Denny K.
Yelp
To paraphrase of the Classic Latin quote, "Veni, vidi, vici" -- (and hoping that my former Latin teacher Mrs. White doesn't turn over in her eternal resting place) -- I'd like to offer:
"Veni, iubet, ut cibum" ... (I came, I ordered, I ate) ... ... "et quod esset bonum" (and it was good).
Franklin Mercantile Deli is a busy, bustling, place at noon. But undeterred by the long line waiting at the counter to order, my lunch companions and I chatted in line only a few minutes before ordering, sitting down, and being treated to some delicious lunch offerings.
The Spicy Potato Soup absolutely hit the spot on a chilly day, with a thick and creamy consistency plus lots of bite-size chunks of potato and a welcome hit of spicy heat.
My sandwich choice was a soft "Guacamento" on sourdough bread. The scoop of Southern down-home pimento cheese was boosted to Cali-consciousness with a spread of guacamole and topped with lettuce and tomato for just a bit of texture.
While one of my lunch mates had chicken salad (pretty standard fare) and tomato basil soup - savory and satisfying, the other found a sandwich with the culinary-spice creative name of "Coriander" - a combination of ham, Colby Jack cheese, and the commonplace lettuce, tomato, pickles and honey-mustard. Yes, the names are creative and the fare is ok, just not as upbeat as I anticipated.
The menu board is a bit difficult to read - lots of details crammed onto a small space. That might account for the few extra minutes it takes for some folks to order. The paper menu at the corner of the order area would be better placed near the entrance to assist people who are new to the deli.
Decor is eclectic. I especially like the butcher paper greeting on the wall that can be rolled down and discarded to make room for a new quotation or greeting. Clever!
To me it was a fine place for lunch with a charming - wannabe upscale - old fashioned feel.
"Experiri; et frui est." (Try it, you'll like it.)