Neal's Deli

Dropped by for Saturday morning breakfast and it was amazing. The pork chop and gravy biscuit special was unique, rich, and delicious. And omg the pastrami was so tender and flavorful. The service was friendly and welcoming. Best breakfast in town and beyond!

Looking very forward to trying this place today! Their pastrami has very good comments - came and indeed it is very good!! Service was great! Very friendly and welcoming. Their Pastrami is in house made from scratch. Special!

As always Neal's deli doesn't disappoint! The best pastrami you can find by far. The only downside is that you can no longer eat inside.

Excellent spot next door has a pool table! chill environment with outdoor seating. Look forward to trying ALL the food!

Bucket list spot for me in the area and it didn’t disappoint! Great quality food and my new favorite sandwich spot. The muffuletta sandwich was killer.

Fresh and delicious! The sliced tomatoes on top of my BLT were amazing!! Best sandwiches I've had in years...thank you for the cheerful service and the love you put into making me a sammich! So so satisfying!!

Made my way to Neal's Deli to savor the flavor of its corned beef, roasted sweet potatoes, and roasted turnips. May not be the traditional St. Patrick's Day fare, but it was simply perfect for me. My daughter said her Cliff's country ham biscuit was awesome!

A great find by Taste of the Carolina's restaurant tour I participated in. Homemade and very delicious pastrami, specially seasoned roasted sweet potatoes are two of many outstanding specialities. A bit hard to see from the street. Directly across from Wendy's.

Where NYC meets the South. This is where you get sandwiches that have some ingredients from the North and some ingredients from the South. Deliciousness!!

Excellent authentic deli. From the meats to the sides, this place packs a punch. A few things to know: 1. It is near UNC campus so the roadway is busy with limited parking. 2. You order outside and no indoor seating. The staff is super nice and the food is incredibly satisfying!!! A+++ on the pastrami

Hubby and I along with his brother and our sister in law were craving good sandwiches. We decided to give Neal's Deli a try and I'm so glad we did! Ordering was super easy using a QR code outside. Our order came out within minutes. We grabbed a picnic table and enjoyed our delicious sandwiches. Hubby and I both ordered the Italian Sub. He chose the sweet & spicy peppers and I went with banana peppers. I really enjoyed my sandwich. The bread was amazing! Crusty on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. The banana peppers were a wonderful addition. The oil & vinegar along with the mayo added so much flavor. The lettuce was very fresh. Excellent meat and cheese to bread ratio. I was pleasantly surprised by how a simple sandwich could be so delicious!

Found Neal's easily, found parking too, but not quite so easy! This walk-up-to-order spot in downtown Carboro was spot on. There of us ordered a Muffuletta, Chicken Salad, and a Pimento Cheese, and went into the "Speakeasy" to wait for the delivery. Just happened to be "Tap-it Tuesday" , so our drafts were $2 off. It's a fine place to have your sandwich.

Good grilled pimiento cheese sandwich. I haven't had one of those since I lived in the South, circa 2014. It's not a completely Southern sandwich though because it comes with Worcestershire sauce, which has anchovies in it. The woman who took my order had definitely never been to England or to Massachusetts because she called it War-chest-uh-shy-er sauce instead of Wooster-sure. Very good customer service in spite of that mispronunciation. I liked the capers in the egg salad. They sell the Galvanina brand of Italian drinks here. The blood orange drink that I got was bitter due to the citrus zest. Here's more information: Made using Sanguinello, Tarocco and Moro blood oranges, with the addition of lemon juice, Galvanina Sparkling Blood Orange stands out thanks to its intense color and flavor. This delicious taste is also the result of natural ripening of the citrus fruits, which are organically grown in south Italy, directly on the tree. The Open Eye coffee shop next door reminded me of Philz. I got the feeling that this area (Carrboro) is very progressive - a lot like Candler Park in Atlanta - a little California in the South. They have a cold side of ratatouille here (the Julia Child variation with eggplant and summer squash). I liked it but I didn't love it. Not a fan of onions. I have my own variation of ratatouille, which I far prefer. I cooked it for my niece when I visited Long Island earlier this year. I prefer a warm ratatouille that's been cooked in the past few minutes. Not a fan of cold ratatouille and I don't like leftovers.

The turkey Reuben from Neal's deli might be the best sandwich I ever had, and the staff was so nice and helpful, going out of their way!

I've liked Neal's in the past but -- $17 for a sandwich? To order the Rueben, you have to pay extra for the kraut and the cheese. So -- are they selling a pastrami sandwich with a lot of markup? And after all that, the sandwich came with coleslaw so... $17 for a Something that is definitely not a Reuben. Won't be going back.

This place is super cute and had a couple outdoor tabletop to dine and enjoy. I had the smoke turkey sandwich and my boyfriend had the turkey sub. Mine was delicious and my boyfriend said good but had a little too much dressing for his liking (so just personal preference on how you like your subs). And the best thing is that they threw in a dog biscuit for my dog! So cuteee! Love it! Will come back soon!

The food was excellent! Highly recommend this deli! Corned Beef Sandwiches was delicious and the pastrami was incredible!!!

My husband works from home, so he ventures out for lunch most days. He discovered Neal's a few months ago, and has me sold. Just about everything we've tried has been great, such as the Chile verde, muffuletta, tuna sub (think Nicoise salad on a roll), pork sandwich, and chicken soup. Ordering on line easy, roll up to the curb to pick up your food and that's it. I don't think you can eat inside, and this place is basically just a kitchen. Whoever Neal is, he makes some some pretty tasty food.

Great food! Great service! Their food is amazing and you Gotta have the biscuits! So good! )

I had wanted to come to Neal's Deli to try their breakfast and infamous biscuit... but when we arrived on a Sunday morning a little after 11 AM, they had stopped serving breakfast and their biscuits. I was super bummed. I didn't really feel like just eating an ordinary deli sandwich but we were hungry and in a time crunch. I ordered a simple turkey sandwich. It was average - nothing spectacular. My Dad ordered the tuna salad and said it had an "interesting" taste to it and that it was an "interesting" take on a tuna salad sandwich. Take that for what you will. I'll reserve my true review if I ever make it back to North Carolina and get to try their breakfast and legendary biscuits. For now, this place is just another sandwich shop in my book.

Never disappointed. All sandwich choices are good ones. Just pick one. A main stay during Covid Dark times. Support them now.

This place has some of the best sandwiches I have ever had, and it's rarely a long wait for them.

I had one of the best sandwiches at Neal's. I got the Turkey Manhattan and don't know if it was the fresh toasted rye, the creamy coleslaw or the stacks of turkey meat but it was a perfect combination. It was served with a pickled green tomato. Neal's is a small deli and you can see the kitchen and food prep right at the counter. There is a board with specials and then a paper menu with sandwiches. They close at 4 and it was a really relaxed atmosphere. The gentleman taking the orders was very friendly and explained where to get the water and tea. I highly recommend the Turkey Manhattan and am definitely going back soon for another visit. I also saw the biscuit photos on Yelp and it looks like a great breakfast option.

You really can't get better deli meats in Carrboro. And the hot dogs are great! I love this place.

Tucked away in a corner of Carrboro is a small deli pumping out Yummie sandwiches and soup...I have actually been here a few times and you have been warned that lines form quickly here at lunch and there is very little space to sit and eat but no worries just crash at a picnic table at open eye or venture off to weavers street!

Breakfast is important for me. Neal's deli had been on my bookmark for several occasions. Due to time conflict and dining interest shifts, I missed lots of opportunities to dine in here. As a senior, a chapel hill inspired foodie, now I made up my mind and come here for some "normal" biscuits. I mean normal because I don't eat biscuit as my breakfast. Not because I don't like it, but because I haven't find a good combo to eat with biscuit. But today, let me introduce the amazing pimento cheese and bacon biscuit and announce the fact that I may have an obsession on this kind of biscuit now Location: green sign green outdoor seating, connected to Open Eyes, Neals deli is definitely fit in this hippie area. Although there is a limited amount of table inside, there are several outdoor seating for you to sit on. I am fond of their huge table indoor, it's big huge and plenty space to have lots of food on the table. As for parking, carrboro has public parking which is close to Neals deli. So don't worried and eat on here Price: pimento cheese and bacon is 4.25. Not bad, other stuff is reasonable price. I felt like the lunch menu is much more expensive tho. But as long as food is delicious, I am okay with it Food: Pimento Cheese and Bacon Biscuit is the beast!!! Huge portion of hand made biscuit. The cheese is moistured and balanced well. Not too salty compared to other sandwich store. Overall: 4.5555555! Food is good and service is caring.

OMG - Amazing! I stopped by here for a much needed lunch. The staff is so sweet and helpful. The cashier helped us decide whether or not we wanted to split a sandwich. I wasn't sure if it was a Katz Deli-sized sandwich (a famous deli in New York). She was patient as we wavered on our decision. I just felt so loved... haha. I eventually ordered the Manhattan. Pastrami was sandwiched between rye bread. It included swiss, cole slaw and russian dressing. One of the best sandwiches I have ever had. Somehow all the notes came together and made a delicious song in my mouth. The slaw added some sweetness and crunch. The pastrami was salty, tender, and fresh. But, you will have to pay for this quality. The sandwich was $8.50 and they taste so good, I would want to eat two. I am definitely not sharing next time!

I was hanging out in Carrboro visiting friends when the age-old question of where to go eat lunch came up. Based upon some word of mouth, I suggested we check out Neal's Deli! Given I've never lived in NYC, I don't have a huge amount of expectation for a deli but hey, who doesn't like some good pastrami? The place itself is tiny, located right next door to Open Eye Cafe. There's a small glass counter where you put in your order and about 4 tables for in-house dining. My hot pastrami on rye was a reasonable size but certainly nothing like those ginormous creations I've seen presented at famous Jewish deli's. I've heard the pastrami is made in house and it was quite good: lean, spicy and delicious on mild rye bread slathered with mustard. You get a small pickle on the side and I had a Boylan root beer soda to wash everything down with. By noontime the place was getting busy and patrons were eyeing our table so we self-bussed our plates-silverware and buzzed outta there. Neal's is certainly a nice if not somewhat pricey addition to the Carrboro lunch scene. The sandwich and drink came out to just a bit under $10 and adding some chips would bring you close to $12 for a non-service lunch spot. While I love a good sandwich from time to time and enjoy high-quality ingredients, Neal's would be on the edge of my lunch budget. And in all honesty, I can think of many other equally good choices in that price range. So yeah, the food is good but probably not an everyday option which makes Neal's a three-star choice for me!

This is a small little place with limited seating. Everything is very fresh and well made. I really enjoyed my sandwich, but found this place a little bit pricey based on what I received. We had a strange person that kept coming up to us talking, but we could never understand him. Possibly homeless? Great food, a bit pricey, and very limited seating

Now I know why so many good reviews. Place couldn't be better. I was first in the door today, greeted and the menu presented. I was distracted by the brownies on the counter. HOW COULD YOU NOT BE???? Their first recommendation was the pastrami Swiss and egg biscuit. She went on to others but if their first recommendation sounds good it's a good bet. And it was very good. Their biscuits can't be beat. The brownie will fly home tonight to the enjoyment of my wife. We will advise. Highly recommended.

The turkey Manhattan. Order it, and you won't regret it. Whenever I visit Chapel Hill, stopping at Neal's for lunch is always a great decision. The service at the front counter has always been so friendly, informative and efficient. The employees were on a first-name basis with a lot of the customers who walked in. I usually enjoy sitting on the front patio, but since it was raining, we opted to sit inside. The bar stool was a bit wobbly but my attention was too focused on the delicious sandwich to care!!! Also, they have a water station with free water which I always appreciate.

Nice little deli with a few seats inside and out. Mainly sandwiches and deli sides after breakfast. A very good muffuletta with cumin baked potatoes. Everyone enjoyed their food too.

This was my last stop before heading back out to California and I am so glad that I decided to! They have the greatest pastrami sandwich! I just love how friendly the staff are and how they make everyone feel at home. The sandwiches here came with a pickled tomato I believe! This was very unique and something that I've never seen before! There is a parking lot just down the road right next to the coffee shop, Open Eye. Plenty of parking there.

You MUST try their Pastrami Reuben. Words can't describe how good this sandwich is. It comes with a complimentary pickled tomato, so refreshing! I only wish their business hours were longer so I can get Pastrami Reubens for dinner.

i'm not gonna lie, i was a little bit disappointed with the sandwhich i got from neils. i got the pimento cheese sandwhich and i am very unconvinced that the cheese was actually pimento--if it was, it was so mild or had so few pimentos i couldn't tell it was pimento cheese. additionally, the meat on the reuben that my friend ordered was unusually salty and dry. usually i really love neils but today they didn't really hit the mark.

Neal's has the most outrageous house pickles; sweetly piquant and a taste of North Carolina. I shared a possibly perfect turkey Reuben, complete with thick smoked turkey and homemade sauerkraut, the right amount of Russian dressing to maintain sandwich structure and a crust on the griddled rye to appease aficionados. The atmosphere is not a consideration, best to take your meal outside or to one of the coffee shops and beer bars nearby. Neal's was named one of America's finest delis and the simple attention to ingredients and the integrity of classic sandwiches explains that.

The pastrami was really good! I enjoyed the Manhattan sandwich immensely. The combination of flavors and textures was just fantastic. I'll have to come back for breakfast to try these delicious-sounding biscuits. I like that the space is small and cozy-- and if you want, I'm sure you could take it next door to Open Eye. Next time, I am really hoping that the people working the counter smile more and are nicer. It'd make the experience perfect!

Meh. I had high expectations after reading all the great reviews, so my friend and I decided to check this place out. We went on a Friday afternoon, around 1; it wasn't too busy but there weren't any empty tables so we took our sandwiches to go. I had the Neal's Chicken Salad sandwich and my friend had the Smoked Turkey. Both were just average but we both agreed that it wasn't worth the price. They were pretty basic so there isn't much to say about them. Maybe we should've tried one of their specialty sandwiches since that's what a lot of people have been raving out. Maybe we'll give it another try. I'm thinking about going their for their breakfast because their breakfast menu looks promising. I dunno, we'll see!

In Carrboro they have this impressive ability to make everything alternative and a bit hipster. At Neal's a simple deli becomes gourmet, a hot dog has a special sausage, and the list goes on and on. Came with a friend from lunch during the week I ordered a sandwich while my hungry friend got two hot dogs. My sub was nice and huge, certainly would satisfy anyone. Service was kind, and one of the ladies spoke Portuguese to me, which I find really cute. The only problem I see is that some of the items in the menu are a bit overpriced, but nothing crazy.

It took me over a year to try this place and I have no good excuse for it. I figured it was good since it is featured on the Taste Carolina food walking tour of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, but I was never in a hurry to go since it is just a deli (read: sandwich place). If you read my other reviews, you'll see I have a complicated relationship with sandwiches. Part of me resents going out for sandwiches. I don't like paying other people to make me sandwiches. But I keep finding great places around with sandwiches that I want to return to eat. This is one of them! This also happens to be the best biscuit I've had in the area. Yes, it is better than Rise. I had the egg and cheese biscuit sandwich with avo salsa (guac) and roasted red peppers. The biscuit was perfectly soft and flaky and the other ingredients just complemented the whole ensemble so well into this soft breakfast super-treat. Watch out though - they only serve their biscuit delights til 11AM, so go early to catch one!

Items Selected: Buttered Biscuit with Jam Pimento Cheese and Bacon Biscuit Dark Chocolate Walnut Brownie The third stop on a morning breakfast run that had already seen beguiling biscuits at Sunrise and woeful disappointment at Ye Olde Waffle Shoppe, Neal's Deli was recommended by a well-traveled gourmand as a 'can't miss' place for upscale deli cuisine and arriving to find every seat filled and a line two-deep surrounding the counter I nearly walked out for simple lack of a place to stand, a man at the window-side bar fortuitously getting up just as I entered graciously offering me the stool on which he'd just sat. Using my coat to mark my space, and getting in a line of eight that moved surprisingly fast, it was with Take-Out menu in hand that decisions were made and although both soups and pastrami seemed to be selling like hotcakes it was once again in biscuits that I'd invest - the buttermilk batter just entering the oven as I sat down to enjoy a plastic wrapped brownie chewy with dark chocolate and punctuated with slightly bitter nuts. Slightly prolonged in my wait, but likely to benefit from biscuits served hot and fresh, it was with an elderly local that I struck up some chat and told that I'd made 'the best choice' in ordering the pimento cheese and bacon biscuit his words soon rang true moments after the man behind the counter called out my name - the fluffy golden crumb tinged with buttermilk proving quite nice with simple strawberry jam but finding a substantial upgrade when sandwiching spicy cheddar spread and crisp bacon that didn't seem particularly 'Jewish Deli,' but was delicious just the same.

An amazing local deli where one likely wouldn't expect one to be. My favorite is the turkey sub. Perfectly crafted and it's the proper portion for a human being. And the pickled green tomatoes are so good! The only negative I can think of would be the hours. Don't expect to get something at dinner time!

I had the daily special- Cliff's Country Ham on a sweet potato biscuit with redeye gravy. It was to die for. Seriously, the best thing I've eaten in a very very long time. DELICIOUS! I also got a cup of the rustic applesause, it was so good. What a treasure we have here in Carrboro!

Biscuits are the hot trend sweeping the nation right now, I am led to believe. Neal's does them pretty well. They have huge biscuits with creative combinations. I can highly recommend this place for breakfast or lunch. Excellent service too. Its tiny inside so I imagine it might be a squeeze sometimes but their menu is simple and they can turn your food out pretty quickly. Their biscuits are good and don't suffer from falling apart as a sandwich. They're doing it right.

Fresh Fresh food. Mostly salads and sandwiches. My son raved about his pastrami sandwich and I had the marinated albacore salad. Delicious and nicely seasoned. Everything was super fresh - light and reasonably priced. Awesome big brownie. Outdoor seating PLUS 100% sanitation rating And super friendly. Will be back !

By far my favorite place in chapel hill. Order the pastrami ruban with spicy mustard or the muffaletta!!!

This was my first meal in North Carolina, ever! I was in the area working remotely from Boston and really wanted something that represented a local bite to eat. So friends told me Biscuits were really big in the area. Being a deli enthusiast, i was in the mood for a mean sandwich, and Neal's sounded super appetizing. I love checking out local spots, and this place looked like a local favorite. Lots of outdoor seating, and sort of limited menu centered around pastrami. I ordered a biscuit sandwich w/ pastrami Manhattan style (swiss cheese and slaw), and it was freaking delicious. Some places really mess up on pastrami, but this place delivered. Not too greasy, just the right amount of tenderness with a bit of a burnt taste, complimented well w/ the light slaw. The best part? What I ordered isn't on the menu! The gentleman taking my order said i was bold for ordering a biscuit pastrami sandwich, but that it was a good idea. It traditionally comes w/ just wheat or rye bread. Definitely must try if you're around!

This little corner in Carrboro is seriously packed. First off, finding parking to get in and out of Neal's Deli during lunch has become a sport for me. But it is so worth it! The biscuits are easily the best in town. Honestly, I'd pit your (southern) Grandmother's best against these things. If you don't think you want to fight the crowds for lunch, get breakfast. So, so good. Back to lunch. The bread that they serve these fantastic sandwiches on is just the freshest anywhere, and they really do go completely out of their way to make sure that what they put on that delicious bread is the best it can possibly be. The sides are inventive and very delicious looking, and while I see them every time I go in there, I haven't yet been able to tear myself away from a sandwich or soup (or salad) to get them, though I have sampled them a couple of times and questioned my judgment. Oh, and beware the cookie/brownie case. It's fine until you have one, and then it's over. You'll never be able to resist those cookies. Neal's, however, is another one of those fantastic sandwich shops in town that doesn't work on Sunday, or after 4pm...making weekend trips difficult. No one cares. We'll complain all day, but you can't boycott food this good.

Food: I've been here 3 times & each time I wanted to like it but had a sub-par experience. Here's what I've had: - breakfast egg & cheese biscuit ($3.25): the biscuit was dry. If you're going to sell biscuits, then make them good. A place like Neal's, with its prices, shouldn't be serving dry, tasteless biscuits. - Turkey Reuben ($8.50): dry turkey, tasteless white bread, limp sauerkraut. That's what it looked like on my sandwich too. - Apple & Cheese Hot Dog on a Pretzel Roll: Like with the Turkey Reuben, none of the flavors gelled in the hot dog either. The apples tasted like they came from a can, and had none of the cinnamon or Christmasy flavors that you except from spiced apples. Service: The 3 separate times I've been here, the waitstaff has been incredibly rude & impatient. They act as if they are doing customers a favor. And they're slow. Value: It's over-priced for the quality of the ingredients, flavor, and experience. There's little indoor seating, and little outdoor seating. Luckily, if you happen to find yourself near Neal's, walk a few feet to Open Eye where you'll be greeted by friendly, helpful, unpretentious staff that serve good coffee that's worth your money.

I have had one breakfast bisquit from Neil's Deli and it was very good so I decided to try lunch. I stopped by and ordered a turkey sub and the vinegar and oil potato salad to go. When I got to work I discovered that I was given a ham and salami by accident. I had to go back, luckily I had time before I had to work, and exchange it for the turkey. The sandwich was replaced quickly and my order was comped by the manager without my asking. Mistakes happen and I am happy with the way it was resolved so easily. As for the food, I could eat this potato salad 3 times a day it's so good, and the sub was fresh and very good as well. Five yummy stars for Neil's Deli!

I think Neal's Deli should consider a name change. I am fairly certain that Matt Neal would not want his name associated with this place. I've been away for a year, living in Mexico. I have been dreaming about a pastrami sandwich. They don't exist where we were in Mexico. I have been there twice since returning. The first time, my sandwich was so small I could barely taste the meat. Today, my brother and I, went to Neals. I had a pastrami sandwich on rye with double meat. That should have solved the problem. What I got was a hefty sandwich that was half pastrami, half fat. My brother ordered a muffaletta. REALLY stingy on the meat. That is because they used about 1/4 the size of the bread traditionally used. With a side of cole slaw and 2 sodas it cost just under $30 (plus tip). That is the last time I will eat at Neal's. Please, change the name.

iPhone Neal's deli is soon as I moved to Chapel Hill and wow all I can say is everything I've heard so far is unbelievably great the wait staff the owner everybody does a fantastic job I have owned restaurants and I know how hard they are to make successful and believe me this please is the real deal six stars

What a great place, definitely one of the best, if not the best, deli in the area - definitely one of the most creative. This is a tiny place, only 4 or 5 tables, some very limited space outside. This area is almost always busy, so parking, on the street or city lots, can be a bit of an issue. Unless we are early, we usually grab it to go, and eat in the car, cause it can get crowded. The breakfast biscuits are huge, and delicious - you can even get biscuits with pastrami as a component, if you'd like. I prefer the more traditional breakfast meats, also excellent. The house made pastrami is excellent, very tender, with loads of flavor. The Pastrami on jewish rye is an absolute killer sandwich, as is the Manhattan, which adds Swiss Cheese, Slaw, and Russian Dressing to the pastrami on rye. The Reuben is a classic sandwich, as is the corned beef sandwich itself. These are New York style sandwiches, not nearly as large, but also about half the price of the same at Katz's or 2nd Avenue. They have cold sandwiches, salads, and soups, but the deli sandwiches are the way to go. Nice folks here, and have a solid family backgroud in the culinary arts - Neal's father, Bill Neal, ran La Residence, and later opened Crook's Corner - not a bad pedigree.

I had a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit, with wilted spinach on top. The biscuit was fresh-made and good, and the spinach was a really good addition to the sandwich. I enjoyed my biscuit (it was good, but wasn't a standout, hence 3 stars rather than 4). This is a friendly little place, and popular with the locals, and no wonder, because it's a great value.

Visited here on the recommendation of a friend. I had the veggie soup which was puréed veggies tasted like there was quite a bit of butternut squash. I ended up putting some sriracha in it which helped. The soup was quite good but I wish there was less squash.

Tiny little local spot, heard the biscuits were good. I recommend getting something with the works, eggs, cheese and sausage. Yum. The cheese was surprisingly good, not some fake dyed processed stuff. They had a foodie tour come by and they could barely squeeze everyone in. It's a good place to get a quick hot breakfast. Well staffed and fast. It's a bit tough finding parking, but worth the jaunt. The oj, wasn't much though, you're getting it in a bottle. Good to sit outside on a sunny day.

The next time I'm hungover, I'm getting Neal's pastrami biscuit, which may be the best $3.25 I've ever spent.