Big Apple Deli feels right at home
The front of the store
The Big Apple Deli and Market was quietly introduced to the Westford community last year, and has since gotten little to no press. However, few know of the cornucopia of food and drink available inside of this otherwise unassuming building.
When one enters Big Apple, they are greeted by the ever too present Dunkin Donuts, which appears immediately upon entering through the front door. With music blaring up above, one is also greeted by a larger checkout area for the convenience store portion of the building, which essentially encompasses all parts of the building not taken up by eateries.
Set a bit back from the storefront, the deli itself has a large menu board overhead, containing more options than one would expect from a deli of its size. The menu offers anything from general subs, to chicken wings, and even burgers named in honor of the town of Westford and its beloved high school.
Two employees greeted me and took my order. To get a general sense for the food quality and prices, I opted to order a combo meal of a small BLT, small order of fries, and a regular drink. The entire total came out to $7.50.
During my brief wait for my food, I ventured over to the sitting area, made for guests of the entire building. I stumbled upon a plethora of WA students, some doing homework while enjoying Dunks, and others working behind the counter at the convenience store. Overall, it appeared a relaxed environment for both students and its employees.
My food eventually arrived, and I returned to my table and excitedly opened the Styrofoam to see what my early dinner would look like. Served on a white bread sub roll, the appearance of the sandwich itself was pleasing, green lettuce and seemingly fresh tomatoes. However, the bacon was not served in stripes but rather in a round shape, suggesting it may be a frozen product rather than refrigerated.
Feeling hopeful, I took a bite into my sandwich and found very fresh vegetables contrasted with less than fresh tasting bacon. One other note was that the bacon, due to its shape, could not be evenly spread out among the sandwich, resulting in boring bites containing just lettuce and tomato on their own. While I was not upset by the sandwich, I was not blown away.
Granted, they had a very extensive menu, and choosing one of the simplest items may have been a miscalculation on my part. Regardless, I felt they could’ve done better with something as rudimentary as a BLT.
Despite being slightly underwhelmed by the main course, I held out for the side dish of fries. I certainly wasn’t disappointed. The fries were golden and crispy, served with ketchup. They were the perfect companion for any sandwich and I would come back solely for them as a nice snack on occasion.
Drinks are served in a mini version of the Coke Freestyle seen routinely at all Five Guys locations.
The Big Apple Deli overall provided a great town centered experience, with a large menu certainly worth exploring. My sandwich was mediocre, but that does not reflect the quality of the extensive menu.
In conclusion, I recommend this place to anyone looking for a quick snack or bite to eat, as you will most likely run into someone from school here during your visit.
8/10
