Sometimes, you just have to “kick it old school.” Being lifelong residents of Dayton, Food Adventures appreciates the history of the Gem City. One of these spots is the oldest delicatessen in the Dayton area, Charlie’s Deli and Catering. Located at 429 Troy Street, this popular German influenced sandwich shop has been feeding the masses since 1964. They are located in Old North Dayton for a reason. Back in the early sixties, the area was not called Old North Dayton, but was nicknamed “Texas” or “Parma.” Many German immigrants and families from Eastern Europe occupied the neighborhood. Charlie’s Deli was created to match the demand for authentic German fare and imported items.
Started by Charlie Vangas, the deli is now owned by Charlie’s son Rod Vangas and his wife, Becky. They still hold on to tradition here, and even have a photo of Charlie with Channel 7 news legend Don Wayne. But the old school atmosphere is only the beginning. Charlies Deli and Catering prides itself on serving tasty sandwiches with freshly sliced lunch meats Monday thru Friday from 7:15 am – 6 pm. They are open Saturdays 9am – 3pm and closed on Sundays. The menu has a wide variety of tastes and you could spend a lunch hour just reading the uniquely named sandwiches (click here to see what we are talking about). The prices are a great value, with most sandwiches ranging from $4.50 – $6.75. We love the great choices of breads and buns for your sandwich, and appreciate that they use Springfield’s own Woeber’s Mustard varieties on many sandwiches.
The first specialty sandwich served at Charlie’s was the “Black Forest Sandwich” and it still remains a popular choice today. It is comprised of roast beef, super sharp cheese, bacon, tomato, mayo or Woeber’s horseradish mustard, served on your choice of German Rye, Kaiser Roll or Onion Bun.
We all agree on our favorite deli sandwich at Charlie’s. It is called “The Mesquite,” and is mesquite smoked turkey breast, kojak cheese, lettuce and tomato. The sandwich is finished with a hot pepper cherry relish that makes the sandwich. Grab one of these for a spicy, tasty Food Adventure on a bun. It is available in the small size, priced at $3.95 or go all out and pay $6.50 for the 8 inch sub. We would also tell you to try the “Yipee-ki-ay Sandwich”, inspired by Bruce Willis in the movie “Die Hard.” This sandwich is Roast Beef with a slab of Swiss cheese. The incredible mushroom sauce topping makes this a delicious and messy sub.
Whether your sub choice is a Reuben or a Cuban, you will be back for more. Even the pulled pork is dynamite sandwich. Want a goal for 2013? If you eat all of the sandwiches on the menu, you get a free Charlie’s Deli T-shirt ! We also enjoy many of the side dishes at Charlie’s, like the cole slaw, potato salad, and those wonderful pickled eggs.
Another menu item worth trying is the “Chi-Dog.” This Chicago Style, Vienna all beef wiener is loaded sport peppers, garlic pickle wdges, chopped onions, tomato, sweet relish, yellow mustard and served on a poppy seed bun.
With winter in full swing, now is a good time to enjoy the specialty soups at Charlie’s. Regulars flock to get Chicken Spaetzel Soup or the Wisconsin Cheese Soup. More traditional hot soups include country potato, vegetable beef, and ham and bean. Don’t forget about their chili! It is meaty, old fashioned and hits the spot. Want something hot but a little more filling? Try their famous cabbage rolls. The family recipe is a hit with the locals and is sure to please your taste buds.
This place has a ton of character. We suggest that you dine in the back room like we did, where there is a lot of scenery among the various items on the shelves. Charlie’s is a great place for a Food Adventure because the deli fare is fantastic and you can browse among the German imports and other items around the store. Charlie’s is the biggest Dayton area importer of German goods. They have a huge selection of German Import Beers. They even have a deal where you can make your own variety 6-pack from over 100 kinds of beer.
Where else in Dayton can you eat a freshly sliced deli sandwich in the dining area, while browsing various imported vinyl records from Germany? Charlie’s is a place where pick up some rare boxes of German cookies, breads, and jars of hard to find items, all while eating a tuna salad pita. Charlie’s Deli and Catering is our kind of place. Dayton is lucky that the Vangas family imports so many unique foodstuffs and provides great eats. Charlie’s is big on quality, personality, and taste but is also a big part of Dayton’s soul.
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