Park Bench Delicatessen

Name: Park Bench Delicatessen
Location: 100 Park Ave., Binghamton, NY 13903
Phone: (607) 231-8452
Cuisine: Sandwiches/Subs
Price: Around $5 per person

Review:
Always in search of good lunch options, I headed to the Park Bench Delicatessen on Binghamton's South Side without having any idea what to expect. There doesn't seem to be much information on the internet regarding the small shop on Park Avenue. So with an empty stomach and an open mind, off I went to check it out.

Externally, the Park Bench appears rundown and has probably seen better days. I was hoping that the inside would show an improvement. It did not. The store consists of two small booths if you want to eat there, and the rest of the space is taken up by a long deli counter with various hunks of Thumann's brand meat on display. To be frank, the place kind of creeped me out. There was a weird, oily odor (perhaps kerosene) permeating the store, and it looked to be in need of a thorough scrubbing. The deli meats on display looked kind of gross and no regard for presentation was shown. There did not appear to be any kind of menu to order from. And perhaps most problematic, when I walked in the store, there was literally nobody there. I stood at the counter for several minutes before a woman emerged from a back room. She was on the phone, clearly in a heated argument with someone, and motioned to me to wait before going back into the back room again. A couple more minutes later, she re-emerged and I was able to place an order. I elected to try out a roast beef sub with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and Swiss cheese to-go. A few minutes and $5.00 later, I was out the door, sub in hand. Hopefully the sandwich would surpass my dwindling expectations.


The sub was OK, average at best. I liked the sub roll itself, noting that the Park Bench gets their rolls from nearby DiRienzo's Bakery (another place I need to stop by at some point). The roast beef was relatively thickly-sliced and not bad, but I got the sense that the lettuce and tomato were not the freshest and the mayo was a little warm (I ate the sub within 5 minutes of receiving it on a very cold day, so there's little chance that the mayo warmed up in transit). The lettuce was browning a bit and the tomato was mushy. Overall, this sub was OK, I guess. But it left me regretting that I hadn't stopped by nearby Nezuntoz instead.

As you can surmise by my second paragraph, I was extremely unimpressed with the Park Bench Deli. I love little neighborhood places like this ordinarily, but the combination of poor customer service and a sketchy, odd-smelling store did not sit right with me. My sense is that the Park Bench stays in business by serving a small set of loyal, regular customers. I will not be one of them.

Grade: D

Antonio's Galleria and Cafe

Name: Antonio's Galleria and Cafe
Location: 100 Oak Hill Avenue, Endicott, NY 13760
Phone: (607) 748-6269
Cuisine: Paninis, Salads, Pizza (Lunch Menu)
Price: $10-$15 per person, depending on what you get

Review:
It's a fact that Dan handles the majority of our reviews. Usually he has more to say than I do or is more motivated to comment. However, Antonio's has inspired me to snap Dan's review streak with its casual elegance and simply delicious food. Suffice to say, I am in a hurry to return.

While I have been aware of Antonio's existence, it wasn't until driving by it earlier in the week that I took a second to look at it. From the outside, it is a cute building with some decorative painting on its exterior. Its location on the corner of Oak Hill across the street from Consol's sets it in a neighborhood that Dan and I have come to enjoy for the great food that the entire street has to offer. As a result, I had an interest in what Antonio's could offer.


Yesterday afternoon, after parking in the small lot adjacent to the building, we entered Antonio's and I was immediately impressed and taken aback by its charm. The space is much more open than you would expect from the building's size and is well used. There is a bar with some sort of colored glass decorations immediately as you enter and you see the delicious looking gelato selections to the bar's left. The restaurant space has quite a few tables as well as several leather couches and ottomans for those looking to sit and relax. I know that the restaurant hosts a Thursday night trivia, as well as musical acts on the weekends. It has a downtown, almost European feel that makes it seem a bit out of place given its location in Endicott, but it sets Antonio's apart in a good way. I absolutely loved the sophisticated vibe of Antonio's and could definitely see myself coming back for drinks in the near future.

As for food and drink, we were presented with a small paper lunch menu, as well as a bound drink menu that was loaded with martini cocktails, as well as drinks made with gelato - all of which I am dying to try, but thought best not to partake in during lunch, so we both got water. For lunch selections, there were some appetizers of the Italian ilk, as well as pizzas, salads, and paninis. Not a huge selection, but I think there is something for everyone. Dan and I elected to try out the risotto cakes for an appetizer (given my love of risotto) and I went with the Tacchino Panino (turkey, bacon, cheddar, lettuce and tomato), while Dan went with the Italiano Panini (your basic Italian meats with cheese and greens, along with roasted red peppers). We were excited to see if the food could match the beauty of the space.


The risotto cakes came with a dipping sauce that was most likely marinara, but with an additional element (probably cherry peppers) that really made it special. The cakes themselves were much like crab cakes, but way better because they were filled with creamy, cheesy risotto. Seriously, I love a good crab cake, but given the choice, I would pick these every time, particularly since you don't find them on many menus.


Then came my panini with its side of pasta salad, which was fine, if a little bland. However, that pasta salad did not deserve to share a plate with my panini, which was AMAZING. From the crusty italian bread, to the bacon crumbles, to the perfect proportion of cheese, turkey, tomatoes and lettuce, it was one delicious bite after another. What really took it to the next level was the honey mustard sauce that I elected to have instead of ranch. That little kick of sweetness made this sandwich one of the best that I have ever had. I was kind enough to share a few bites with Dan and he agreed that it was righteous.


Dan's Italiano Panini was slightly less successful than mine. Although he also liked the bread and found the overall taste to be good, he has more affection for other Italian paninis in that area, particularly from Vincenzo's. He also agreed that the pasta salad was somewhat lacking. Maybe some chips or a side salad would prove more of a tasty accompaniment to the giant paninis.




Moving on to dessert, we could not leave without trying the gelato. There were many selections ranging from fruit flavors to more chocolate decadence. I elected to go with a chocolate hazelnut offering, while Dan went with the tiramisu. Although both were very good, I think that those who have had real Italian gelato in Italy would agree that Antonio's version is slightly less authentic. It was not as creamy as I remember gelato to be, but that could be due to other factors, such as freezing. Nonetheless, the gelato was a nice ending to a fantastic lunch.

Clearly, I have been won over by Antonio's. I have been looking for a place with its casual sophistication in the Binghamton area since I moved here - one that would cater to those who don't like the dive bars of Main Street or the student hangouts of downtown. Add to that its delicious food and tasty desserts and you have a winner in my book. I am very much looking forward to checking out Antonio's for dinner and drinks in the very near future.

Grade: A

Ithaca Ale House

Name: Ithaca Ale House
Location: 111 N. Aurora St., Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: (607) 256-7977
Cuisine: Burgers/sandwiches/desserts/BEER
Price: Likely around $20+ per person

Review:
The Ithaca Ale House has caught my eye often on my more recent trips to Ithaca, as is the case with most things involving "ale" in the name. Located just off the famous Ithaca Commons on Aurora St., I'd never been before the other day, when Megan and I found ourselves in Ithaca around lunchtime in search of a place to eat. Thankfully, I had recalled a post I'd read on the Big Hungry Shelby blog, which pronounced the Ithaca Ale House 2010's Best Restaurant in the entire area. With such lofty expectations going in, the Ithaca Ale House couldn't possibly live up to such great heights, right?

Wrong. This place is awesome.


One of my main motivations for going was to sample the latest Ithaca Excelsior! Series brew, their Thirteenth Anniversary Ale. This is a beer released only very recently, since the beginning of the new year, and I am a fan of all of Ithaca's Excelsior! offerings. The 12th Anniversary is a nice Belgian-style Abt, while the Brute is probably the brewery's most famed offering, a golden sour ale made with champagne yeasts which is positively delicious. The Thirteen is best described as a wheatwine, an extra-hoppy version of a wheat beer. Imagine a hefeweizen on steroids, brewed with lemony Sorachi Ace hops and Citra hops with slight pineapple notes. DELICIOUS! When it came time for Beer #2, it was time for another carrot-juice lookalike Thirteen. Yum.

But, yeah, on to the items our readers probably care more about than beer. In addition to a solid beverage menu, the Ithaca Ale House has a great menu full of gourmet burgers and sandwiches, each marked with a style of beer that would serve as a tasty complement. Megan ordered the "Perfect" burger, featuring lettuce, tomato, onion, bacon, cheddar cheese, ketchup, mustard, and mayo on a grilled roll. Sounds perfect in theory; hopefully it would stand up to the taste test. I elected to try out (on blogger buddy Shelby's recommendation) the French Dip, shaved prime rib with provolone on toasted French bread with au jus on the side. I had high hopes for this sandwich beforehand but after downing half of my 8.9% ABV wheatwine, expectations were at a fever pitch.


Luckily, these expectations were not just met, but exceeded. This was pretty much a perfect sandwich in every way. There is no way it could be improved upon. Served with fries on the side, I was in foodie heaven throughout the consumption of this delicious sandwich. On the downside, the fries were not bad, but not my favorite style, the crispy golden variety that you find at diners and the like. I like the "homestyle" variety that are more "potato-skin-esque" in flavor and texture. But that's just like, my opinion, man. The bigger deal here was the French Dip, which was amazing.


Megan's burger was equally fantastic, perfectly cooked to order. She got it with their "salad of the day" which she also enjoyed, but she has since commented that she won't be able to eat another burger for a while, since it will almost certainly pale in comparison to this one.


When it came time for dessert, we knew we had to try the Fried Oreos, proclaimed as Best Dessert of 2010 by the aforementioned Shelby. Served with whipped cream, a few smears of caramel on the side, and HOT CHOCOLATE for dipping (I can't make this stuff up, people!), this was a very tasty finish to the meal. Not nearly as good as some of the desserts I've had recently in Binghamton (English Toffee Pudding at Tranquil springs to mind) but for pub food, pretty amazing both in theory and in execution.

If you like great burgers and sandwiches, or if you're a beer connoisseur (some would say "snob," I prefer "geek") like myself, do yourself a favor and check out the Ithaca Ale House. For a restaurant of its ilk, things really don't get any better than this. Thanks, Shelby!

Grade: A

City Light Cafe

Name: City Light Cafe
Location: 254 Washington St., Binghamton, NY 13901
Phone: (607) 723-7430
Cuisine: Sandwiches/Soup
Price: Less than $10 per person

Review:
Always in search of a good lunch place, we headed downtown today to check out City Light Cafe on Washington St., just up the road a bit from The Forum, owned and operated by the First Assembly of God church across the street. I'd heard next to nothing about the place and did not really know what to expect.

Located at the corner of Clinton and Washington, parking for City Light Cafe can be found right across the street. The restaurant itself is a huge, beautiful, well-decorated space with seating to both the left and the right. We were quickly presented with menus and I decided to try out the soup of the day (chicken and rice) as well as something called the Montana Turkey Melt consisting of sliced turkey, bacon, cheese, tomato, and ranch dressing on grilled sourdough. Megan got a regular turkey sandwich on rye. She is forever in search of the perfect turkey sandwich and hoped that City Light Cafe could be a contender.


The soup was excellent, very flavorful and rich and much thicker than the standard chicken broth-based soup. I was also impressed with my sandwich; actually, for what it was, it was just about perfect. The ingredients were all really fresh and tasty. It was certainly nothing to get too excited about, and I think another ingredient like avocado would have taken it to the next level. But I cannot complain--I enjoyed the sandwich and it definitely hit the spot.


Megan really liked hers as well, proclaiming it to be better than the turkey sandwich at the Full Belly Deli in Vestal. This is high praise coming from Megan, as the Full Belly is one of her favorite lunch spots in the area. Again, no frills, but just a very well-made sandwich on fresh bread.


City Light Cafe is certainly not perfect. In our opinion, they could do a LOT more with the space, most of which probably does not get utilized on a daily basis. Whether they have the desire and the resources to do so, of course, is another matter. The menu is really very limited as well. In addition to the two turkey sandwiches we ordered, they offer a Reuben, Rachel, BLT, Tuna Salad, and Grilled Cheese, and that's about it (they do have a couple wrap options including a Philly Cheese Steak as well). So if you're looking for an expansive menu with lots of variety like that at, say, the nearby Old World Delicatessen, you're going to be out of luck here. Also, they're only open from 11-2 Monday through Friday for lunch.

If you like a good, no-frills sandwich place, City Light Cafe will definitely be up your alley. It's a great space for a restaurant and I hope they will expand their menu and hours at some point. As it stands now, City Light Cafe represents yet another low-key gem of a sandwich shop that most people would probably really like if they gave it an opportunity. If you are a regular at Escape State Street or the Old World Deli and haven't tried City Light Cafe, I highly encourage you to check it out!

Grade: B+

The Galley Tavern

Name: The Galley Tavern
Location: 409 Hooper Rd., Ste. 5, Endwell, NY 13760
Phone: (607) 748-6544
Cuisine: American pub food
Price: Around $10-$15 per person

Review:
One kind of restaurant that has not received a whole lot of fanfare on this blog has been the "bar and grill" variety. I'm not sure if that's because the styles of food normally found at such establishments does not appeal to us as much as others, or if we view these places more as "bars" than as "grills," but whatever the reason, we have yet to visit and offer our opinion on many of these sorts of places. And there are literally dozens to choose from throughout the Triple Cities.

Of the pub food scene, the only ones we've reviewed so far are Kelly's Sports Bar in Endicott (home to popular Wednesday night Team Trivia that we have been known to frequent), Vestal's Ale House (a review which admittedly was more of an excuse for me to talk about snooty beer than about food), and JC's Treaty of Versailles-predating hot-pie haven The Oasis. Oh, and Hurricane Rylie's in Endicott, which I think fancies itself more of a restaurant than a bar anyway. Some places I'd like to try out include Binghamton's South Side Yanni's, Harry Tuft's in Endicott, Tom & Marty's in downtown Binghamton, among others. After all, if we're going to Taste Binghamton, it's not always going to be about fine dining. Sometimes, you just want a half-dozen wings and a good burger, and so we headed to The Galley in Endwell to see if they could fulfill that desire.

The Galley is located on Hooper Road in a small plaza between Watson Blvd. and Country Club Rd. It's really kind of two restaurants in one, a bar to the right and a dining room (cleverly named "Galley Too") to the left. I'd advise opting for a table in the dining room rather than the high-top tables with uncomfortable wooden stools in the bar area where we sat.

The menu has all the usual pub food--burgers, sandwiches, pizza, wings, fried appetizers--which was exactly the kind of thing we were looking for this evening. I opted to go with a half-dozen medium wings and the Black and Bleu burger (peppercorns and crumbly bleu cheese) and Megan ordered the BBQ Burger (BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, and bacon) with curly fries. We were given complimentary popcorn (somewhat reminiscent of Tully's on the Vestal Parkway) to start the meal which tied us over until our entrees arrived.

The wings were decent, certainly nothing to get too excited about. They had good flavor but as far as wings go, they were on the small side and overall inferior to those at Kelly's in Endicott. The burger, on the other hand, was much better. With a little A-1 sauce to complement the peppercorns and a healthy portion of crumbled bleu cheese, this was a tasty burger and certainly one I'd order again. Megan was also happy with her burger and fries; I tried the BBQ burger and I think I liked it even more than the one I got.

Since The Galley is a bar also, I should also mention the beer tap selection for those who care about that kind of thing. Mediocre at best. I saw a tap with Smithwick's and one with Sam Adams Winter Lager, but for those seeking a quality microbrew, this isn't the place to find one.

Service at The Galley was friendly, but somewhat spotty. It took us forever to get straws for our drinks, and service toward the end of the meal was a little slow. But overall, I'd have to say that The Galley was pretty much exactly what I expected it to be: a good place to come and have a couple drinks, grab a burger, watch some sports, and hang out with friends. It's not hard to believe that they've been in business since 1972. Don't expect anything transcendent from a culinary perspective, but for pub fare, The Galley generally gets the job done.

Grade: B

Hurricane Rylie's Cafe

Name: Hurricane Rylie's Cafe
Location: 113 Nanticoke Ave., Endicott, NY 13760
Phone: (607) 754-2999
Cuisine: Sandwiches/Burgers/Wraps/Bar Food
Price: Around $10 per person

Review:
We headed to Hurricane Rylie's, located near the corner of Main and Nanticoke in Endicott, for dinner on a Wednesday night with no real expectations in mind. Armed with a coupon for "buy one, get one free" burgers, sandwiches, or wraps (thanks Kyle!), we figured it would be a low cost opportunity to check out a place we'd never been. We arrived around 7:00 PM and gave it a shot.

Rylie's is a deceptively large restaurant, with some seating available in a front room that includes the bar, and a dining room in the back. We quickly noted the ambiance, which was tropical in nature and vaguely reminiscent of Cosmo's Tiki Bar in Johnson City.

A quick perusal of the menu left me feeling uninspired by its combination of bar food (the usual suspects: fries, wings, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, etc.) and various sandwiches and wraps. Since Hurricane Rylie's doubles as a bar, I noted its beer selection (as is my wont to do) and found it to be equally lackluster. Megan elected to try out the Chicken Club Wrap with their side of the day, a Mexican pasta salad. I went for the Blackened Chicken Wrap, featuring chicken, roasted red peppers, lettuce, and ranch dressing, and got fries on the side.


Service was relatively quick as we got our meals just a few minutes later. I have to say, I was not impressed with my wrap. On first bite it was OK, but there were a few grisly strips of chicken in there and the warmed-over ranch dressing was mildly nauseating. It was edible, but nothing I'd order again. The fries were the shoestring variety and inferior to those you'd get at Mickey D's. Megan had somewhat similar feelings about her meal, which she thought was OK but nothing to get excited about.

In the end, Hurricane Rylie's was pretty much the definition of average. The food was passable but nothing more. The ambiance was light, fun, and slightly tacky in their attempt to milk the "hurricane" theme as much as they can, and service was quick at first, but it took us a while to get our check at meal's end. With the coupon the check came to a mere $10, and honestly, I wouldn't want to have paid more for such mediocrity.

Grade: C

Joey's Pizzeria

Name: Joey's Pizzeria and Delicatessen
Location: 200 Oak Hill Ave., Endicott, NY 13760
Phone: (607) 484-9716
Cuisine: Pizza/Sandwiches
Price: Pizzas around $10/Sandwiches around $7-$8

Review:
Joey's is another restaurant vying for the area's "Best Pizza" crown. Operating in the "Little Italy" neighborhood of Endicott that includes Oaks Inn and Consol's Family Kitchen, Joey's serves up wood-fired pizza, gourmet deli sandwiches, and their own Italian ice.


I first went to Joey's a few months back to try out their sandwiches. Actually, I had planned to get a couple of slices of pizza, but quickly realized that they don't sell by the slice, so I opted for a sandwich instead. This was a wise decision, as the sandwich I had (the "Sicilian") was fantastic. A generous portion of Italian meats and cheeses topped with marinaded artichoke hearts, served on fresh bread and accompanied by panzarotti (cheesy mashed potato balls) and pasta salad, the sandwich was among the best I've had in the area and easily rivaled neighboring Vincenzo's. I decided to forgo a review at that point in time until I got around to sampling the pizza.


Today was the day we finally got around to heading over to Joey's, and we ordered a large pizza (half cheese, half homemade sausage) to see how it measured up. Given the quality of the sandwich I had a couple months ago, I had high hopes for the pizza, and it didn't disappoint. The slight charring on the bottom of the crust yielded a welcome smokiness to the flavor, while the slightly bitter sauce complemented the crust well. I was disappointed by the sausage topping, which was ground, crumbled sausage rather than sliced and somewhat lacking in seasoning. But all things considered, this was a very solid pizza.

The atmosphere at Joey's for customers who choose to eat there (as we did) is nice, with spacious, comfortable booths with wooden tables and the typical Italian posters, memorabilia, and trinkets lining the walls. It's certainly not a large dining area, but we found it to be relaxing. The restaurant staff was accommodating and friendly throughout our visit.


Joey's is yet another reason to believe that this small section of North Endicott is the area's premier epicurean haven. With Consol's (much loved by many), Oaks Inn (much loved by us), Vincenzo's (one of the area's best-kept secrets), and Joey's all providing different and mostly positive experiences, there's no shortage in quality eateries. Joey's pizza may not have been the best I've had in the area, but it certainly belongs in the conversation. Between the pizza, sandwiches, and low-key charming ambiance, Joey's is a restaurant very much worthy of your patronage.

Grade: B+

The Sub Factory

Name: The Sub Factory
Location: 2128 Owego Rd., Vestal, NY 13850
Phone: (607) 786-0234
Cuisine: Subs/Pizza
Price: Less than $10 per person

Review:
The Sub Factory is located in the westernmost part of Vestal in the Ross Corners neighborhood. It's a somewhat odd location for the restaurant given that it's a little off the beaten path, but I believe it's a place definitely worth checking out.

I took a look at the menu for a minute and decided to go with a Turkey Sub on the recommendation of the owner, an extremely friendly and sincere middle-aged woman who provided excellent service during my brief visit. I was told that the Turkey Sub is their most popular item due to the fact that it's not made with the sliced turkey you find at most sandwich shops, but rather chunks of real turkey breast. I guess it's Thanksgiving year-round at the Sub Factory! Once I learned that tidbit of information, it sounded like something I had to try out. With mayo, sub sauce, lettuce, onion, and diced tomatoes (not sliced) as toppings and served on one of Jim Roma's famous sub rolls, I was eager to sample it.

I'd have to say this was a very good sub. The ingredients were all really fresh and the turkey reminded me of many a Black Friday binge. All told, I think this is one of the better subs I've had in the area. Now...if they were only a little closer to the rest of civilization...

The Sub Factory is open 7 days a week and features a surprisingly varied menu of appetizers (wings and other fried stuff, mainly), soups and salads, hot and cold subs, burgers, and some delicious looking pizzas in all kinds of gourmet varieties (their words, not mine). Ever had a Cream Cheese & Ham pizza, or a Kielbasa & Sauerkraut pie? Me neither. And I have no idea what Nuclear Broccoli pizza would entail, but at the very least, it sounds interesting. Prices appear to run a little on the high side for the pizzas but I am certainly interested in trying them out at some point.

I enjoyed my visit to the Sub Factory and I thought it was worth the drive out to Ross Corners. Really, it's only about a five minute drive from Vestal's Four Corners, so it's not too far out of the way. Service was top-notch and delivered with a refreshing sincerity, and I thoroughly enjoyed my sub. Being able to highlight places like The Sub Factory is what makes writing this blog enjoyable for me.

Grade: B+

Java Joe's

Name: Java Joe's
Location: 81 State St., Binghamton, NY 13901
Phone: (607) 774-0966
Cuisine: Coffee/Bagels/Sandwiches
Price: Around $5-$10 per person

Review:
I'm always looking for good places for bagels and coffee, and even though I've found a few good places lately (Best Bagels In Town, Nezuntoz, Bagel Factory), I decided to give Java Joe's a shot. It's somewhat surprising that I'd never been to Java Joe's before today. I've passed by the place on dozens of inebriated evenings downtown and I never really thought much of it.

Upon entering Java Joe's, I was stunned by how nice it was. It's got a really nice bohemian vibe with wood-paneled flooring and brick walls. I felt as if I had just stepped onto the set of "Rent," and I mean that in the best way possible. It's a long, narrow space, much larger than it appears from the outside. The back of the coffeehouse borders on the courtyard area between Washington St. and State St. where Uncle Tony's and Dillinger's have their outdoor seating. Atmospherically, this is the nicest coffee shop in Binghamton. I regret not taking a picture so you could see it for yourself.

I ordered a bagel with cream cheese and got a cup of coffee. Coffee comes with one free refill so I decided I was going to get my money's worth. I started with a cup of the Ethiopian Longberry Harrar and refilled with the "Parlor City Blend." All of Java Joe's coffee is roasted by the owners themselves.


The bagel did not excite me too much. It was pretty good but nowhere near the quality of the bagel I had a few weeks back at Best Bagels In Town. I got it toasted (or rather, it came toasted by default) and thought it was well-prepared, and the service was quick.

Coffee was the real reason for my stop at Java Joe's, so I am glad to report that it was very good. My criteria for a good cup of coffee is simple. I drink my coffee black (usually), so the coffee must have good flavor and not be too bitter, but should also not be too watery--I like my coffee STRONG. Also, it should get me wired. Java Joe's Ethiopian Harrar was excellent. Very bold, somewhat tangy flavor and strong enough to give a seasoned coffee drinker like myself the shakes. I would drink this again in a heartbeat. As for the Parlor City Blend, I don't know what varieties comprise this blend, but it was medium-bodied and pretty good. The first cup was by far the superior of the two, but that could be just a matter of my personal preference...I can see why others may prefer the second.

All told, I regret not paying a visit to Java Joe's sooner. This is a place I'll definitely be taking Megan to at some point in the near future. I am very interested in trying their sandwiches and paninis. I'd like to see how they compare with Nezuntoz and Escape State Street. How funny would it be if the paninis were better than those at Escape State Street? Then there would be no need to escape State St... But seriously, this is a great little place to hang out; if you're a Binghamton University student, this would be an excellent spot to get a cup of coffee, to chill out with friends, to meet if you're planning a group project, or to get some reading done.

Grade: B+

Arnold's Awesome Pig Stand

Name: Arnold's Awesome Pig Stand
Location: 2909 Old Vestal Road, Vestal, NY 13850
Phone: (607) 201-6424
Cuisine: Barbecue
Price: Less than $10 per person

Review:
Arnold's Awesome Pig Stand is located on Old Vestal Road, near the entrance to the Town Square Mall and adjacent to one of the area's roadside farmer's markets. I drove past one day recently and I knew I'd have to make a stop at some point. I am a sucker for good barbecue and I had high hopes that Arnold could deliver the goods. Yesterday, I decided to give it a go.

I was once asked, around the time I started this blog, how big a place needed to be before I would review it. There are a lot of little hot dog and spiedie stands scattered throughout the Triple Cities, after all. I don't know what the answer is to that. If it's a place that sells food, I am pretty much willing to give it a shot, especially if they offer some kind of specialty food. A simple hot dog stand doesn't appeal to me too much. I can get a hot dog anywhere. A spiedie stand certainly generates a little more interest. Something like Arnold's, where shaved pork sandwiches are the specialty, adds something unique to the Binghamton food scene, and hence is something I am definitely willing to try (and subsequently review), despite its roadside-stand status.

I arrived around 1:45 PM yesterday and ordered one of Arnold's signature "Awesome Gourmet" sandwiches ($7.50). Believe it or not, Arnold's has a website which details their various sandwich options. This particular sandwich consisted of shaved pork, caramelized onions, and gorgonzola cheese on a toasted steak roll. I had a seat on a nearby picnic table while my order was being prepared. There is a tented area with probably a dozen tables for those who choose to eat there; I decided with it being a 90-degree day that I'd be better off eating in the air-conditioned environment of my car. After about a 5-minute wait, my sandwich was ready, and I was ready to dig in.

Sure enough, it was a good sandwich. I don't know if I had ever had a shaved pork sandwich before: it reminded me of thinly-sliced roast beef (with obviously pork replacing the beef) and was pretty tasty and slightly juicy. I thought the onions were simply grilled, not yet to the point of caramelization, but they added a sweet component to the sandwich. The gorgonzola cheese was fresh and certainly had the most dominant flavor of the three. The bread was pretty good but I think I would've preferred it not to be toasted.

I didn't expect Arnold's to blow me away, and it didn't. I did expect something different and out of the ordinary relative to what I would normally have for lunch, and it definitely did the trick. At $7.50, I found it to be a little pricier than what I'd normally expect of a sandwich, but for a specialty item with "gourmet" toppings, I thought it was a fair deal. It may not have been as "awesome" as advertised, but I am more than willing to go back again to try another of Arnold's shaved pork offerings.

Grade: B

Vestal Bakery & Deli

Name: Vestal Bakery & Deli
Location: 176 Vestal Pkwy E, Vestal, NY 13850
Phone: (607) 748-8239
Cuisine: Pizza/Subs
Price: Dirt cheap

Review:
The Vestal Bakery & Deli is an establishment I used to frequent on a fairly regular basis when I used to live nearby, but I hadn't been back for a number of years until today. I had never really liked the place that much, but as a graduate student on a tight budget, it was a good place to get dinner very cheaply if I didn't feel like going the Ramen route, and it happened to be across the street from the laundromat I patronized.

Lately, I've driven past the VB&D a few times and noticed a special on their sign: a foot-long sub for $2.99, which rotates weekly as to which sub is on special (turkey, ham, Italian, etc). For those mathematically challenged, that's $2.01 better than Subway's famous offer. Being the value hound that I am, I decided to stop by today for lunch. Would the low price be the only worthy quality I found?

The restaurant does not have much for atmosphere. It's dimly lit but appears to be pretty clean, and there are some booths available off to the left should you choose to eat there. Menu-wise, they have the usual cold-cut subs available in both small and large sizes, spiedie subs, and pizza, available whole or by the slice. I recall having the pizza here before and being largely unimpressed. I recall it being the sheet variety and a pale imitation of Nirchi's, although I thought I spotted some regular NY-style slices on today's visit in addition to the rectangular ones.

Upon arriving I went with this week's special: the foot-long Italian sub for $2.99. Asked if I wanted "everything" on it, I replied in the affirmative. A few minutes later, I was out the door and on my way home, ready to give this sub a shot.

As it turns out, I thought this sub was just OK. For starters, it's an Italian sub, and they put American cheese on it. Granted, I could've asked specifically for provolone I suppose, but when I said I wanted "everything," I assumed I would get the right kind of cheese. American on an Italian sub, yikes, I mean, who DOES that? So that kind of threw me off a bit. As for the rest of the sub, I didn't get the sense it was all that fresh. The meat was definitely not high quality stuff (perhaps my visit to Vincenzo's yesterday has spoiled me) and the lettuce appeared to be the bagged, shredded iceberg variety. If it wasn't, it tasted like it. For a place called the Vestal Bakery, I also expected better bread. It wasn't bad bread and it was definitely the freshest part of the sub, it was just nothing to get excited about. Overall, if you look up "average sub" in the dictionary, the picture associated is the one you see above.

But think about it. $2.99 for a foot-long sub. That is seriously cheap. It may not be the greatest sub in the world, but it's certainly a notch better than edible, and if you're a starving, overworked, underpaid grad student like I once was, a deal like this could just be your saving grace. For quality the Vestal Bakery & Deli may not be anywhere close to the area's best, but for value, you aren't going to do better.

Grade: C

Vincenzo's Restaurant

Name: Vincenzo's Restaurant
Location: 1407 Watson Blvd., Endicott, NY 13760
Phone: (607) 484-0073
Cuisine: Italian/Subs/Sandwiches
Price: Around $5 or $6 per sandwich

Review:
As regular readers know, I've been looking far and wide for a great sandwich shop in the Triple Cities. The search has uncovered some real gems like the Original Italian Pizzeria in Endicott and Nezuntoz on the South Side, but I knew there had to be someplace even better out there, or at least more along the lines of what I wanted. Today, the search has ended. Vincenzo's on Watson Blvd. in Endicott is exactly the place I have been seeking.

I have driven by Vincenzo's on a number of occasions, on the way to Consol's or Oaks Inn (it is about three or four blocks east of those restaurants). I never gave it much thought because quite honestly I thought it was closed. I never saw any cars in the (tiny) parking lot nor did I notice any action going on inside. Today, I was looking for a place for lunch on Urbanspoon (great website, by the way) and stumbled across a few positive comments on Vincenzo's. Intrigued, I found their menu online which looked good to me, showed it to Megan who also found it agreeable, and five minutes later we were in the car, en route to Endicott.

Vincenzo's has an all-white exterior and a small parking lot directly behind the restaurant (drive past the restaurant on Watson and make your immediate right if coming from points east). On the inside, I was stunned by how clean and how charming it was. There are about 8 evenly spaced tables, each with their own floral arrangement, and some artwork gracing the walls. They also had some Italian music playing in the background when we were there which helped to set an appropriate atmosphere. For a small sandwich shop I found Vincenzo's to have near-perfect ambiance. It's pleasant and low-key and has the vibe of a place that's been there awhile, even though Vincenzo's has only been around since 2003.

The menu consists of various paninis, wraps, salads, and subs, with an emphasis on Italian items. I decided to order the Milano Press ($5.25), a panini consisting of mortadella, capicola, salami, and ham with a roasted red pepper mayonnaise, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, all covered with a balsamic vinaigrette. Megan ordered the decidedly-less-Italian Turkey Wrap ($4.95) which was pretty much exactly what you'd expect, turkey, lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo on a wrap. Each sandwich was served with a side of complimentary cole slaw.

My sandwich was phenomenal. For starters, I thought it looked great, and the taste certainly did not disappoint either. The red pepper mayo was a perfect compliment to the Italian meats, and they certainly don't skimp on the portions. This thing was stuffed to the gills with meat and toppings and everything tasted extremely fresh. But the very best part of the whole thing was the bread. This was the freshest, softest, best-tasting sandwich bread I've probably ever had. I'm not sure if they bake their own bread there on the premises or not, but I'm thinking they do. Since it was a panini, the sandwich was lightly pressed but not overdone like the panini I had a few weeks back at Escape State Street. There is absolutely nothing I would change even in the slightest about this sandwich: it is hands down the best I have had in the Triple Cities.

Megan enjoyed her Turkey Wrap, finding the turkey and veggies fresh and the wrap itself to be well-constructed. She was happy with it but not quite as enthusiastic as I was, preferring the deli sandwiches at the Full Belly Deli in Vestal. Maybe I need to give that place another shot, because I found it to be fairly basic and very average. At any rate, I sampled a few bites of the wrap and it was good, but certainly paled in comparison to my sandwich. Then again, what wouldn't?

I regret not giving Vincenzo's some business sooner. The ambiance as about as good as it could be given the location, service was quick and pleasant, and my panini is exactly what I had hoped for. Upon arriving, I wasn't expecting greatness, but Vincenzo's is truly excellent. It is one of the Triple Cities' hidden gems and immediately has become my favorite sandwich spot in the area. I'll be back again very soon.

Grade: A

Best Bagels In Town

Name: Best Bagels In Town
Location: 526 Hooper Rd., Endicott, NY 13760
Phone: (607) 748-1171
Cuisine: Coffee/Bagels/Sandwiches
Price: Around $5 per person

Review:
To me, a name is a very important thing. If you're going to name your sandwich shop the Full Belly Deli, you'd better offer huge sandwiches overflowing with meat and toppings. If you're Dillinger's Celtic Pub, you should probably have bartenders who can pour a perfect Guinness from the tap (Oh, wait, they don't even have taps? Grade: F). If you're going to name your place Escape State Street, you should expect ridicule for having such a ridiculous name which doesn't even identify your establishment as a restaurant. And if you name your kids Dweezil, Diva Muffin, and Moon Unit, you're probably Frank Zappa.

So that brings me to Best Bagels In Town. If you want that name, you'd better have the goods to back it up. I decided to give it a shot.

There are actually two (and from what I understand, soon to be three) locations of Best Bagels In Town, one on Hooper Road in Endwell, one on Route 12 on the way out of Binghamton up past Northgate Plaza, and a third one that may be open on the Vestal Parkway by the end of 2010 near Vestal High School in the former Burger King location. None of these locations are ones that I personally pass by on a regular basis, but all of them are in highly-visible, well-traversed areas. A Google search reveals at least a few other bagel shops throughout the US with the same name and a similar logo. So this could be a proper chain restaurant. If so, it's definitely a small one. Upon visiting it certainly had the feel of a small, local store.

I decided to hit up the Endwell location and arrived around 9:00 AM on a Tuesday on my way to work. In lieu of using the drive-thru, I opted to go inside and check out the place. It's a small shop with a few tables for those who choose to eat there, but it seemed like most people get their orders to-go, as I did. The place was pretty busy when I was there and I had to wait in a short line before placing my order. A glance over the menu allowed me to notice that they offered several kinds of bagels and 8 to 10 different varieties of cream cheese (regular, spinach bacon, garlic herb, and strawberry to name a few). They also had some various breakfast sandwiches, muffins, deli sandwiches, and coffee drinks. I found the menu to be similar to Dunkin Donuts, minus the donuts, with an obvious emphasis on bagels.

I ordered a large black coffee ($1.60) and an everything bagel with garlic-herb cream cheese (approximately $2.50). $4 or so later I was out the door, back in the car where I deftly traversed the tiny parking lot, and on my way to work.

The coffee was pretty good. It had nice flavor but was a little watered down, as is usually the case for coffee in this area. It wasn't amazing but it was sufficient and above-average as local coffee peddlers go. Then it would come time for the taste test. Would this bagel stand apart from the crowd enough to be considered the best in town? The suspense was killing me.

And the answer is.....drum roll please.....

Yes! This was the best bagel I've had in the area! This tasted absolutely great and the garlic-herb cream cheese was phenomenal. Nice and crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, great onion/garlic/poppy seed flavor, an all-around perfect bagel. I appreciated that they didn't skimp on the cream cheese, too. For $2.50 this was a little pricey as bagels go, but totally worth it.

Some places earn their name, and Best Bagels In Town is one of them. I'll be back there again tomorrow.

Grade: A-

P.M.P. Delicatessen

Name: P.M.P. Delicatessen
Location: 80 Harry L Drive, Johnson City, NY 13790
Phone: (607) 797-1131
Cuisine: Sandwiches/Subs/Eastern European specialty items
Price: $5 per person

Review:
The search for good subs continued today for lunch with a stop at the P.M.P. Delicatessen on Harry L Drive in Johnson City. This is a place I've driven by literally thousands of times over the years, but I've never bothered to stop in, and I wasn't sure if anyone else did either. My attempts to find out anything about P.M.P. on the internet always came up fruitless, and something about the place always looked kind of sketchy to me. Today was the day I found out I was wrong.

P.M.P. is a deli first and foremost, with the standard subs and sandwiches comprising much of their menu, but they also serve their own versions of regional specialty items like spiedies and City Chicken. This is one of the rare places you can get lamb spiedies, the original spiedie meat of choice at Sharkey's way back in the 1940's. There is a definite focus on Eastern European cuisine in P.M.P., as they sell traditional foods like kielbasa, holupki (cabbage rolls), and a shockingly good variety of German, Czech, and Polish beer. I was surprised to see things like Paulaner Salvator, Ayinger Celebrator, and even a few bombers of Southern Tier Back Burner, among others. P.M.P. won't put Sam the Beer Man out of business anytime soon, but they've got a nice little collection going. For those who want to eat there, there are a few tables set up, and the place is adorned with hockey memorabilia and other trinkets. It's an odd atmosphere, yet somehow kind of cool.

I walked in at 12:30 PM and was one of three patrons at the time. I got a chicken spiedie sub for myself and a turkey sub for Megan. The woman who took my order was extremely nice and seemed glad that I had such a simple order--apparently the previous few patrons had made large and complicated orders. In five short minutes our order was ready, I paid the friendly cashier, an older gentleman who kidded me that my $7 order came to "$50," and I was on my way.

My chicken spiedie sub was quite good. I was impressed with the meat and found the spiedie as a whole superior to Sharkey's, but not quite to the level of Lupo's or the Spiedie & Rib Pit. The meat was flavorful and juicy and was served on an Italian steak roll which did well to soak up the juices. Not amazing, but very nice, and at $3.49, very cheap.

Megan's sub was also pretty good. She was a little miffed about the fact that the meat was placed on top of the toppings she got (lettuce, tomato, onion, American cheese, mayo), preferring it the other way around. Her impression was that P.M.P. was "just alright." I tried her sub and I got the impression that the turkey and toppings were fresh and of decent quality, but it was fairly ordinary otherwise.

Living near Harry L Drive, I can definitely see myself stopping off at P.M.P. again, maybe next time trying out the City Chicken, pierogies, or other local fare, in addition to taking a closer look at their beer selection. I enjoyed the quick, friendly service and the spiedies were good. My search for the ultimate sub shop won't end here, but I will be glad to support this local business again in the future, and I'm hopeful this post will give them some online presence so that other curious parties can stop wondering from afar what the place is like and start giving them some business.

Grade: B