Sachem Eats: Holtsville Sports Deli

The Holtsville Sports Deli has been a staple Sachem eatery for many years, featuring a robust menu of burgers, sandwiches, cold cuts, bagels, salads, Italian specialties, baked goods and catering platters. Always well-staffed and always filled with fresh, delicious food, the Holtsville Sports Deli is an excellent choice for anything from a small bite to eat to catering for big parties.

Décor: Inside you'll find a properly laid-out deli with a standard glass enclosure for cold cuts and deli specialties such as macaroni salad. Enormous, easy-to-read menus line the walls. Drinks are easily accessible for the thirsty customer. The deli also has a handful of tables and chairs available for patrons wishing to sit down and enjoy their meal.

Two LCD TVs hanging high above pump out a constant stream of sports, and if you stop by when the big game is on, you'll be able to catch all the action. Many of the walls also feature paintings and murals of New York sports teams in action. Its a nice aesthetic touch that adds to the ambiance of an already welcoming deli.

Drinks: You'll find the chilly fridge packed out with a selection of soda, juice, iced tea, sports drinks, water, energy drinks, chocolate milk and protein shakes. The Sports Deli also serves fountain iced tea and lemonade.

Breakfast: With specials served until 11 a.m. and regular breakfast served all day, Holtsville Sports Deli is a great place to swing by if you're hungry for eggs, French toast or a jam-packed omelette. From the breakfast legend of two Eggs on a Roll served with juice or coffee ($1.99), to their own home baked bagels, to French toast served with two eggs, ham, bacon, syrup and home fries ($5.99), this is a great place for a rumbling stomach to settle down.

Entrees: Holtsville Sports Deli's main menu is sure to please everyone. Order up a custom sandwich or select from one of their dozens of specialty creations. True to its name, the Sports Deli features sandwiches and heroes named after popular stadiums. Order up a Mile High Stadium ($6.99) featuring grilled chicken, lettuce, crisp bacon and tomato on triple-decker white toast, or a Fenway Park ($7.99) with breaded flounder, melted American cheese, lettuce and tomato on a toasted hero with tartar sauce.

Holtsville Sports Deli also boasts an extensive panini menu with sandwiches named after local businesses, such as the Lifestar ($6.99) with grilled marinated vegetables in balsamic vinaigrette with fresh melted mozzarella, or the Slomins ($6.99), a panini with grilled chicken, feta cheese, black olives, red onions and house dressing.

Over a dozen different 1/2 or 3/4lb beef burger selections grace the menu as well, from the juicy B.B.Q. Bacon Burger ($5.49) covered with cheddar cheese, bacon and B.B.Q. sauce, to the borderline ridiculous Pastrami Supreme ($5.49) with its grilled pastrami, melted Swiss cheese, mustard and ketchup on top of a 1/2 pound burger.

Holtsville Sports Deli also makes a variety of salads, such as the Orange Bowl (Sm. $4.99, Lg. $5.99) with grilled chicken over fresh pasta salad and Italian dressing, and the Royal Bowl (Sm. $3.99, Lg. $4.99) with Caesar salad, hard boiled eggs, parmesan cheese, croutons and Caesar dressing. Heart-healthy wraps are available like the Safeco Field ($6.99) which includes grilled chicken, roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomato and honey mustard.

Desserts: Homemade muffins ($2.00), pound cake, turnovers, danishes and cookies are available fresh every day.

Catering: An entire secondary catering menu is available for pickup on location, and the options do not disappoint. Featuring simple choices such as Cold Buffet ($8.49 per person) with a choice of four meats, two cheeses, three salads, and pickles/olives, breads and condiments/paper goods, or Chicken Wings ($22.95 for 50 wings, $39.95 for 100 wings), to more serious catering options such as party heroes, wrap platters and ala carte hot dishes, Holtsville Sports Deli will provide serious bang for your buck at any catering occasion.

Service: The deli is always well-staffed and quick to take your order. Food is prepared right in front of you. They offer free home delivery on orders over $15. An ATM and fax machine are also available inside.

Signature Dish: Seeing as this is a Sports Deli located in N.Y., the obvious choice would be the Yankee Stadium (sorry Mets fans), featuring grilled roast beef, melted mozzarella and brown gravy on toasted garlic bread with a side of cole slaw. The roast beef was tender, lean and bursting with flavor, and the fresh mozzarella combined with the gravy to create a savory, delicious meal that satisfied beyond measure. The cole slaw was tangy, creamy, and counterbalanced the sandwich perfectly.

Location: 1029 Waverly Ave., Holtsville