Heidi's Brooklyn Deli: a real neighborhood treat
bigail Jares, Contributing Reporter
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Looking for a restaurant where you can "have it your way," but is not Burger King? Then take a stroll down to the corner of Lowell and 32nd Avenue, and check out Heidi's Brooklyn Deli. With its wide variety of food, deli-style atmosphere, and personalized service Heidi's is a great place to go with friends, family, or the Sunday newspaper.
Heidi's old-fashioned charm invites customers to feel right at home. A quaint sign painted on the window greets customers, and a small, outdoor patio with tables and chairs is surrounded by a short iron fence with small flower beds atop.
Inside, maroon walls display local art, antique signs direct customers, and booths are nestled in the corner, tucked away to provide comfort and privacy. Old-fashion gumball and candy machines encourage children to put their quarters in and collect their prize.
However, a gumball is not the only treat to eat; at Heidi's, a customer can have breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just an afternoon snack. At the counter, Heidi's employees greet customers with a smile and a "What would you like?" A colorful chalkboard menu--in pink, blue, yellow, and green chalk--lists bagels and spread, sandwiches, wraps, salads, smoothies, ice cream, pies, and brownies. So much food, so little time!
With almost forty reasonably priced sandwiches to choose from, the hard part for customers is not finding something they like, but having to choose from all the appetizing choices. For Italian lovers, there is the Italian Sausage and Peppers, rich in sausage, peppers, and mozzarella. For Southerners, there is the Cajun Turkey with fresh avocado. New Yorkers might enjoy the Lox smothered in cream cheese, tomato, and of course, salmon. Heidi's even has the Grilled Veggie for health nuts and vegetarians. Employees recommend the Euro Melt, a sandwich with grilled tomato, fresh pesto, hot, bubbling bacon toasted on a wholesome croissant.
All sandwiches are prepared right in front of the customer, creating a classic lunch that is healthy and tasty at the same time. Heidi's workers customize the sandwich any way the customer wants; extra pickles, mayonnaise, tomato, mustard, or lettuce. The customer even gets the option of chips, potato salad, or coleslaw as a side. You want it, they've got it, and better yet, they'll put it on the sandwich for you.
Heidi's also helps the grab-a-bite-to-go customers. They rush in; breathlessly utter their order, and the Heidi's staff springs into action. It takes them only minutes to make the sandwich, ask "chips, slaw, or salad," and then the order, wrapped up in a yellow napkin and tucked into a red wire basket, is ready to go. It is like fast food, without the grease and cholesterol, and a friendly worker who knows how to make a mouth-watering sandwich.
In addition to lunch and dinner, Heidi's also is infamous for its breakfast variety. Bagels galore! All the bagels are freshly toasted, smothered in cream cheese, and dressed with toppings, such as lox, jam, butter, or cheese. Heidi's "must-try" toppings include scrambled eggs, sausage, and bacon, but they also offer a "naked bagel" for those who prefer just a plain bagel. All breakfast items can be put in a to-go bag, and Heidi's employees, with a smile and wave, send customers on their way with a delicious breakfast.
Because of the friendly service, Heidi's has a lot of regulars. It is not the typical restaurant, crowded with strange faces, but rather, it is an easygoing place that allows older customers to sit and read the paper, teenagers to grab a cup of coffee, and three year olds to try their luck at the gumball machine while licking ice cream cones.
Heidi's ice cream, or any dessert for the matter, is a great treat anytime. A sign explains "thirty two custom flavors when it's HOT! Sixteen when it's NOT!" Not in the mood for a cold treat? Try tiramisu, cheesecake, and freshly baked pies. Customers can also enjoy fifteen different lip-smacking smoothies to choose from, such as Summer Splash or Cranberry Crush.
Heidi's inviting environment was first introduced back in 1994, when Heidi and Steve Naples moved from Brooklyn to Denver and open "Heidi's Ice Cream and Bagels" in Denver. After just a few short years, the shop grew into a full-blown deli, serving not only bagels and ice cream, but sandwiches, desserts, and salads as well. Today Heidi's has 10 metro Denver locations, yet still possesses the warm, welcoming neighborhood feel it had in 1994. The bread is still baked daily from scratch, the sandwiches are still made fresh in front of the customer, and the ice cream is still hand scooped into the cone.
The personalized service, the good food, and the friendly atmosphere makes Heidi's a favorite in any Denver neighborhood. With its fast growing success, Heidi's is looking to expand nationally within the next couple years, but for now, Heidi's is unique to the Denver area.
Heidi's Brooklyn Deli makes the eating experience not just about the meal, but also about the company. It is a place to grab a bite to eat with friends, chat, and enjoy the surroundings.