks), particularly when washed down with a cold Dr Brown's (man, it's been years since I had a Cel-Ray). Service was on the slow side, but the waitress was friendly enough.

Visited this deli while on vacation, nice small Boars Head deli. Our server was quick and very attentive. I would suggest the Italian sub, comes with chips and a pickle.

Fabulous! I happen to live next to this hidden gem and have always wanted to try it. I ordered a takeout but the customer service made me feel like I was an old friend of the restaurant. I got a turkey club with mustard and it took maybe 2 minutes for them to make it for me! It was incredibly affordable and came with a pickle and chips. The sandwich was a triple decker with lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard and a real good amount of turkey. The bread was whole wheat and toasted to perfection. I will have to show this place to my friends soon!

Tonight, I got a takeout order. I ordered the roast beef on a sub roll, with Munster cheese and various other toppings. They left a few toppings off (onions and sprouts). I also got a side of their German potato salad which is served warm. I ordered extra meat on the sub as I don't like a lot of bread. It seemed to have a decent amount of meat on it from what I could tell. I've literally probably eaten roast beef 3 times in my life, and I was in the mood for something different, so that's why I got it tonight. It had a fresh, unadulterated flavor, which I appreciated because I'm not a big fan of meats that taste like preservatives. Combined with the other toppings and condiments, it was great. I will say they seemed to skimp out on the toppings such as lettuce, slaw, and sauerkraut. I had an okay amount of tomatoes. There were a perfect amount of hot cherry peppers because those things pack some heat! I ordered a side of Russian dressing and added that and boars head deli mustard to the sub when I got home, and it was very good. I melted the bottom half with cheese in the toaster oven (I guess they got confused and thought I just wanted the roll hot, but that's okay with me). After I added onions from my house, it was even better. I particularly enjoyed the cherry peppers, which had an excellent flavor and spiciness. The potato salad was okay. It was too sweet. I remember when I had German potato salad before somewhere, it had more vinegar to compensate for the sweetness, but this tasted like it had little to no vinegar. If you have a mayonnaise phobia like my mom, you may really enjoy it (she liked it a lot). I don't eat subs too often, but I would definitely come back here again. When you order a sub, there's a lot more to it than a sandwich and you'll probably have a half for leftovers later like I did! Oh and I love the pickles.