Critic's Review
**** Closed ****
Usually when a Deli puts the word "Gourmet" in its name, you need to wonder why. And be prepared, because it may not be what you expect.
They have a strange menu for a deli, with pizzas, subs and sandwiches. You can order a 6" or 12" sub, and they have a few select "gourmet" sandwiches which can be ordered on different kinds of bread. I was surprised that they had chicken salad subs but not sandwiches. I asked if they could make me a 6" sub on Rye bread, and they did. The place is small and dark and there are some really small tables that could barely accommodate 2 people with sandwiches and water.
From the picture you can see that they're hardly generous with the chicken salad. The rye is a good thick slice, and they give you an entire pickle spear and an almost full tiny container of cole slaw. Luckily I wasn't too hungry, but I thought that for $6.95 they could have been more generous.
Now for the "gourmet" part. The cole slaw smelled funny and didn't quite taste right, but I don't think it was spoiled. I tasted a large amount of anise in the slaw, which certainly didn't appeal to me. I understand why they give you such a small amount, as after one forkfull you're pretty much done.
The pickle was the jar kind; vlasic I think. And the chicken salad, well I'm not quite sure what they put in it. There were big chunks of tender chicken, which was fine, but there was something sweet that I couldn't quite put my finger on. It wasn't a bad taste, but not the celery and Hellman's that you crave when you order chicken salad. It reminded me of the "gourmet" sandwiches they serve in Panera Bread, where its more about the recipe than it is about satisfying your customer's hunger.
If you had no other choices, Pa De Gennaro's would be an ok place for something a bit different, but with Pomperdale just over the bridge, there's really no reason to come in here unless you're on foot.