Danny's Deli
 Cleveland, Ohio        Date of Visit  06/13/14            http://www.dannysdeli.net/

Saw an online article from the Food Network's self-appointed Sandwich King listing the “best” 8 sandwiches in the country. Still irritates me when they put it like that, you seriously tried every sandwich in the country and picked these eight? Anywho, there was one on the list we had tried, it was awesome, he claimed the best corned beef sandwich was very close to us in Cleveland, how could we not go? Danny’s Deli is a tiny and cramped corner shop downtown with nary an empty seat.
 

Just In Case You Want A Little Dressing On Your Reuben
 

It is a frenetic mess with people whirling and rushing down the narrow aisles. It seems everyone does a little bit of everything (wait, cook, register, bus); they may not know where they are or exactly what they are doing at the moment but they are quick and friendly. There was an older gentleman who stopped by our table a few times in the midst of doing everything else, just like everybody else. We decided he must be Danny, whether he actually is or not is now inconsequential. He was hysterical and really embodied the whole feel of the place at large. I really dig the place.

The three of us split three sandwiches and three tater options. The sweet tater fries had an awesome little crust and the fat regular taters were pretty good too. The let down was the potato salad which was starved for salt and needed some other component or three to bring it to life. It likely had a few more ingredients than the super simple mass at Slyman’s but less flavor and certainly worked less well.
 

Of course we tried some corned beef (in a Reuben) but we wanted to try a couple of their other offerings. We ordered a “Mary’s Favorite” with roast beef, Swiss and onions on rye but they were out of roast beef so we ended up with a Philly Cheese and a Philadelphian Club. The cheese steak with mushrooms, onions and provolone replaced the roast beef and we probably should have tried something else. Dry, lack luster, meh…the thing is a pass in my book.

The Reuben came with the standards and the Philadelphian club was pastrami, double Swiss and coleslaw on rye. The cured meats here are done exceptionally well. The corned beef is dark and dusky, the pastrami is running with greasy awesomeness, both are really nice. I wouldn’t say they are the best in the country or even in Cleveland, but both are really well done. We didn’t order the “jawbreaker” version but the regular sized Reuben is still loaded fat with slices of corned beef, which is nice (very nice), but sort of defeats the purpose of the sauerkraut and cheese, which have no chance to contribute. I would probably go with just the corned beef alone next time, it’s good enough to stand on its own.
 

I Would Skip The Cheesesteak
 

I wasn’t sure about the slaw on the pastrami…have had it on turkey Reubens and a couple of other things but never this. Turns out theirs really added pepper and tang, which cut through some of that glorious fattiness. Best in the country is far too bold a statement, but Danny’s is a great place with fantastic cured meats. It’s not enough to make me drive past Primo’s or Slyman’s but if you are in the area, go.