Jeannie’s Deli of Ardmore: My Next Hoagie Shop?

Courtesy of ardmore.patch.comEveryone needs a deli.  Correction: Everyone needs a good deli.  Correction #2: Everyone needs a good deli in walking distance.  I’ve had many over the years.  Z’s in Drexel Hill, Billy Woo’s in Overbrook, McGowan’s in Sea Isle.  Regardless of location, all of these delis provided me a satisfying lunch time respite over the years.  The quality and consistency of these delis have made them staples throughout my life- childhood, college, the seashore- but their proximity to my residency made them equally as valuable.  Since moving into a new town, Ardmore, I’ve been forced yet again to find another good deli for another stage in my life and after a recent visit to Jeannie’s on Cricket Avenue, I think I’ve found my next lunchtime sanctuary. 

All good delis are only worth their weight in lunchmeat.  More accurately, lunchmeat served on a quality Italian roll, Amoroso, Luscious, or Cacia preferably, enhanced with the addition of oil, mayo, lettuce, tomato, onions, or peppers and maybe a little salt and pepper.  Specifically, delis are only as good as the hoagies they make.  To test this standard of lunchtime connoisseurship, I opted to order a classic Italian hoagie and a turkey hoagie.  My wife would be joining me on this deli expedition, so I figured buying two different hoagies would give me twice the taste testing opportunity.  I also opted for a small bowl of chili as a warm-up to the main course.  In the end, it was one of the best lunches I’ve had in a long time.    

I started with the chili.  It was a simple recipe, which made it simply good.  A generous portion of ground meat, kidney beans, and some onion and pepper.  It was good but needed a little more spice, easily remedied with some Frank’s Hot Sauce.  After the chili, I moved to one half of the turkey hoagie and then the half of the Italian.  Again, simple but good.  All the lunchmeat was Boar’s Head.  The turkey was dry but fresh, thickly layered and wrapped in American cheese and filled with fresh lettuce, onion, and tomato.  The Italian was stuffed with the appropriate meats of Genoa salami and Capicola ham and enveloped in delicious slices of provolone cheese.  Both hoagies were held firmly in a fresh Amoroso roll, spread with Mayo for the turkey and dressed in oil for the Italian. 

I’ve had so many hoagies over the years, each good in their own way.  Like most Philadelphians, I feel truly fortunate to never have had to travel far to acquire one.  However, if you happen to find yourself away from your corner deli when the craving for a great hoagie strikes and you’re on the mainline near Ardmore, then stop by Jeannie’s Deli on Cricket Avenue.  They’re sure to make you feel right at home!