Petite Deli
Categories: Delis, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill752 Columbus Ave
(between Filbert St & Greenwich St)
San Francisco, CA 94133 (415) 398-1682
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sat 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: None
189 reviews
Neighborhood: Financial District
"One of my favorite lunch spots... great place to grab a sandwich, salad or hot food. If I'm able to leave for lunch around 11:30 I'll go…" read more »
109 Reviews for Petite Deli
It's not a cafe and it's not quite a kiosk. Good for take-away's, I feel. The owner was sweet to us, and very polite and courteous, but the sandwiches were just average; the bread was hard and the meats were just ok. Don't get me wrong - it was just a decent sandwich. But nothing to 'rave' about. Just some fresh stuff you could have slapped together at home, perhaps. No mouth watering ingredients - just a slice of deli meat, salad and a hard roll with your choice of mayo or mustard. The service was very warm and the sandwiches were simplistically wholesome. I went once but don't feel inclined enough to go back. It just wasn't that memorable. I agree with the reviewer below me that most ratings are perhaps in awe of how kind and courteous Ms. Young is. Agreed. The sandwiches however, were...so-so.
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What happens when you unleash the Yelp chowhounds across the city in search of the best eats? Well, apparently it results in undeniable bargain bites like Petite Deli. This place is featured on the home page for a reason!
I've been twice (both on gorgeous sunny days) and had the same sandwhich - a pastrami on a roll with provlone and everything on it. I cannot begin to tell you how awesome those sandwhiches are! The rolls had the right amount of crunchiness and chewiness, the deli meat was savory and moist, and the sauce she put in there had a hint of hot mustard in there too - perfect!
It is a bit out of the way - on the far end of Columbus toward Fisherman's Wharf. But if it was in a more crowded area, you'd never be able to get your sandwhich. They named this place with good reason; it's tiny inside, with room for three tables and two outside tables. So you might be in a for a wait.
Regardless of the size, the other thing that made this place memorable was the owner. She was so incredibly kind on both occasions and essentially works the place by herself. Even with that workload she's always smiling and making sandwhiches to die for.
So the word is out and I wouldn't have known about this place if it wasn't for Yelp. Sometimes you just can't argue with the Yelp consensus...
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The business cards for Petite Deli include some nutritional facts, noting that the sandwiches are made of 100-percent love, goodness, happiness, deliciousness, flavor AND tastiness. If that's not the cutest thing ever, I don't know what else to say.
I'm joining the chorus of fandom for PD and Young, its owner, but I'm pretty sure the stellar Yelp ratings are mostly thanks to her. She's the nicest person in the world and apologizes profusely while she says it'll just be a minute; she also actually seems happy to be doing her job, which is great and unusual for a lunchtime hotspot.
I would drop the food itself down to three or 3.5 stars, though, and I realize this makes me a big asshole. But add a healthy dose of customer frustration and Zeitgeist-style bitchiness, and Petite Deli could easily end up in the "not-bad, not heaven-in-a-sandwich" tab of your mental file. Or worse.
I dragged a couple co-workers here the other day at an off-peak time, admitting I wanted to see for myself what all the fuss on Yelp was about. I had a ham sandwich with no mayo and Dijon mustard (and everything else) on wheat, and I'd definitely come back and have it again. That and a bottle of water came down to $6.50, making Petite Deli second only to Trader Joe's and tubby-inducing In-n-Out for cheapest lunch when I'm on the clock. We took our meals to Washington Square, which turned out to be a quiet, nicely shaded place to eat outdoors. Bonus: no crazy people yelled at us!
Best overall deal for a North-Beach lunch, hands down.
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I would like to thank each and every one of you who took the time to share your thoughts about Petite Deli. I sincerely appreciate those who have waited patiently for a sandwich and I am sorry for those who decided to leave because of the wait. Yelp has created quite a demand for Petite Deli and I work very hard to make sure every customer is happy with their food. Thanks again!
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The lady there was very, very nice. Best service I've received since coming to San Francisco.
Tofu sandwich was awesome. I hate mayonnaise and forgot to ask her to take it off, but somehow it actually tasted okay. Heh.
Went after crazy lunch hours so there was a short wait for the sandwich. Sat outside in the nice sunny weather so even better.
*walks around in circles*
"do you know where it is?"
"no...I thought you did..."
"I think its near Mama's...."
"I think its on Columbus and Green?"
*walk around Washington Square Park....text a friend for the address*
"Filbert and Greenwich...."
THERE IT IS!!!!
He got a Italian Hero and I had half a prosciutto and cheese, both on wheat even tho he asked for white. Petite in deed. You'd never notice this quaint little shop run by one woman if you weren't looking for it. She kept apologizing to me for the wait, which I thought was very sweet. Both of our sandwiches were soooo good. The basil was sweet!!! Went perfectly with the tomato and fresh lettuce. mMm..washed down with peach iced tea.
We spent $11.50 for lunch.
"too expensive for a sliced bread sammy tho"
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Every sandwich is delicious! Nice and simple. And if it's lunch hour or you're running late, you can call Young ahead of time and by the time you get there, the freshest, homiest, tastiest sandwich will be waiting for you. The place is quite small - I mean, Petite! - but it's a nice, sunny place to sit down and enjoy a great sandwich when it's not busy.
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To give this place anything other than 5 stars would be a bit of a sin... even though the food isn't exactly the best... meeting Young and having her make you a sandwich is a 5 star experience. She is one of the sweetest people in the world and she earnestly wants you to enjoy your meal. It is nearly impossible to not leave Petite Deli with a smile on your face.
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I agree with D.M. We love you Young!
I'm tired of being waited on by surly teenagers you have to kiss up to to ensure you're not eating a booger (or worse). If your into vortex's and crystals et al, you'll already know that something made with love is that much better for you, so naturally something made by Young will make you live forever.
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tuna on dutch crunch, yo. I have never had a sandwich like this before! I think it would be safe to say that it's the freshest, tastiest sammy I've ever had. The sweetness of the bread meshing with the fresh tuna and crunchy lettuce, and the mustard! Ridic. I'm definitely joining the Young and Petite Deli fan club.
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This place is like chicken soup on a sick day...satisfying. And who better to serve you that chicken soup (salad or sandwich in this case) other than Young, the chef and owner of Petite Deli. She is wonderful and her sweetness and generosity definitely show in her food. I always left this place with a smile on my face and tummy because of her.
Order anything here because you can't go wrong. It really is, "all that and a bag of chips."
Lunch time is busy so call in your order 15-30 minutes in advance.
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Wow! Over rated & disappointing. An okay sandwich at best (iceberg lettuce - weak!) and yes the gal is nice but geez people, come on, nothing special going on here. Diller's sandwiches are 10xs better.
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Okay, everyone can agree that Young is probably the nicest person on the planet, right? If I met someone nicer it might actually make me sick. So I give 2.5 stars for Young just being an awesome person.
Now for the food, which I'm giving 2.5 stars, because that's all I have left. The menu is simple. I think one of the best menus ever is the In-N-Out menu, because there's only about 5 things on it. I love that. The menu at Petite Deli has more than 5 items, but it's very simple and workable. There's nothing really strange or gimmicky, but it's a solid list to choose from.
The sandwiches themselves are also not gimmicky or very huge, or strange, which might explain the disappointment of why people going there because it's top-rated on Yelp. If this were some other town the sandwiches would have to be a fooot tall, or have french fries on them, or some dumb crap like that. But the people of SF know great food is done simply and superbly. The key to a 5 star sandwich is in the ratios of the ingredients, and this is where Young is a master. The flavors are perfect, nothing is over or under seasoned and nothing is piled too high. The sweetness of the mayo is special, so is the sprinkle of salt that lingers just a moment on the tongue. Youngs's Chicken and the egg salad are perfection.
If you don't understand why this place is top rated, you don't really understand food.
Extra stars (if I had them) would go for the selection of magazines and newspapers that are always spread among the tables, and for being such a hole in the wall that's it's barely noticed by most people, which makes it easier for me to eat there!
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By far the best sandwich shop in SF.... every sandwich is incredible because young puts her love into everyone.... if you like chicken salad sandwiches these are her specialty she make the chicken salad for each order from scratch.... oh and try the pasta salad!
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The Yelp hype is totally what brought me here -- and the hype is right. Her sandwiches are hella bomb and her bowtie pasta salad rocks my world.
She is the most hospitable and kind woman always with a smile on her face, drive to please, and swiftness to turn down excessive tipping which I admit I have a habbit of when I eat at this wonderful lunch spot.
I suggest a cappuccino and free truffle next door if there's a croud (and a wait). Yes it's only her, so please be a dear and sit down and be patient while the sandwich artist goes to town.
The tables out front are nicely shaded in this calmer part of North Beach, and the park is a short strut away -- a great place to eat your neatly wrapped lunch goodness on a sunny day.
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As good as advertised! Quite possibly the BEST sandwich I've ever had. My friend and I rolled into this cozy little shop for lunch a few days ago and were seriously blown away. I'm always skeptical when restaurants are hyped up but this place does not disappoint.
I ordered the Turkey Delight which was turkey, cranberry, cheese, basil, and sprouts lightly toasted on a ciabatta roll. It literally melts in your mouth and was 'effin fantastic. My friend had the prosciutto with vinegrette on ciabtta. I sampled that and it was great as well. Also tried the bowtie pasta salad which was quite tasty. I was such a big fan of the place that I went back 2 days later to taste their mozzarella, tomato, and basil sandwich. Also a winner. I never realized how great basil tastes in sandwiches, but I'm definitely a fan now.
Ok agreed. The lady that works there is definitely top 5 nicest women I've ever met. Even though it was my first time there she treated us as regulars. The wait for our sandwiches was considerable, but that's only because she takes her time to make sure it's the best. You definitely feel the love. Some people are born to play basketball, some born to be singers. Young was born to make sandwiches.
Her quirks will keep you entertained as well. I swear the whole time she was making our sandwiches she was mumbling to herself. She also does a good job of narrating her actions too...you'll see. My favorite part is seeing her fit through a perfect 3 ft opening under the counter when she brings you your sandwiches. Cracks me up every time.
Depending on what you value, this place could be a 5-star or 2-star experience.
If you value customer service, it's a 5-star establishment. The lady who operates the place is genuinely nice and caring, in a very motherly way (in a good way). Definitely of the best customer service experiences I can remember in the last few months.
If you come in search for great food at a great price, meh. I wouldn't say the food here is BAD, but it's not particularly special. I value my sandwiches against the "would I rather go to Subway?" test. In this case, I believe I could get a better sandwich at a better price at Subway, so therefore I'd have to say the sandwiches and their value is mildly sub-par, in that I can pretty much make it at home.
So in all I'll say it's a 3-3.5 star restaurant. I will probably return eventually, but I think I'll try some other spots in the area before coming back.
What on earth is so special about this place and how on earth is it the #1 rated restaurant in San Francisco according to Yelp? Not only did I wait 30 minutes for the (very nice) woman to hand make my sandwich, but it tasted no different than the pre-made sandwich I had bought from Trader Joes grocery store the day before. With 2 stars I am being generous. Next...
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The woman who runs this place is quite possibly the nicest woman ever. It's kinda like having my grandma make me a sammich. You know, if my grandma were Korean, not senile, and could make a bomb Italian sandwich. Come to think of it, she's really nothing like my grandma at all.
Come for the sandwich. Come back for the love.
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This place is owned by and run by the cutest, nicest little Asian woman. She's always really sweet, very motherly. Her prices are affordable on all her foods and she's always very generous. She hand makes all your orders as you order them and everything is fresh and delicious. This is a perfect place for a take out lunch or a quick 1 to 2 person meal (minimal seating).
Sandwiches, cold pastas, salads, and through in an ice tea and you have the greatest lunch.
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I don't think it would even matter what the food tasted like here because the proprietor is so sweet and kind; you can't help but want to come back again and again.
We're in luck, though: the sandwiches are tasty and won't set you back much at all. As an added bonus, they are made with 100% love.
This place is small, as the name implies, so you may find lines out the door. Consider ordering ahead by phone to avoid a long wait.
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So after living around the North Beach area for 12+ years I finally got the chance to come here.
This cute little shop not only have sandwiches but the nicest owner I have ever encountered. It was around 12pm when I came and this place was packed and the line was out the door.
I ordered the bf a roast beef sandwich on a roll and a tuna sandwich on wheat for myself. The sandwich did take a little longer than most sandwich shops I've been to but come on she's the only one working there. While I was waiting for my sandwiches I saw the owner making the other customers' orders. I could tell she puts a lot of effort and love to every single sandwich that she prepares. The sandwiches tasted pretty good too. It's not Little Lucca but I can sure taste the love.
CASH ONLY!
Count on me being a regular Petite Deli.
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I went here on a windy SF afternoon and was surprised by how tiny the shop is and just how friendly the woman who works here is. Sandwiches were good, but not spectacular. If I ever get to feeling demoralized about the sad state of humanity coming here would be a good first step towards regaining hope - she is just so darn nice.
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Nice little feel-good joint. You want flair trucked in from Costco go to Starbucks...and please, leave our neighborhood. Why is this place rated so highly? Kindness, hospitality and attention to detail evidently go a long way, unfortunately it seems like values like these are sadly lost to some of our bridge and tunnel refugees.
We love you Young and everything your super-cute Petite Deli stands for!
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I used to go to school at the nearby Sts. Peter and Paul and would always eat at petite deli. Young is the best, she used to give me free brownies and discount drinks (I was around 9-11 years of age mind you). The roast beef on french with mayo is the BOMB! Her chicken soup is fresh and is made with the highest quality ingredients.
I haven't been there in years since moving to socal for college...seems like the place got painted to a sand color instead of the distinctive faded pink and white. All in all, this is the BEST place to get a quick and delicious meal!
It was a nice today. I had an interview at CSAA that seemed to go pretty well, but all my job interviews seem to go great!
I met a friend for lunch. She spoke very highly of the Mozzarella, Tomato, and Basil. And since we were in North Beach, I think that would be appropriate! Same stuff that's on a Margheritta Pizza! Plus, I've been cutting down on meat. But there are two kinds of meat I don't think I can ever give up ... 1) BACON, and 2) Hamburger.
Anyway, the good size sandwich comes with the cheese, tomato and basil, plus a good dousing of vinaigrette. There a few standard sandwiches, such as Ham, Turkey, etc, and there may even be some specials too.
It's a tiny place, with all of 8 seats inside and out. The woman behind the counter is legendary for her courtesy. She's the only one behind the counter, and I really can't see how she does it, much less where she stores all the meats, etc.
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This place is so spectacular. The prices are great. The owner is great. The sammiches are great. Whatever magic honey-mustard the owner slathers onto the bread is like some kind of ambrosia. I've had it once and I crave it.
She offers more than one vegetarian sandwich, which makes it a great little spot for carnivores and herbivores alike.
Not too many seats, though, so I would recommend getting your sammie to go and eating it up the street in Washington Sq. Park.
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Don't be fooled by the size this deli is very small but it packs a big punch. The sandwiches are great and the store owner is very polite, i pass by every once and a while when i am in the mood for some roast beef and fresh mozzarella.
I admittedly skimmed through all these reviews, not bothering to count how many times "nice" was mentioned to describe her and didn't think anything of it. So a nice person is running a little deli. Big deal, right? This is San Francisco, not New York.
Even despite all the rave reviews and ratings, I definitely wasn't left unimpressed today. Young is, yes you got it, nice, but not only that she is just plain adorable, just so sweet and warm. I asked for half a Young's chicken sandwich and the other a prosciutto and cheese. Both highly recommended! The chicken, like everyone says, is delicious, with a creamy mustard spread and a slight honey mustard tinge. The prosciutto was savory and delicious and had a really impressive spread to go with it - I wolfed it down so fast (and so attractively) that I can't even tell you what's in it, but if you're a prosciutto fan, definitely try it. Also the bread is a winner. I know there's a wheat or white option, but definitely go for the original (ciabatta, I think) roll - crisp and firm on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside and fresh all around. So good!
Also, sandwiches are very reasonably sized! The half size is more my ideal size.
It's hard for a sandwich to impress me seeing as how they're hard to ruin and arguably, Petite Deli's sandwiches may not be the best in the city, but you really won't think anything of it once you've been served by Ms. Young. This is gold star service and just goes to show you how far that'll take you. Definitely regard this as a skewed review because I am incredibly smitten not only with the delicious sandwiches, but the wonderful lady behind the food. If anything, come here to check out what the sweetest lady in the deli business is like (and while you're at it, grab a killer sandwich).
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Pretty good sandwich served with a smile. I tried the Young's Chicken which was simple yet definitely tasty. I'd go here over the "tourist trap deli further up Columbus" any day...
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A good deli where, at times, it has taken me 30 minutes to get a sandwich.
Yes the lady is nice, but I don't know if that necessarily warrants all of the 5 star reviews.
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Petite is right! But the sandwiches are really tasty and the lady who makes them is quite friendly. If you're in the area I'd recommend stopping in.
Awe this place rocks so much! Young's BLT sandwich was super yummy! And the prices are nice and cheap. This place is great because the owner is so nice and friendly. She loves meeting new people and chatting up the regulars at the restaurant. there is only a few tables in the establishment and is often times filled with local people in the neighborhood and too many yelpers! shish! i prefer to go and get my sandwich to go and eat at the park or with friends.
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being that this place is the number one rated place to eat in sf on yelp, and being that i like to eat, i went here. I actually just got back from there no longer than 10 minutes ago so this review is very fresh in my mind. It's sat at round 1pm right now. When i got there the lady was giving this cute little kid a free cookie, +1. I got youngs chicken, honestly nothing special...it was good, for sure, but where is the niche in this sandwich...sure it's just a sandwich shop, but yelp has this place rated as the number one restaurant in SF...where's the specialty? Sure the lady is awesome, but dont you expect so much more? I'm actually really disappointed in yelp. Anyway, the place is small like other people have mentioned, but cozy. I sat outside and noticed a large crowd of shall we say hotties, which added to my experience. The lady was pretty awesome she reminded me of an elderly lucy lui. So overall my experience was nice.
Now for yelp...yall need to get your shiznit together, i dont know how u do your rankings, but something is messed up in your ranking scheme if you have this rated as your number 1 in sf. i dont even know if i consider this the best sandwich shop in sf...i'd rather have a sandwich from happy donuts to be honest...but yes it is a good place.
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Love this place.
Go here every 2nd day for lunch.
The lady who owns it put a little piece of her charming soul into every meal she serves which makes everything taste a whole lot better.
The food is good, but what really makes this place worth a visit is the owner. You'll never leave Petite Deli without a smile on your face.
Although I love Saigon Sandwich, Petite Deli has to be up there. Really really simple sandwich of lettuce,mustard, and bread. I had the young chicken and it was regular chicken that i find on my table(i'm chinese) She was really nice towards me and my girlfriend, and we didn't really have to wait because we were the first ones there on a SATURDAY. She is one of the nicest people around and don't expect it to be always open but because Ms.Young runs it herself with No help
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At the time of this review as I was going to review, Petite Deli is still one of the most popular bookmarked businesses to try and review. And one of them belongs to Matt G.
No kidding about this small deli, in which this Petite Deli is indeed "petite", and also fitting the name perfectly. It's a good thing that I was in my street clothes. If I was wearing my uniform and necessary equipment, I'm not too sure if I can fit or obtain my lunch from one of Yelp's favorite.
I ordered the Young's Chicken Sandwich on a soft roll. The $6.50 cold sandwich is a chicken-breast made with Honey-Mustard and other special spices, and has the usual condiments in a sandwich. With only a three small tables, obviously I was too big and might fear that I'll break the upholstery and decided to take my lunch back home and enjoyed it while watching the NCAA Basketball tournament.
Also, after reading the reviews saying that the Korean lady making my sandwich is very nice, evidence shown that, she is definitely very sweet and friendly. A pleasant generosity like hers is a clear example of how a business's customer service should be operated.
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I like it.
1 Previous Review:
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06/25/2008
This is a great place.
Three things to sum up everyone's reviews:
1. Average prices
2. Average sandwiches
3. The friendliest Korean woman working at the counter
That's about it. Quit all the fuss!
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Aside from excellent deli sandwiches, the owner of this little place will make your day!!! While a bit of a hike from the financial district, if you need to get out of the office to clear your head...go to Petite Deli.
And even if your head is still full of work noise by the time you get there, the genuine kindness and the calm from the lady behind the counter will put your mind at ease and you're guaranteed to walk back with a smile on your face, feeling good no matter what the first half of your day was like.
Oh and I almost forgot. The sandwich was great!!!!
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