College Park Eats: New York Deli

Nestled in a small shopping center on the corner of Edgewood Drive and Rhode Island Avenue, the location of New York Deli is not exactly reminiscent of the city for which it was named.

Once in the door, however, that doesn't really matter. With menu items like Knockwurst and Swiss and Pastrami Reubens, and brightly colored signage boasting the deli's freshly made knishes and various kosher options, diners are reminded that one need not actually be in the Big Apple to enjoy its characteristic cuisine.

Owner Ashleigh Williams, who is not from New York, or even College Park, but South Africa, has owned the deli for sixteen years. She and her husband, a Baltimore native, bought the store from the original owner and have been running it ever since.

"We were trying to move to Northern Virginia to be closer to [my husband's daughter], but then we found the deli, bought it, and just ended up here," Williams said.  

Like any deli worth its rock salt, the menu is ambitious in scope. Next to the Yankee Stadium Special (grilled kosher knockwurst, steamed corned beef, melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing served on Rye bread) sits the Falafel Royal (Middle Eastern vegetarian dish served with chopped lettuce tomatoes and onions on rolled pita bread with Tahini.) The barbecue sub, crab cakes and deluxe cheeseburger are only a few menu items away.

In addition to its already robust lunch and dinner menu, the deli recently started serving breakfast as well. Though Williams said she'd always intended to serve breakfast, the opportunity only presented itself this June. For the past six years, Williams and her husband were also contracted to run the cafeteria at Harry Diamond Laboratories, a government research facility in Adelphi. When the contract ran out at the end of May, Williams finally had the time to commit to the early mornings that serving breakfast demanded.

"When we first bought the restaurant it was just the two of us," Williams said. "But we knew we were going to have a family, so we didn't want to start serving breakfast because little children and early mornings just don't go together."

Five dollars gets you the breakfast platter, a heaping plate of potatoes, eggs, your choice of meat and a side of toast. Other options include breakfast burritos and sandwiches, but bagels, croissants, muffins and the like are also available for those who lack the ability - or desire - to consume the menu's heavier options.

The New York Deli is located at 4926 Edgewood Rd., and open from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Prices for lunch and dinner entrees generally hover around $7, and breakfast items are under $5.