Travellers Beware: Murphys Deli - Houston Texas

Travellers Beware: If you ever happen to find yourself walking the streets of Houston, Texas in search for a place to eat, do not, I repeat, do not walk into Murphy's Deli. I warned you twice.

As I entered Murphy's Deli, it appeared to be a standard Deli restaurant that are scattered across this great country. Murphy's Deli had a standard counter, a few tables and chairs for patrons to sit and eat, and a menu board behind the counter. What could go wrong?

I ordered a turkey and cheese sandwich on an Italian roll. I added bacon and asked for tomatoes and olives. Before you is what was presented to me and it only cost me $15 dollars! What a bargain!

Upon inspection of this so-called deli sandwich, it had two thin slices of turkey. Processed turkey, perhaps turkey loaf, but certainly not turkey breast. The bacon was three thin strips, just like the microwave kind you get at the grocery store. Yes, you could see through the bacon strips. And the American cheese, not slices, but a little bit of sprinkles. The tomato was paper-thin and the olives just on one part of the sandwich. WTF!

The taste of this deli sandwich, well, it tasted like cardboard. The roll was rough and almost stale. As I said earlier, the turkey was processed or loaf, and the rest of this abomination was so poorly prepared, it ranks as the worst sandwich I ever had the bad luck to buy.

The Grassy Knoll Institute scores 0 out of 5 shots and DOES NOT recommend Murphy's Deli from Houston, Texas for dinner.

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Carnegie Deli - Turkey Sandwich

Carnegie Deli

The hamburger at the Carnegie Deli was so good that we returned for a second visit on our last trip. This time I ordered the turkey breast and American cheese sandwich on a Kaiser roll.

Turkey And Cheese On kaiser Roll

As was the last time, the service was quick and courteous and the order correct. The turkey was piled high, (Not as high or as much as the Stage Deli in NY, but who's is?) and the cheese fresh and plentiful. The roll was fresh and not hard.

Although this sandwich does not compare to the Stage Deli turkey sandwich, it was good tasting and priced right. (About $14.00 without tip)

The Grassy Knoll Deli awards 3.5 shots out of 5 and recommends the turkey sandwich at the Carnegie Deli inside the Mirage Hotel.

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Stage Deli – Las Vegas – Caesars Palace

Stage Deli - Las Vegas Caesars

The Stage Deli has branched out from its 7th Avenue Times Square location. Located in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, just right of the Forum shops, is Stage Deli of New York.

Turkey And Cheese On A Kaiser Roll

Since I had such a wonderful dining experience at the original location of the Stage Deli, Times Square, New York City,  I confidently entered this establishment. I was quickly seated, and the waiter immediately brought out pickles and said he would be back in a few minutes to take my order.

Looking around, the deli had a respectable crowd, wasn't crowded, wasn't empty, just a good crowd. The waiter returned, I ordered the turkey and American cheese sandwich on a kaiser roll. I didn't order any sides expecting the sandwich to be the size of the New York deli.

In a matter of minutes, my sandwich arrived at my table. I noticed that the sandwich was about half the size as the Stage Deli in New York. No matter, it was plenty for me.

The service was very good, the place clean and well lit, and the sandwich tasted good. Not as good as the New York version, but good. The cost was adequate, around $15 dollars for the sandwich and soft drink. Remember, I was in Vegas, inside Caesars.

The Grassy Knoll Diner scores 3 out of 5 shots and recommends Stage Deli at Caesars Palace for dinner.

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1. 
   

   Gumby said

   September 23, 2009 at 10:58 am e
   Looks smaller than the NY one but not by much. Was that real turkey or processed.
   Reply
   • 
     

     LOTGK said

     September 25, 2009 at 8:33 am e
     It was real but not the same quality as from the one in New York.
     Reply
2. 
   

   D789 said

   September 24, 2009 at 11:32 am e
   I AM NOT IMPRESSED. THE SANDWICH LOOKS SMALL AND THE MEAT IS LUNCH MEAT FROM COSCO STORES.
   Reply
   • 
     

     LOTGK said

     September 25, 2009 at 8:51 am e
     Sorry you are not impressed, and I highly doubt the supplies came fron Costco.
     Reply
3. 
   

   Dashani said

   September 25, 2009 at 8:26 am e
   The sign looks more like the Letterman theater than the Stage Deli.
   Reply
   • 
     

     LOTGK said

     September 25, 2009 at 8:51 am e
     Thats what I thought when I was walking by at Caesars.
     Reply
4. 
   

   Moominboy said

   September 27, 2009 at 3:30 pm e
   If there is one thing I love about U.S. it’s your concept of a sandwich. So much fillings and amazing combinations. Beats our small sandwiches by a mile. Except for some Italian ones but I bet you have them over there anyway.
   Reply
   • 
     

     LOTGK said

     September 28, 2009 at 4:05 pm e
     There are other deli’s in the U.S. that tout large sandwiches, but the New York Stage Deli is the king. And it is a quality sandwich as well. Not just bulk food, but good food.
     Reply
5. 
   

   Valdunagan said

   September 28, 2009 at 11:27 pm e
   They look almost the same. Except for the lettuce and the roll. Both look filling and good though.
   Reply
   • 
     

     LOTGK said

     September 29, 2009 at 7:58 pm e
     The picture for the Stage in NY does not do it the justice it deserves. The sandwich was much larger, about 25% larger.
     Reply
6. 
   

   Valdunagan said

   September 28, 2009 at 11:29 pm e
   And I just now noticed, your blog is powered by a corned beef sandwich yet I have yet to see one critiqued here. Hmmn!!!
   Reply
   • 
     

     LOTGK said

     September 29, 2009 at 7:58 pm e
     I keep those sandwiches close to the vest Val. 
     Reply

Stage Deli - Hot Turkey Sandwich

Stage Deli Broadway Hot Turkey Sandwich

Revisiting one of my favorite restaurants, the Stage Deli, located on Times Square in Manhattan, New York, I opted for the hot turkey sandwich with gravy and mashed potatoes.

As usual, the Stage was packed but we were lucky to get a small table by the windows. Our waiter came right over and asked for our drink orders and if we wanted any appetizers. Being a veteran of the Stage Deli and the size of their portions, we ordered Cokes only and declined appetizers knowing the proportions are just as large as the main dinner items.

In under 10 minutes, our waiter brought our dinner order to our table. As you can see, the portion was huge. The turkey breast was piled high, hot, tender, and juicy. Not processed but carved from the breast. The gravy was hot and thick. The mashed potatoes were real, not processed and as mentioned above, very good. Two pieces of bread under the turkey and potatoes completed the entree. The cost was very affordable for New York, $15 dollars before tip. 

The Grassy Knoll Diner scores 4.5 out of 5 shots and recommends Stage Deli for dinner.

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Carnegie Deli - Bacon Cheeseburger

Carnegi Deli - Mirage Las Vegas

The Mirage Hotel and Casino on the strip in Las Vegas is the home to the Carnegie Deli restaurant, home of some of the best sandwiches on the planet.

Upon entering, we had a ten minute wait to be seated which is not bad considering dinner time in Vegas.

Now Thats a Lot Of Bacon

The waitress came to our table in a few minutes and took our drink order and since we knew what we wanted, also took our dinner order. I ordered the bacon burger, well done.

Ten minutes later, our dinner arrived at our table. As you can see, it was a bacon burger. It did look very tasty. The bun was fresh, the bacon cooked and plentiful, and the burger itself, not dried out.

The taste would not disappoint either. It was excellent as burgers go.

The cost was very reasonable as well at $13.00 without tip.

While in Vegas, the Grassy Knoll Diner awards 4 out of 5 shots and recommends the Carnegie Deli inside the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas.

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1. 
   

   Daniel said

   July 13, 2008 at 11:51 am e
   Good burger goes a long way in the gambling den. Enjoy and thanks from us athttp://www.bentpage.wordpress.com.
   Reply
2. 
   

   Bitzky said

   July 13, 2008 at 3:22 pm e
   Yum! And considering the weak dollar, that’s actually very accessible. You could pay the same at lunch diners in Stockholm. And we are talking Vegas here!
   Reply
3. 
   

   Vandamonium said

   July 14, 2008 at 11:51 pm e
   That reminds me, I have hamburger thawing out in the kitchen…
   Reply

Stage Deli - New York City

Stage Deli, Times Square, New York City

This sandwich was so good, I posted it twice......

Just a quick walk from David Letterman's theater is the Stage Deli restaurant where legend has it the portions are so huge you will not be able to finish it. The Grassy Knoll Institute needed to investigate post haste.

Upon arrival, the joint was packed but the waiter squeezed us in at a table that looked out to the street. Although we were piled in, we were comfortable. The service was exceptional. Although the deli was crowded, the hostess seated us immediately and even obliged our request to sit by a window. In just a matter of minutes, our drinks were on our table and several minutes later our dinner arrived.

I ordered the turkey breast, American cheese, on a Kaiser roll sandwich and of course already drinking the coke provided. Potato pancakes and French fries were also ordered as side dishes.

When my sandwich was brought out, I could hardly believe it. The sandwich was packed so high with turkey and cheese that to eat it, I had to re-distribute the sandwich using the top and bottom of the roll. It was the equivalent of four large sandwiches at other restaurants. And I was staring down two side dishes that were huge as well in portion.

Of course the sandwich was tasty, fresh, and perfect. The coke, a fountain coke, was exceptional as well. The cost was just under $20.00 excluding tip. Remember, the Stage Deli is in the heart of Times Square where everything is expensive. And BTW, I could not finish the sandwich. Not even close.

The Grassy Knoll Institute recommends Stage Deli and it scores a perfect 5 out of 5 shots.

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