Jack's New Yorker Deli on the Marietta Square

Overview: Put it this way: There are plenty of restaurant choices on the Marietta Square to choose from, but people line up at this restaurant and don’t mind the wait when they want a Jack’s New Yorker Deli sandwich. I know this to be a fact since I popped in there one cold, rainy day and was surprised to see a big crowd of people at the deli counter. No one was fussing about the wait. There are almost 50 sandwiches to choose from. Breakfast is served all day and made-to-order meals are gladly accommodated. When the weather is good, outdoor seating is available.

Décor: If you are a history buff or enjoy Marietta’s rich history, you will appreciate the partially exposed brick walls, wood floors and old black and white pictures adorning the walls. The courthouse is just across the street, animated conversations are swirling and you just get a sense of belonging to “Old Marietta.”

The Food: I ordered the “Wee Willie” off the Hot Sandwich menu, and it was scrumptious. Served on a fresh Kaiser roll, this seriously yummy sandwich is loaded with lean roast beef, provolone cheese, sautéed spinach and seasoned with horseradish mayonaise. Every sandwich is served with a fountain drink, a pickle spear and your choice of chips, pasta salad, coleslaw or fresh cut, heavily peppered fries. My entire meal was under $9.00.

Sandwiches reign at Jack’s New Yorker Deli. Reubens are among the most popular and come in four varieties.  The most popular is the New Yorker Reuben: lean corned beef, pastrami, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese served on toasted rye with Russian dressing and spicy mustard for $7.99. The Jack Outlaw is also popular: strip steak, pepperoni, salami and red onions sautéed in hot sauce and topped with provolone cheese for $8.49.

A patron next to me was enjoying a huge salad with topped with many grilled seasoned shrimp that looked awesome. There are also paninis, hot dogs, burgers and delicious vegetarian sandwiches like Jenny’s Choice: grilled portabella mushrooms, roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella and lettuce served on a Kaiser roll with balsamic vinaigrette for $7.39.

The breakfast menu is pretty standard: eggs, omelettes, bagels, French toast and biscuits with ham, sausage, bacon, etc.  I was impressed that in right in the middle of the traditional Southern breakfast items listed was Bagel D-Lox, complete with your choice of freshly toasted bagel, sliced lox, cream cheese, red onion and tomato for $6.95. That's a real deli!

I asked a man standing behind me if he came there often and he said “ Yes–several times per week.” I asked him why and his answer was short and sweet. He responded: “The food is great, there’s a lot of it, and the prices are good.” He was right. This is a deli you need to try.

Jack’s New Yorker Deli 168 Roswell St. Phone: 770-424-1402  Fax: 770-424-1412  Printable breakfast, lunch and catering menus are available at www.jacksnyd.com

Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday.