Block's Bagels

Don't feel like spending $10.50 on a turkey sandwich at a less than clean deli? I don't either. I lo oked at my 401k account last week and got scared. My cushion of cash that I had accumulated in the last 6 years of working dwindled down to to less than half of what was there 6 months ago.

All I could of think was opportunity cost. All I could think of was what I could have bought (new Kooba bag, new pottery barn rug, a airline ticket somewhere)....

Which brings me to the $10.50 turkey sandwich I couldn't bear to pay. Instead of going to Katzinger's or Brown Bag, my new tightened wallet urged me to try somewhere new, somewhere cheaper.

The answer was Block's Deli. Located in two locations in Reynoldsburg and also Bexley, Block's Deli & Bakery offers a plethora of carbo-licious, carnivorous options. To satisfy my craving and my justification that I never eat pastrami, I decided to try the Classic #1 Ruebun on grilled rye bread. Mister man decided to order his standby of a toasted everything bagel with cream cheese, tomotoe and melted muenster. Since times are tough he decided not to splurge for the extra cost for the onion.

The Rueben was just satisfactory. The grilled rye bread was nice and toasty on one side but a soggy mess on the other side. I surmise it came straight off the hot grill and slapped on the styrofoam plate, left only to steam and sog up on one side. Aside from the bread, the sandwich was of a decent size, filled with tasty pastrami, saurkraut, swiss cheese and russian dressing. The saurkraut the sourest I have ever had but pleasantly cut the greasiness of the bread and the meat. On a scale of 1 to 10, the sandwich was a 7 given the cost of $6.65. Compared to the Katzingers sandwich of the same caliber is $10.50, the cost savings was well worth it.

The other toasted cream cheese and tomatoe sandwich was more than adequate for the $4.25 cost. The bagel was perfectly baked. Not too heavy, not to doughy, and not too chewy. Overall, on of the best bagels of Columbus. According to the signs in the all white dining room, the Columbus Dispatch also voted Block's as the best bagels.

Overall, the experience was adequate. The service was less than spot on. Serviced by disinterested teenagers, it took several attempts to obtain the correct drink order. The saving grace is Mr. Block, who, with his charismatic nature, still refers to his customers with cute nicknames and a friendly, neighborhood appeal to his deli.

Block's Bagels
3415 E Broad Street
235-2551

Overall.. I would be a repeat offender.
Rating ( 1 to 5 worst to best)
Globes:
Food: 3
Service: 2
Ambience: 2