By: Dalton Kimbro
Big sandwiches, savory soups and fresh salads are all things you think of when you think of a traditional New York deli. These tasty foods may all seem far away, but they are a lot closer than you think. Chappy’s Deli has been serving deli foods to Montgomery and local areas since 1989, offering New York flavor with Southern hospitality. It’s safe to say that Chappy’s is a Montgomery staple, so when I found out a fellow Auburn Montgomery student and close friend of mine had never been, we decided to take a trip. Two friends and I visited the Peppertree location, located less than 10 minutes from campus, on Monday night.
The three of us were welcomed and immediately seated. The restaurant was covered in small, white, subway tiles, like you would see in a traditional deli, along with various photos of famous New York City landmarks. After being seated in our booth, our service was prompt. Our orders were taken less than five minutes after we arrived. Chappy’s Deli features a variety of the usual deli sandwiches such as Reubens, Cubans and club sandwiches. My order consisted of a steak teriyaki melt, a twist on the traditional Philly cheesesteak and the club ranch wrap. Each entree comes with a choice of Lay’s wavy potato chips or french fries, so I chose one of each. Our orders left the kitchen seemingly as soon as they were put in. I first tried my lighter option of the club ranch wrap, a spinach wrap filled with lettuce, bacon, sliced chicken breast, ranch and tomato. The chicken and lettuce were very fresh tasting, and the crunch of the lettuce complemented the crispy bacon very well. Paired with potato chips, this wasn’t a super filling option, but it was delicious.
The next item was the steak teriyaki melt with french fries. This was a big sandwich, with thinly sliced teriyaki steak and provolone cheese with peppers sandwiched between two toasted pieces of sourdough bread. The crunch of the toasted bread was amazing when paired with the other traditional cheesesteak ingredients. The bell peppers were fresh and flavorful, and the fries were thin and fried crispy. As our meal ended, our server brought us our complimentary soft-serve ice cream. Chappy’s offers chocolate, vanilla and swirl soft serve for free with the purchase of every meal. The chocolate ice cream was very rich, and the small portion they offer is just enough to satisfy your sweet tooth without being too filling.
As a whole, my experience with Chappy’s deli was great. For the food, I give them a 10/10. Everything was delicious and portioned well, with some new takes on deli classics. I was also blown away by their service, which also receives a 10/10. We were seated as soon as we walked in and our meals were brought to us quickly. Our hostess and server were very polite and welcoming, making our experience great. As for the atmosphere, I gave them a 9/10. On a busy Monday night, the restaurant can get noisy between the sounds of the open kitchen and patrons. However, I liked the bright lighting and New York scenery around the restaurant. Finally, for the price, I give Chappy’s a 10/10. I ate two pretty big entrees, ice cream and drank water for $30 after the tip, making this a great place for students to get some good food on a budget. Chappy’s also offers a free meal to all children six and under with the purchase of any regular entree, making this a great place for families to eat as well. Overall, the casual atmosphere, good food and good prices make Chappy’s Deli a must-eat location for anyone in Montgomery. They have two locations in Montgomery, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check out their menu below and go visit them at https://chappysdeli.com/menus/chappys-deli/deli-menu/.
