I’m going to say something that might upset a few sandwich lovers here in New Hampshire.
This has been a difficult search. Finding a really good, old-school deli around here isn’t as easy as you might think.
And I’m not talking about grabbing a turkey sandwich from a convenience store. I’m talking about a REAL deli.
The kind of place where the sandwiches are ridiculously big, the deli meats and cheeses are sliced fresh, there’s a pickle involved somewhere, and you need approximately 47 napkins to finish lunch.
When I think of a great deli, I think of Katz’s Delicatessen in New York City or Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen in Chicago.
Those legendary places where the corned beef and pastrami are practically a religious experience.
You know, the kind of sandwich you can’t figure out how to fit in your mouth without temporarily dislocating your jaw.
From old-school delis to massive Italian subs, these are the New Hampshire sandwich shops you love.
I asked for your help in finding the best old-school delis, incredible sandwiches, fresh meats and cheeses, and those little hidden gems that locals absolutely swear by.
And boy, did you have opinions.
Some of you even questioned whether New Hampshire has any REAL delis at all.
Howard Zusman didn’t exactly sugarcoat his response:
“There are no proper delis in New Hampshire. None. This is coming from someone who grew up in Brookline Mass and who knows what a deli is. There are none in this state.”
Well, Howard, challenge accepted.
Based on the number of listener mentions, here are the New Hampshire delis and sandwich shops that got the most love.
Credit: Katz Deli & Market via Facebook – 1Credit: Katz Deli & Market via Facebook – 1Katz’s Deli & Market — Dover, New Hampshire
23 Ham St, Dover, NH
Apparently, Dover has its own Katz’s Deli & Market. No, it’s not the legendary New York City establishment, but this neighborhood deli and market certainly has some loyal fans.
Located on Ham Street, Katz’s serves everything from breakfast sandwiches to loaded subs, burgers, pizza and comfort food.
Sandwiches worth checking out: The Busy Hill Steak Bomb, steak and cheese, pastrami and cheese, and the Reuben. Here’s their MENU
Personally, I’m intrigued by anything with the words “steak bomb” in the name.
If I have to take a shower after eating a sandwich, that usually means somebody did something right.
Credit: Biederman’s via Facebook – 1Credit: Biederman’s via Facebook – 1Biederman’s Deli — Plymouth, New Hampshire
83 Main St, Plymouth, NH
If you’ve spent time in Plymouth, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Biederman’s Deli.
It’s a longtime local favorite known for its specialty sandwiches, relaxed atmosphere and impressive selection of beer.
Louri Boilard included Biederman’s among her favorites.
Another listener, posting as Relic Iron, made their feelings pretty clear:
“BEIDERMANS DELI in PLYMOUTH !!!!”
Four exclamation points. That’s a pretty serious sandwich endorsement.
Biederman’s has several interesting options, but one of its signatures is the Balboa, made with your choice of meat, extra cheese and its famous garlic butter on a heated sub roll.
Other sandwiches include the Zamboa, Reuben and the Legend of Exit 25. Here’s their MENU
I don’t know who came up with the idea of putting garlic butter on a deli sandwich, but I feel like we should probably send that person a thank-you card.
Credit: Big Dave’s Bagels & Deli via Facebook – 1Credit: Big Dave’s Bagels & Deli via Facebook – 1Big Dave’s Bagels & Deli — North Conway, New Hampshire
1130 Eastman Rd, North Conway, NH
Big Dave’s is one of those places that seems to have developed a serious following in the Mount Washington Valley.
Kathryn Gadbois says:
“BIG DAVES AND DELI IN N.CONWAY NH!”
Known for its fresh bagels, breakfast sandwiches and deli options, Big Dave’s Bagels & Deli is worth putting on the radar the next time you’re headed toward the White Mountains.
A breakfast sandwich on one of its bagels, an Italian-style sub or a steak and cheese.
READ MORE: New Hampshire Has the 2nd Most Haunted Road in the U.S.
And don’t forget the bagels themselves. They even have the Boston 3-Way on the MENU
Because if you’re going to make the trip to North Conway, you might as well bring home enough carbs to survive the winter.
Credit: Marsh Brothers Deli at the Little Store via Facebook – 1Credit: Marsh Brothers Deli at the Little Store via Facebook – 1Marsh Brothers Deli at The Little Store — Lebanon, NH
55 School Street, Lebanon, NH
This might be one of my favorite recommendations, simply because of how one listener described it.
Will Streeter:
“Marsh Brothers Deli at the Little Store in Lebanon. I plan trips to Lebanon around lunchtime.”
Now THAT is a recommendation.
If you’re arranging your travel schedule around lunch, somebody is clearly doing something right at Marsh Brothers Deli.
Lisa Ann also nominated Marsh Brothers Deli.
This family-owned spot specializes in homemade sandwiches and wood-fired barbecue.
Sandwiches worth trying: The Cubano, Marsh Brothers Roast Beef, bacon-wrapped meatloaf sandwich, and the wood-fired pastrami.
Yes, I said bacon-wrapped meatloaf sandwich.
I feel like that sentence deserves a moment of silence.
Credit: S&S Italian market / deli Via Facebook – 1Credit: S&S Italian market / deli Via Facebook – 1S&S Italian Market — Plaistow, NH
65 plaistow rd , Plaistow, NH
Now we’re getting into the Italian deli conversation.
And for some people, this is exactly what they’ve been looking for.
Billy Bartlett:
“The new S&S Italian deli in Plaistow is pretty amazing”
S&S Italian Market offers fresh deli meats, imported Italian products, specialty sandwiches and prepared Italian foods.
The sandwich menu is pretty impressive.
What to try: The Nonna, loaded with Genoa salami, hot capicola, mortadella, prosciutto and provolone; the Siciliano; or the North End, featuring house-made meatballs and marinara.
There’s also a sandwich called the Sinatra.
Honestly, if you’re going to name a sandwich after Frank Sinatra, it better be good.
Credit: Jeannotte’s Market via Facebook – 1Credit: Jeannotte’s Market via Facebook – 1Jeannotte’s Market — Nashua, New Hampshire
2 Courtland St, Nashua, NH
Sometimes the best deli isn’t some fancy new sandwich shop.
It’s the neighborhood market that’s been feeding people for years.
Jeannotte’s Market offers the kind of traditional deli counter that sandwich lovers appreciate, with sliced meats, cheeses, prepared salads and sandwiches made to order.
**What to try:** A classic Italian sub, roast beef sandwich or turkey and cheese. The market also lists its own corned beef among its deli offerings.
And sometimes that’s all you need.
Good bread. Good meat. Good cheese.
Nobody needs to reinvent lunch every single day.
Credit: Calefs Country Store via Facebook – 1Credit: Calefs Country Store via Facebook – 1Calef’s Country Store — Barrington, NH
606 Franklin Pierce Hwy, Barrington, NH
This one has some serious New Hampshire character.
Calef’s Countrty Store is known for its old-fashioned country-store atmosphere and its deli, which uses quality meats, local breads and its famous aged cheddar.
One of its signature sandwiches is the Senator Calef Club, with honey maple turkey, bacon, Snappy Old Cheddar, lettuce, tomato, red onion and ranch.
There’s also the Pilgrim, made with turkey, cranberry sauce and stuffing.
Basically Thanksgiving between two slices of bread. Menu HERE
Which, if we’re being completely honest, might be better than Thanksgiving dinner itself.
Look, I love a good deli sandwich. I don’t want a sandwich that’s been carefully curated. I want one that looks like it might ruin my shirt.
And I’m willing to do the hard work of finding them.
For journalism, obviously.
22 New Hampshire Restaurants People Say You Need to Try at Least Once
We asked a simple question on Facebook: What’s the ONE restaurant in New Hampshire everybody should try at least once?
More than 1,000 comments later, New Hampshire had plenty to say! From legendary diners and seafood shacks to hidden gems and special-occasion favorites, these 22 restaurants kept coming up in the conversation.
How many have you tried, and which one would you add to the list?
Gallery Credit: Garret Doll
15 New Hampshire roast beef stops that rose to the top of the listener conversation.
Gallery Credit: Garret Doll
Dining and Cooking