Deli Works opens in Melville
Bacon, egg and cheese on a kaiser roll at the new Deli Works on Walt Whitman Road in Melville. Credit: Newsday /Marie Elena Martinez
In New York, the first true test of a good deli comes at dawn when the griddle is fired up to make BECs — or bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches. Melville lost one of those spots with the recent closing of the News Stand Deli, which is being converted to a storage facility.
Diners in search of robust, quality sandwiches, not-too-strong, not-too-watered-down iced coffee, and, of course, a killer bacon, egg, and cheese can try the newly opened Deli Works on Walt Whitman Road.
Co-owned by SeaQua Deli partners Pat Spates, Rick Nappi, and Steve Sanchez — who opened their Massapequa spot in 1983 — the trio doesn’t underestimate the location challenges of an industrial area in a post-pandemic time. “It’s a little sleepy because of COVID, so we’re hoping that comes back a little bit. Our biggest challenge is not being on Route 110, so we’re keeping the SeaQua logo out there for word-of-mouth,” Sanchez said.
There's no seating within, but Deli Works offers a massive selection of take-away options for breakfast, lunch and beyond. From sandwiches — panini ($12.49), wraps ($10.99), heroes and griddled choices like burgers (from $8.95), cheese steaks, quesadillas and grilled cheeses — to flatbread pizzas (from $10.99) and Italian-style strombolis ($7.99), selection abounds. Hot pasta specials from lasagna to penne alla vodka, and there's a full deli counter and custom-salad bar (from $8.99).
A make-your-own-coffee-bar features flavored and standard hot and cold coffee, iced tea and lemonade for guests to customize brews to their liking.
Back to the real question: How’s their BEC? With an opening special of a $4.99 breakfast sandwich (choice of sausage, ham, or bacon) with coffee, juice, iced tea or lemonade, now’s your chance to stop by and judge for yourself. We think it’s a keeper.
Deli Works, 1790 Walt Whitman Rd., Melville, 631-390-9055, deliworksmelville.com. Open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Sunday.
A global freelancer who has checked her suitcase to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, Marie Elena will always make time for good mezcal, even better tacos and killer conversation. Preferably, in a corner bar seat. She can be found on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.
