Belly Delly Deli: Decadent Sandwiches in Times Square 24 hours a day, but is it better than Lenny’s?

March 6, 2008

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED

I used my Menu Pages method (detailed in a great Midtown Mexican food article) to take a break from Lenny’s the other night and it led me to Belly Delly Deli where I found the aptly named Crazy and Turkey, grilled Boar’s Head Honey Maple Turkey, with melted Swiss, grilled red onion, chopped tomato, and Russian dressing on a grilled garlic hero. I naturally added some lettuce and well done bacon because that’s how NYC Food Guy rolls.

Next time I’ll pass on the garlic hero (merely butter and garlic powder) but this sandwich, made fresh to order, was delicious. And if that’s not enough, this place is 24 hours (delivery ends at 7pm) and the other hot sandwiches sound awesome too. Located on Broadway between 49th and 50th, Belly Delly Deli is the first “we have it all” deli to actually impress me. But is it better than NYC sandwich juggernaut Lenny’s?

Read on to find out which sandwich shop takes the Midtown crown…

The $8 Belly Delly Deli hero is smaller than Lenny’s but I can’t really complain, Belly Delly offers Boar’s Head meats, which are hard to turn down. The sandwich survived the walk from deli to office perfectly, appearing hot and melty fresh as you can see. Lenny’s hot sandwiches have had mixed results on a similar walk. At Belly Delly there’s a flat griddle, a deep fryer, and a open-flamed grill all at the sandwich maker’s disposal. I’m fairly sure Lenny’s just has the flat griddle. I’m looking forward to getting back to Belly Delly to try more.

Here’s the entire Belly Delly hot sandwiches menu from Menu Pages, each one priced at $6.99. You should specify hero, roll, or wrap…

Ultimate Club – Turkey, ham, Swiss, bacon, tomato
Buffalo Style Chicken Breast – Grilled Boar’s Head Sliced Buffalo Chicken, melted cheddar, bacon, romaine lettuce, with bleu cheese dressing
American Club – Grilled Roast Beef and Turkey, melted American cheese, lettuce, tomato
Grilled Chicken Club – Grilled Chicken Breast, melted Swiss, bacon, lettuce, tomato, honey mustard
Turkey Club – Grilled Turkey, melted Swiss, bacon, lettuce, tomato
Chicken Cutlet Parm
San Francisco – Grilled Chicken Breast, avocado, roasted red pepper, romaine lettuce, tomato, ranch dressing
Mediterranee – Lemon Grilled Chicken Breast, romaine lettuce, roasted red pepper, and feta cheese
Crazy Turkey – Grilled turkey, Swiss, fried onion, tomato, Russian dressing, garlic hero
Chicken Cordon Blue – Chicken Cutlet, melted Swiss, sliced ham, lettuce, tomato, Russian dressing
California Wrap – Grilled Chicken breast, avocado, romaine lettuce, tomato, roasted red pepper, Russian dressing
Sicilano Sub – Prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, and balsamic vinegar
Triple Decker – Tuna salad, chicken salad, egg salad, bacon, and lettuce

There are also some cold sandwiches and other options from the Charcoal Grill including burgers, Reubens, and Philly Cheesesteaks and although delivery ends at 7pm, everything is available 24 hours a day.

So what’s better Belly Delly or Lenny’s?

Let’s be serious here, NYC Food Guy has made some bold statements, but Belly Delly could never match the range, variety, and consistency with which Lenny’s churns out their sandwiches. Lenny’s has never disappointed and it’s not fair to give Belly Delly the edge, especially after just one try.