West Ashley Location Serves Up Authentic New York Style Deli Sandwiches & Breakfast Fare

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer / Restaurant Review

After spinning their wheels for several years garnering street cred with their mobile food truck (mostly west of the Ashley), Gerry Meehan and his wife Erin Sorbanelli decided to go old school, bringing The Wedge a New York inspired deli to a permanent location at 2487 Ashley River Rd. 

The husband and wife team who hail from Westchester County outside of the Big Apple felt it was time, and judging by the crowds that line up outside their door especially during the typical breakfast and lunch hours, it appears they've made the right decision. Of course for northerners it doesn't hurt that The Wedge serve up Italian hoagies and chicken cutlet sandwiches that resemble handhelds patrons get in greater New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Connecticut.

Open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday The Wedge focus on breakfast sandwiches for the first three hours, transitioning to the lunch menu at 11am until close. They offer up four signature two egg (always served runny) and cheese sandwiches served on a traditional crispy golden brown kaiser roll. You can order any of the three with your choice of bacon, ham, or sausage, aptly priced priced at just $8.50.

Need something a bit more heartier to greet the morning than I suggest The Hangover, a two meat egg sandwich covered under a bed of hash-browns. Or maybe enjoy its Mexican cousin aka the Breakfast Burrito, an ample wrap of scrambled eggs, two meats, hashbrowns, with a kick of pico de gallo. Priced at $10 and $12 respectively.

While people on their way to work may be popping in on a regular basis, it's lunch time where The Wedge really shine. And those who are transplants from up north are ordering three specific sandwiches. 

The authentic Italian on a fresh hoagie roll might be the most preferred. Thinly sliced and stacked nicely with smoked ham, Genoa salami, soppressata (traditional Italian dry-cured salami), mortadella (large Bolognese cured sausage), provolone, and fresh veggies with pepper relish and a splash of oil & vinegar to bring all the cold cuts together. It's just like you'd get in any street corner deli in NYC. Fantastico!

If you're a fan of chicken cutlet sandwiches, The Wedge offer up five signature selections on Kaiser rolls, including a Vodka Parm with basil pesto, and the Chubby topped with bacon, cheddar and BBQ sauce. Although all five hold their own, early voting leans towards the Buffalo Chicken cutlet layered under strips of bacon, mozzarella, with a slather of homemade buffalo sauce. It's awesome baby!

Wouldn't be an Italian deli without a Meatball Parm or a Philly favorite aka a Cheesesteak. Take my word for it, they are done to perfection and would make New Yorkers and folks from the city of brotherly love quite pleased. Looking to wake up the taste buds? Can't go wrong with their Chopped Cheese on a wedge. We're talking grilled onions and pickled jalapenos overtop spiced beef. Delizioso! 

While no one is going to confuse The Wedge with a burger joint, the owners realize smashburgers are among the current rage carrying two on the menu. There's the traditional juicy twin patty topped with American cheese and grilled onions, or the Bacon Jalapeno Smashburger (no description needed). Both come with their super secret Wedge sauce on potato buns. 100 percent beefy delights!

I've been screaming the following for decades. The key to an authentic New York style deli is derived from two main factors. First and foremost is the bread. While northerners are true to Amoroso rolls out of Philly and Liscio's Bakery from Jersey, Gerry gets his bread from the same Westchester county neighborhood bakery he's familiar with for years. Just one word comes to mind. Incredible!

As amazing as the bread needs to be, you can't create Italian subs and sandwiches without premium meats and cheeses. Gerry gets his cold cuts sourced from a variety of quality purveyors and slices them in-house daily. Yes, veggies such as tomatoes, onions, and peppers, as well as seasonings enhance a wedge, a hero, a sub, a hoagie, or a grinder (pick your favorite), but without exceptional breads, meats, & cheeses, it doesn't deserve the Italian deli label.

The menu isn't overly extensive, just offering up several Italian deli comfort foods including muffins, pastries, and NY style bagels during the morning hours, with fries, mac and potato salad to accompany your lunch fare, not to mention classic Reubens and eggplant parmesan. Leave with your favorite Coca Cola products as well. 

At $15 the Cheesesteak is the highest priced menu item, with most lunch sandwiches going for $13.50 and breakfast sandwiches $8.50. Safe to say 'you get a lot of bang for your buck or a lot of deli for your dollar' at The Wedge. Open from 8-2pm Wednesday through Sunday at 2487 Ashley River Rd. aka Hwy 61 (about mile up from Magwood).

No need to make reservations because The Wedge is an order at the counter and take it with you kind of deli. If the weather cooperates there's a few chairs outside where you can chow down or eat in your car, unless you're taking your sandwich back home or back to work with you. Final word, The Wedge hold their own as a true New York style deli with strong ties to both Italian and Jewish fare. Mangia! For more visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheWedgeCHS/