The Deli Warehouse

Sure, it's cheap. But how does it taste?
Deli meats and cheeses aren't cheap. So when I saw a commercial for the Deli Warehouse that advertised $2.99 roast beef, I had to check it out.
I mean, roast beef? For $2.99?
Price Chopper and Hannaford charge between $7.99 and $10.99 a pound for that stuff.
So really, how good could $2.99 roast beef taste?
Well, it tastes like $2.99 roast beef.
My better half tried the roast beef first and said that it was okay. Then again, he admits that he probably wouldn't notice much difference from Price Chopper to Hannaford to even WalMart cold cuts if the meat was on a fully-made sandwich. The kids didn't seem to notice any difference at all.
The Deli Warehouse sells a full selection of deli meats and cheeses, assorted fruit, vegetables and baked goods, frozen items like meatballs and sausages and trays of sausage and peppers, plus chips and some snacks.
The low prices are for real.
Roast beef for $2.99/lb. (Chopper charges $8.99 to $10.99, Hannaford $7.99-$8.49), Cooked ham for $2.99/lb. ($5.99-$8.99 at Chopper and $4.99-$7.99 at Hannaford) and Land O' Lakes American cheese for $3.99/lb (that will run you $6.99 at Chopper and $5.99 at Hannaford). There's Smithfield spare ribs for $1.99/lb. and boneless chicken breast for $1.79/lb.
A lot of the offerings are in bulk, like those chicken breasts -- that price is for a 10 lb. bag. Cherries are $3.99 for a 3 lb. box. They also do deli platters; for example, a platter of ham, turkey, roast beef, salami, American cheese and Swiss cheese for 25 people costs $29.99 (at Chopper or Hannaford, a platter that feeds that many would cost $49.99.)

The ham I bought seemed kind of wet (for want of a better description) when I got home and opened the paper, which kind of grossed me out, but it seemed to taste okay to everyone. The cookies I bought tasted fine too but you could tell that they were closer to stale than not. It's probably best to use what you buy from the Deli Warehouse much sooner rather than later.
The Deli Warehouse is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It was pretty busy during a lunch-time visit, but there's ample parking. It's cash only, so be prepared or you can use their on-site ATM.
Find It


The Deli Warehouse

132 Railroad Ave
Albany, NY 12205
518 - 482-5732
Monday - Saturday
7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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Comments
I've had basically the same experience. The deli meats are OK, but on the whole you're getting what you're paying for.
Fruits and veggies can be a steal, but sometimes they could be fresher.
Oh, and do they still have the big plastic tubs of pickles? Those were/are so salty and good!
... said Albany Jane on Jun 17, 2009 at 4:53 PM | link
Brava for being brave and bringing back beef for three bucks.
I'm going the opposite way with my kid. I know, it's shocking. I am trying to teach him that food is supposed to taste good, and not trying to pass off lesser cheaper foods unnoticed.
I love cheap meat. Show me where I can get some bone-in goat shoulder, and I'll be there with bells on. Cheap processed meat on the other hand, as you demonstrated with the ham, is just sketch.
... said Daniel B. on Jun 17, 2009 at 5:07 PM | link
Mr. Fussy,
Per Adventure in Food Trading Co's Product List (in PDF)
Class Name: MEAT GOAT
4201040 Goat Meat Cubes bone-in 1kg
Perfect for Curried Goat
BOX WESTERN EXPORTS
4201032 Goats Cut UP 1&1/2 /case 45#Avg
Shoulders, Hinds, Legs, Loins
CASE AUSTRALIA
... said Sandor on Jun 17, 2009 at 5:41 PM | link
I wouldn't get meats there for myself (I live alone & can afford to buy a bit better) but it's great value if you've got to put together a big picnic or luncheon.
... said Eric on Jun 17, 2009 at 5:44 PM | link
Hmm, I wonder if the quality had dropped some. I used to go there when I was living in Albany about 4 of 5 years ago, although I was a college student. Not bad prices for subs either.
There was also a terrific veg/fruit place just up the road from them, I forget the name, but they also had terrific deals.
... said Eric on Jun 17, 2009 at 6:16 PM | link
Eric, you're probably thinking of WF Ryan Farmer's Market, on Railroad Ave (Between Fuller and the old Westgate Plaza, now Target). They have amazing deals on produce; WF Ryan is what lets me make a $15 sangria... that people actually want to drink. I mean, more than normal. Well, you know what I mean, my sangria is fsking good.
... said B on Jun 17, 2009 at 11:51 PM | link
You definitely have to be picky at the Deli Warehouse. The $3.99 Land o Lakes American cheese is NOT the same stuff you can buy at PC or Hannaford. It's the variety that comes pre-sliced and is quite a bit more processed-tasting. We go through a fair amount of LoL cheese, so I thought I found a good way to stick it to the man. Not so much.
The chicken is a good deal, eggs are cheap, and their deli mozzarella isn't bad in something like lasagna, but it can't stand on its own. Look closely at the deli case. Many items have begun to oxidize and don't look quite right. Veg, and especially breads/ baked goods are often on the verge. Buyer beware.
Deli Warehouse is a case of "you get what you pay for," but I'm glad I tried it, because I'd always be afraid I was missing out on some great deal.
... said kerosena on Jun 18, 2009 at 10:18 AM | link
I don't think it's worth it. The "roast beef" is obviously re-formed and has a shiny, oily look to it (kind of like an iridescent suit). I don't think it tastes anything like roast beef. The cheap cold cuts are pre-sliced and sold in a huge hunk. I don't think the staff is very friendly there either. My first time there I wasn't aware of the pre-sliced policy and when I asked if I could get some freshly sliced, the clerk barked, "Not at these prices!" WalMart sells Russer cooked ham for $2.99 a pound and they slice it to order.
... said irisheyz on Jun 18, 2009 at 2:19 PM | link
But Vandenberg keeps telling us its Fun, Fun, Fun, at the Deli Warehouse, he never said anything about the meat being kinda yucky!
... said TMD on Jun 18, 2009 at 4:10 PM | link
@ Daniel B: You can get goat at Frank and Giovanni's on Morton Ave. They only have frozen, but if you order ahead you can get fresh or whole. I roasted goat for my son's first birthday.
... said Lucy on Jun 18, 2009 at 9:27 PM | link
My family has been going there for years.
Dad, my sister, and my self, Thats where I
get all my cold cuts and I've never had a problem.
Everything is great. The Vegs, well what store
don't you have to pick through the vegs to get good
ones that aren't old or brused. I travel 35mins from my
home passing many stores to visit the Deli warehouse for
over 10years now and I have never had any of the staff
be anything other then very helpful and nice.I have meet the
Owner a few time also very nice. He walks around like
some who works there and helps people too.
... said H.K. on Jul 11, 2009 at 10:45 AM | link