Having lived across the street for many years from Oscar’s on Hargrave St. in Winnipeg, I can safely say that I know good deli.  By this I mean, dill pickles with the right balance of crunch/vinegar/garlic, fresh rye bread and just shaved meats.  The truth is, in recent years I’ve tried to avoid processed and cured meats.  But we literally stumbled upon the Stage Door on a shopping expedition to Century 21.  And when in New York, do as the New Yorkers do…..

Sister #2 and I split 2 selections-their Signature Reuben and ginormous Meatloaf served wrapped in aluminum foil, a bag of chips and of course-a pickle.  The sandwiches were socked with meat and were delightfully messy to eat.  On the salty side, but I’m not complaining as I sweated it out that day looking for designer bargains next door.

Something was so familiar about the storefront of the place and then I remembered…there was a photo taken on 9/11 of a clock on a street that recorded the time of the attacks.  St. Paul’s Chapel that became the temporary headquarters of the rescue mission is near by.  Imagine the heartache that the staff of the Stage Door have lived through?  Serving regulars day after day and then in a single moment-they are gone.

The decor is non-existent, the service a little curt, but the “old school” food a must have.  You will be walking into urban history, a proud tradition started in 1937.  Good on you Stage Door-the show must go on.

Kath’s quotes: “New York is a gothic Roquefort.”-Salvador Dali

Share on Facebook