Critic's Review
Some of the best Delis in Broward are located inside Casinos; Greenberg's in the Hard Rock Hotel and Myron's in the Isle Casino are good examples. In the Seminole Coconut Creek Casino, 1st Street Deli in their version of an "Authentic" New York Deli.
The big issue with this Casino is the Smoke; I couldn't imagine wanting to come here if you're a non-smoker. The place just reeks like an old Cruise Ship. Luckily, there's no smoking in the deli. They have a window with a counter; so you could sit in the casino and eat without going into the restaurant, but I can't see eating a $14 sandwich at the counter.
Another bird-brained hostess that tried to seat me at a table right in front of the register in a 2/3 empty restaurant. I guess I understand why these people are working as hostesses, but there has to be one with a brain somewhere in South Florida. How about saving the worst tables in the restaurant for when there are no other tables available?
She gave me a bit of an attitude; too bad for her. It took a while for a server to discover me; the servers don't use trays here, so they spend a lot of time walking back and forth with 1 plate or cup of coffee. I was going to have a pastrami sandwich, but then I saw that the "Reuben" sandwiches were the same price ($13.95, the menu on their website that we have here is outdated). I ordered the "Brooklyn", which is what most places call a "Rachel"; A Reuben made with Pastrami.
As is typical in Jewish Deli's, you get the pickled setup; this one was an assortment of sweet, sour and dill pickles; better than the junk I got at Levy's.
I wonder what percentage of people even touch the tomato? Another factor in my decision was the mustard; they have some off-brand of Deli mustard, and I didn't want to take a chance that I didn't like it.
My question with this is "why"? With so many good deli mustard choices; Gulden's, French's Spicy Brown; I have Boar's head Deli Mustard in my fridge; why open a deli with a mustard that nobody has heard of before? If you want to be cool, you can have it as a 3rd option, but you've got to have something familiar to go with a $14 sandwich.
Service was fine; my server kept running back and forth with single items, but she did a pretty good job keeping an eye on her tables. There's no ambiance beyond the visual; no music; just the binging of slot machines and the usual casino sounds. An older couple next to me were curiously turning over the salt and pepper grinders trying to get something to come out; I filled them in on the new technology; some people just don't get out that much.
A runner brought out the sandwich.
Here's were the "Authentic New York Deli" idea is squashed; this is no overstuffed sandwich. It's about what you get at a diner; worth about $9.95 in a modern pricing scheme, but I guess you expect to pay a bit more in a casino. The cole slaw was actually pretty good; creamy but not overly sweet; I ground some fresh pepper on it and it was as good as I expect to get in a place like this. The sandwich was also good. Good quality pastrami; not too fatty but with that melt in your mouth quality that's necessary for enjoyable pastrami. They didn't put too much Thousand Island on either (most places give it to you on the side these days); It was a pretty good sandwich.
As for the mustard, I tasted it with a trimming of Pastrami; it was downright weird, with big seeds throughout.
How much are they really saving by serving this stuff? C'mon people, put out some Guldens and get more smiles in the Dining Room.
