Orange Tree Deli Where You Won’t Get A Lemon

While the east coast is battered by Hurricane Irene, So Cal is having a heat weave.  97 degree was the reading from my car thermometer!  Holly smoke!  As I was driving, I saw the beautiful sky, I just had to pull over and take a few pictures!

Deciding on what to eat for lunch on this very hot day was not hard.  I had purchased a Yelp deal for Orange Tree Deli at $5 for $10 food a couple of months ago.  It is one of those places that gets glory reviews and I’ve bookmarked and wanted to try for a while.  When I pulled up the the parking lot, I was a little surprised how unassuming the deli is.  But don’t let the humble exterior deter you.  Once you step inside, it’s a whole different atmosphere.  The staff is friendly and helpful.  There were many customers in and out during the time Allen and I were there.  The owner, Jim, knew them by their names, so you know they were regulars.  This is also a good indication that the food and service must be good for people to come back again and again.

The menus is written on the black and white board.  There are quite a lot to choose from.  Burgers, salads, hot and cold sandwiches, and even Mexican favorites.

First we got a tall can of Arnold Palmer to quench our thirst.  Jim, knowing it was our first time at the Deli kindly brought over some Chips and Salsa for us to try.  I love the different color chips and the salsa had a nice kick to it.

I asked the cashier what their famous hot sandwich was, she told me Hot Pastrami or Cheese Steak.  You can get small or large.  The large is about 12 inches which is big enough for Allen and me to share.  It was really nice that they split the sandwich into 2 baskets for us.  The Cheese Steak was very tender.  I love that it was not greasy and the bread was soft with a hint of sweetness.

I also got a large order of Caprese Salad with Tomatoes, Basil, Fresh Mozzarella, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Red Wine Vinegar, Red Onion, and Cucumber.  This was yummy!  Perfect for a hot summer day!

And then we saw these huge cookies on the counter waving at us and just had to get one.  But owner Jim graciously gave us 4, one of each flavor (Chocolate Chips, Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter, and White Chocolate Chips with Macadamia Nuts) to try.  Oh my goodness, these homemade cookies were soft and chewy and oh so delicious!  What a great way to end our wonderful lunch!

Jim and his wife have been running this Deli for 27 years.  With great food and great services, my guess is that it’ll be here for many many more years.  Stop by to say ‘Hi’ to Jim and grab a quick bite.  Tell him Wendy sent you.  🙂