It’s time for a review of a good old-fashioned New York deli. Yes, Asheville has one … even New Yorkers think so.
Zella’s Deli has been around for a few years, but has found more success since it moved from downtown to its location on Tunnel Road.
We opted for takeout tonight, with a pretty simple order of two subs with sides.
I chose Johnny’s Italian: capicola ham, salami, pepperoni, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato and red wine vinaigrette. The meats tasted very fresh, as did the veggies; the cheese was great, the vinaigrette was delightful and the bread was just perfect. This was a classic done right. Very impressive. The standard side is chips seasoned heavily, think Five Guy’s fries, and I loved them. Definitely house-made.
She went with Sal’s Sausage and Peppers: Italian sausage, red peppers, provolone and marina on a hoagie roll. This was the big winner. The chunks of Italian sausage were absolutely delicious, the red peppers were cooked perfectly, the marinara tasted homemade and the hoagie was great! For her side, she had the fries, also seasoned like the chips. It was a great combo.
The place has a classic New York atmosphere that is warm and cozy. I felt like I was actually in the city.
They offer all the classics you would find in NYC, as well as brunch on Sundays, with, not surprisingly, corned beef hash. I’m definitely going to check that out. Whether you like it hot or cold, Zella’s has you covered. Forget about it.
P.S. The pickles were individually wrapped perfection.
All in all, I don’t think you can go wrong here. High-quality ingredients sandwiched quite well. The prices were a bit steep, but hey, what isn’t these days?