I’ve been to Royal Scarlet Deli in White Plains three times, and each time I’ve stood there for about ten minutes waving people along like a traffic cop. ”Go ahead, I’m still looking, go ahead, still looking…”
Seriously, who can read that blackboard menu and make a quick decision? I sure can’t. When I look at the middle panel with its peculiar grid layout, I half expect Alex Trebek to come out and make me place my order in the form of a question.
If you can successfully navigate the menu without going cross-eyed, what you’ll get is a deli sandwich as tasty as any you’ll find in Westchester. On this day, I ordered a “Tim Doherty”: Grilled sliced turkey, grilled onions, provolone and Russian dressing on a roll.
Grilling the turkey is something I’d never thought of doing; now I might try it at home on the griddle for that extra bit of flavor and crispiness. Sometimes all it takes are high-quality ingredients and small touches to make a terrific sandwich.
So my advice for a visit to Royal Scarlet Deli: Don’t feel embarrassed to stand there scrutinizing the blackboard. Don’t be afraid to break out your glasses. And don’t worry if the guys behind the counter give you the evil eye because you’re holding everyone up. I’m sure they’re used to it.
Royal Scarlet Deli
99 E. Post Road
White Plains, NY 10601
914-946-1820
4 Comments
hah i was just talking about this place today! granted, i haven’t been in a few years, but i’m glad to know they’re still turning out yummy sammies!
Just caught wind of this post – thanks so much for giving my dad’s place a great shout out! That sandwich is obviously my favorite as well. It was actually inspired a sandwich I used to eat all the time at the Eagles Deli in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
I loved grilled turkey on that sandwich, but wasn’t that crazy about the Marbled Rye it was served on. Also I liked the turkey to be sliced slightly thinner than it was on the original which consisted of three thick slabs of grilled turkey (not trying to disparage the original though – which I think is great and was consumed by me on many many occasions). So, the summer after school when I was working at the Royal Scarlet I began to make a modified version of the sandwich for lunch almost daily.
Originally the sandwich was jumbo style – with lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, and bacon – but it was difficult to eat without making a mess. I also thought that the taste from the lettuce and tomato took away from the character of the grilled onions. Dropping the bacon was a health choice I guess, but I am apt to sometimes add it back on.
Eventually the sandwich became standardized, and after a several month vetting process it finally made it up on the wall. Now I live in Vermont – so good sandwiches are really tough to come by. I work in Montpelier, and Pinky’s Deli makes a very good sandwich — but not nearly as good as pop’s. If you want to get a great chicken parm or meatball wedge (as we call it in Westchester) or pastrami, – forget about it – I’ll do the drive!
Thanks again for the look and be sure to say hi when you stop in!
Hey Tim,
Great to hear from the real Tim Doherty himself! Love that sandwich. I think that was a good call taking out the lettuce and tomato — there’s so much flavor from the grilled turkey and onions that it really doesn’t need anything else.
Sorry to hear you’re not finding suitable sandwiches in VT… you might have to open up your shop!
Eagles Deli — is that the one with the monstrous burgers?
I still have dreams about the Bagpipe sandwich from the Royal Scarlet. My husband worked in WP, not too far from the deli, and after one taste, we begged him for weeks to bring home sandwiches for supper. My mouth waters in sensory recall!!