The folks at Ben's Deli at 32 Avenue B recently expanded their food offerings … adding a steam table, among other things.
EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by for a look here between East Second Street and East Third Street.
She found Ben's son, Mohammad, wearing the (new) blue Ben's Deli T-shirt working complete with a broken hand…
There's also a coffee station now, so Oscar has a little more time to make sandwiches.
And here is Fadhle Suliman behind the register with his 12-year-old son, Mohamed ...
Anyway, the food is quite good … and reasonably priced…
[EVG took this photo]
OSCAR!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is my go-to deli! Fun to see them featured.
ReplyDeleteOscar makes an amazing chicken and rice! Can't wait for the steamer to come back for his famous coffee!
ReplyDeleteAnd using Ben as the name takes.the halal cake.
ReplyDeleteI've lived in this neighborhood for almost 20 years and watched these guys kids grow up. They're like family to me. One of the older guys who owns this place (I don't see him at this location anymore, I think he works in another store the past 8 years or so) was so nice. We always used to talk about how I had headaches and his wife too. Once when I was very sick and couldn't work for a few years this guy slipped 20 dollars into my pocket. This is why it's great to know the people in your neighborhood- having local businesses and neighbors who look out for one another, and not chain stores. I will never ever forget that kindness.
ReplyDeleteThe best peeps in the neighborhood deli biz and I used to shop there every day. Ben is a good man and his kids are just like him. Oskar is great as well and will remember your name and how you like your coffee if you are a regular. Hi to Ben and family if you are reading this.
ReplyDeleteI've lived across the street since the late 80's when this neighborhood was very different. I've been going to Ben's even before living in the 'hood when friends and I would stop there after leaving Save the Robots (google youngsters) across the street for "libations" before going to an after after hours club! In all these years they have always been friendly, courteous and kind to me whether stumbling in my earlier years at 6:00 in the morning before heading home or more recently walking across the street on a Sunday morning to buy the NYTimes and organic milk for my coffee. I know all three generations now and it's nice to see them all grow and prosper amid the ever encroachment of chain stores and the biggest evil looming over the east village: NYU! (I stopped in tonight on my way home from work and congratulated them on this post and none of them had heard about or seen it. One of the now grandson's got out his IPad and saw it!) Awesome! All the best!
ReplyDelete