Spitale's Deli
3309 Division Street, Metairie, LA 70002, USA
Metairie 2: Orleans Line To Houma Blvd
Backstory
Charles and Gerald Spitale opened this place in 1983, when office buildings were going up in the neighborhood and the West Napoleon Canal--then without an adjacent roadway--kept the clientele captive enough for a restaurant to be viable. A big part of their business is making trays of sandwiches and the like for the offices nearby. No small number of Rummel Raiders from the nearby high school sneak over for some variety in their cafeteria diets.
Dining Room
The building is a warehouse, shared with far more industrial businesses. The dining room is utilitarian and worn. You order and pick up at the counter, like you do at Mother's. The low level of service is balanced by the prices. Even the largest poor boys stay under ten dollars, as do most of the platters.
Why It's Essential
The slice of Metairie just south of the I-10 between Causeway Boulevard and Clearview is a self-contained community. If you don't live or work very nearby, you're unlikely to know about the dozen or so restaurants there. Some of them are worth seeking out, and this is one of them. Spitale's doesn't look like much, but it's a first-class poor boy shop, cooking everything from scratch with credible recipes and serving it generously.
Why It's Good
The sandwich menu is dizzyingly comprehensive. It lists thirty-eight different possibilities, with quite a few originals. Many Italian-style poor boys (sausage, meatballs, chicken parmesan, etc.) are available, as are their companion pasta dishes. There's a New Orleans version of a Philly cheese steak. The "dirty turkey" poor boy (with grilled onions and roast beef gravy) shows more creativity than goodness. Daily specials appear on the expected days.
Most Interesting Dishes
<em><strong>Poor boy sandwiches</strong></em><br /> »Muffuletta<br /> »Philly steak & cheese<br /> »Roast beef (au jus)<br /> Roast beef (cold or grilled)<br /> Italian sausage<br /> »Hot sausage<br /> Veal cutlet<br /> Veal parmesan<br /> Fried chicken breast<br /> Fried chicken parmesan<br /> Grilled chicken breast<br /> »Grilled chicken parmesan<br /> »Eggplant parmesan<br /> Meatball<br /> Barbecue beef<br /> »Pulled pork<br /> »Ham (cold or grilled)<br /> Ham & cheese (cold or grilled)<br /> Turkey (cold or grilled)<br /> »»Dirty turkey<br /> »Pastrami (cold or grilled)<br /> Ham, roast beef & cheese<br /> Turkey, pastrami & cheese<br /> Hamburger<br /> Cheeseburger<br /> Bacon cheeseburger<br /> Fried shrimp<br /> Grilled shrimp<br /> »Fried catfish<br /> Grilled catfish<br /> »Fried oyster<br /> Grilled tuna<br /> Chicken salad<br /> Tuna salad<br /> Chicken salad club<br /> Tuna salad club<br /> »Turkey club<br /> »Turkey & ham club<br /> »BLT<br /> Grilled cheese<br /> <em><strong>Daily specials</strong></em><br /> »Red beans and rice (MO)<br /> Meat loaf, baked macaroni (TU)<br /> »Baked chicken with macaroni and cheese (Wed)<br /> Lasagna (Thurs)<br /> »Meatballs, Italian sausage, veal or chicken parmesan with spaghetti<br /> Hamburger steak and mashed potatoes<br /> Fried or grilled chicken breast with mashed potatoes<br /> Grilled tuna salad<br /> Grilled chicken caesar
Deficiencies
Toasted French bread would make the sandwiches better.
For Best Results
The roast beef poor boy, while more than decent, may be the least of their poor boys. Italy really rules here. The salad dressing they sell by the jar is habit-forming. (I always have it in the refrigerator at home.)
Bonus Ratings
1
Attitude
2
Value