Village Deli & Grill – Village District (formerly Cameron Village).

Not sure how I came across this deli, but was probably looking online for a place that served a Pastrami Reuben. I had looked at their menu online, and saw they had both a Reuben on Rye (corned beef) and they had a Pastrami on Rye (with mustard & no sauerkraut). I figured they would probably have no problem making me a Pastrami Reuben (Rachel), and fortunately there were two clerks at the counter where I ordered. The older man knew how to ring up my special order and showed the younger woman (girl) how to do it.

I arrived about a quarter to 12, busy but not overcrowded. I ordered fries and water with my sandwich. They gave me a small plastic cup for the water, and a black electronic disk which would buzz when my order was ready.

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Before I sat down, I walked around into the next small room, and there was a long hallway that ended. The drinks, ice, napkins & condiments were along the inside wall of the hall. I got my ice water, some napkins and went back into the other room (where the registers & pick-up area were located), and sat at a small table that had two chairs. I sat facing the register area.

After I picked up my order, I walked around into the other room and got some ketchup. The large ketchup dispenser ran out of ketchup and I grabbed a few packets of ketchup and went back into the larger room and sat down.

The sandwich was good, and in fact it was too much for just one meal (although I ate most of it). I could have shared the sandwich & fries and ordered two drinks. My meal with water was $14+ with tax.

Between the two rooms, there must have been a small condiment bar, which I just failed to notice. I had to walk past it several times, and didn’t even take note of it as I was leaving. *A young woman sitting to my right, had gotten up and gone to this condiment area to get some ketchup. I had laughed to myself for not noticing it.

The clientele were mixed: working singles in ties, small families with child or children, older families, and older couples & singles. Some in shorts, some not, but all comfortable in their various garb.

Okay, this Pastrami Reuben was not as good as the first one I had at “Macados” in Salem, VA, but it was probably as good as the one I had at “East Village Grille” in Asheville. This did have Thousand Island Dressing, Sauerkraut and a Dill Pickle. I think my homemade Rachel is as good as this, and my homemade Thousand Island Dressing is definitely better.